Social and Economic Relationships in the Roman Republic

Flashcards covering social and economic factors, key individuals, and political shifts during the fall of the Roman Republic.

What is the 'Great Man' theory regarding the breakdown of the Roman Republic?

The view that events happen because of the ambition of individuals.

What alternative view exists for the Republic's breakdown besides the 'Great Man' theory?

That events occur because of imperceptible changes over many years, such as geographic, ethnographic, and demographic pressures.

What demographic change was caused by forcing farmers to fight wars?

Replacing them with slaves.

What social factors in Rome created social tension during the Republic's breakdown?

The distribution of wealth and the plebs urbana calling for the corn dole and more money.

What mixture of factors was ultimately responsible for the rise of Augustus?

The mixture of the Great Man theory coupled with geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic pressures.

How was Roman society divided at the top level?

By wealth, specifically into the senatorial order.

Why did the senatorial order feel obliged to rule the state?

Because their wealth allowed them to spend their time engrossed in politics.

How did senators view their role in the state?

They saw themselves as public servants.

From which order did senators originally come?

The equestrian order.

By the late Republic, what was the defining factor between senators and other classes?

Class, which allowed an aristocrat like Catiline to look down on a novus homo like Cicero.

What were the only real bars to patrician dominance?

The comitia plebis tributa and the tribunate itself.

How much was an equestrian's wealth required to be worth?

$$400,000\,sestertius$$

Where was most equestrian wealth held?

In land.

What was the average annual income for an equestrian?

$20,000$ per annum.

What group handled the largest business ventures in Rome?

The publicani corporations.

What caused a financial crisis in the $60s$?

Money-lenders calling in debts.

Why was Catiline's effort to cancel debt attractive to some?

Because of the financial crisis caused by money-lenders calling in debt.

What issue did publicani face regarding the tax contract in Asia?

They realized they had overbid for the contract and sought re-negotiation.

Why have the actions of Roman businessmen remained little known?

Because Roman historiography focused primarily on politics and warfare.

What responsibility did the senatorial and equestrian classes feel toward their communities?

To serve them and look after the poor through the patron-client system.

What was required of a client in the patron-client relationship?

A daily visit to their patron.

What might a patron provide to a client in return for their visit?

Sustenance, money, or food.

How prevalent was the hierarchical patron-client system?

It was prevalent throughout the Roman world.

What divide was enormous between the senate/equestrians and the poor?

Wealth and political influence.

What was a major disadvantage for the poorest in the legal system?

They were unlikely to be represented in court.

Why were the rural poor often worse off than the plebs urbana?

Because they had to serve in the army.

What happened to small farms as the rich bought up land?

They were filled with slaves working the farms.

Who bemoaned the fate of the small farmer in Sallust's Bellum Catilinae $33$?

Manlius.

What was the result of rural poor migration?

They went to Rome looking for work and the corn dole.

How did Caesar try to thin out the plebs urbana as dictator?

He doubled army pay and resettled many of them.

What was the doubled annual army pay under Caesar?

$$900\,sestertius$$

What was the estimated annual earning of a craftsman?

$$2,000$$

When did the slave revolt led by Spartacus occur?

$$73\text{-}71$$

How many gladiators and slaves were involved in Spartacus' revolt?

$$120,000$$

What was the impact of the Spartacus revolt on the countryside?

They plundered the countryside and made the plight of farmers even worse.

Where were many taken after the revolt to replenish farms?

They were taken as slaves to the farms of the wealthy.

How are politicians who react to pressures typically categorized?

As either a reactionary optimate or a reforming popularis.

What was often at the heart of reforming popularis actions?

Self-interest.

What was the traditional reward given to soldiers?

Land grants.

What was one social benefit of land grants to soldiers?

It sometimes allowed the plebs urbana to return to the countryside.

Where did Sulla reward his men with land?

Etruria.

What did Lepidus suggest after Sulla's death?

That the land given to Sulla's veterans should be returned.

What happened in Etruria following the land distribution?

The people of Etruria revolted.

Which group of veterans joined Catiline in his quest to cancel debt?

The veterans who benefitted from Sulla's land bill.

Why did Cicero refuse to back Rullus' land bill?

As a favor to his optimate backers who would lose out.

What problem did Cicero identify regarding the distribution of ager publicus in $44$?

Somebody had to lose out, often at the expense of those who worked the land for generations.

Who did Caesar gain land for after his victories?

Pompey's veterans and his own troops.

Who faced land distribution difficulties in the $30s$?

Octavian.

What did Gaius Gracchus establish in terms of corn supply?

A subsidised supply of corn.

How did the corn dole affect political loyalty?

It moved voters from established families to popularis politicians.

What was Sulla's stance on the corn dole?

He abolished it.

Which consuls brought back the corn dole in $73$?

M. Terentius Varro and Cassius Longinus.

Who increased the number of corn dole recipients in $62$?

Cato (tribune).

Why did Cato increase the corn recipients despite being an optimate?

To quell disquiet after the Catilinarian Conspiracy.

What major change did Clodius make to the corn dole in $58$?

He made the dole free.

How many recipients received the free corn dole under Clodius?

$$320,000$$

To what number did Caesar reduce the corn dole recipients as dictator?

$$150,000$$

What did Caesar provide to offer work for the plebs urbana?

A public works programme.

What was the goal of conspicuous largesse by the political classes?

To buy the favor of the plebs.

Why were funeral games popular with the plebs?

Because they involved gladiators.

In $63\,BC$, how did Caesar honor his father who died $20$ years prior?

He put on games as an aedile.

What did Crassus provide for the people of Rome in $70$?

Dinner for everyone and gifts they could live off for three months.

What did Pompey hold at the opening of his theatre?

Elaborate games.

How did Caesar honor his deceased daughter when hoping for a second consulship?

He provided money for huge games.

What specific gift did Caesar give to freeborn citizens related to the Gallic wars?

A Gallic slave each.

How much did Caesar give every Roman during his triumphs?

$$400\,sestertius$$

What was Caesar's bequest to every citizen of Rome upon his death?

$$300\,sestertius$$

What traditions of largesse did Octavian and Agrippa continue?

Providing water and games.

What was the strategic reason behind popularis hand-outs?

They were a vote winning strategy rather than genuine concern.

Why did optimates generally oppose popularis politicians?

They were averse to the growing popularity of the populares, rather than for ideological reasons.

What primary desire motivated almost all Roman politicians?

The desire to gain high honour, dignity, and glory.

What benefits did political office confer to individuals?

Dignity and future overseas opportunities for wealth and waging war.

What was the pinnacle of the militaristic and competitive Roman society?

Achieving a triumph.

What did the army provide for ambitious generals?

Opportunities for personal glory rather than solving socio-economic problems.

How did Octavian's path to prestige differ from previous generals?

He saw the opportunity in gaining prestige by trying to solve domestic issues.

Which individual prosecuted Clodius due to personal rivalry?

Lucullus.

Who was responsible for driving Cicero from Rome?

Clodius.

Which two high-profile leaders had a notable hatred for each other?

Pompey and Crassus.

Which two individuals were involved in a notable rivalry often resulting in street violence?

Milo and Clodius.

What example is given of Pompey's political flexibility?

He switched sides from optimate to popularis when it suited him.

How frequently did individuals act for the good of the state?

Only rarely.

What was Sulla's primary goal in reforming the Roman government?

He realized the system was broken and tried to fix it.

What were Sulla's notable failures during his reforms?

He issued proscriptions and did not help the plebs urbana.

What significant reform attempt did Caesar make as consul in $59$?

He did try to reform, though a year was not long enough for significant difference.

What source discusses Caesar's success as dictator?

Suetonius, Deified Julius $41\text{-}42$.

What character trait of Caesar's allowed his enemies to remain in the Senate?

His inclusivity and generosity with opponents.

How did Octavian's treatment of opponents compare to Caesar's?

He was less generous with opponents and more controlling with his power.

What domestic issues did Octavian alleviate through the $30s$?

Debt issues, taxation, and provided public works.

How did Octavian continue Caesar's demographic political work?

He opened up politics to the provincials.

Whose business interests did Octavian protect in Italy?

The Italian equestrians.

What happened to the old political order during Octavian's social reforms?

It reached near extinction.

What did Roman people ultimately want that Octavian provided?

Peace and order.

Why did Catiline look down upon Cicero?

Because Catiline was aristocratic and Cicero was a novus homo.

What was the average income of an equestrian per year?

$$20,000$$

What is the ager publicus?

Public land belonging to the Roman state.

Who was the tribune of $62$ who expanded the corn dole?

Cato.

What source describes the consuls Varro and Longinus bringing back the dole?

Sallust, Histories $3.34$ and $3.48$.

What did Lepidus suggest in the late Republic?

That land should be returned after Sulla's death.

How many gladiators and slaves plundered the countryside in the Spartacus revolt?

$$120,000$$

What was the significance of the 73 BC consuls?

M. Terentius Varro and Cassius Longinus brought back the corn dole.