Birth, Wealth, and Authority - Ancient Mediterranean History

emergence of indications of social hierarchies 

Around late 4th millennium convergence of agricultural surplus (caused by irrigation agriculture) and growth of settlements also led to

Sumer

Grave goods: emergence of difference in luxury/quality of objects between graves, Warka vase appears to show procession in which different classes/hierarchies are represented, first real visual depiction of this kind of separation

Egypt

Split in burial goods, jewelry and high value items in only a few, Pyramids show existence of ruling figures (pharaohs/kings) and monarchy (Pyramids of kings larger than those of queen and royal family, which are in turn larger than mastabas - burial structures of high level administrators)

Early Greeks

Literary works of Iliad and Odyssey show hierarchy (rulers and subjects, leaders and followers), 

Sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia

Example of panhellenism developed through religious athletic competition, Overall Greek cultural emphasis on glory and competition moved from war to athletic competition, Victors of competitions build small temple-like structures known as treasuries that line the perimeter of the larger sanctuary, mechanism of aristocratic self representation  

“Caging” of populations with the rise of settled agriculture

When you plant crops you’re “stuck” until they can be harvested, set of political and social institutions grows up around this

Thucydides claims that as the Greek city-states grew more powerful (through colonization and Mediterranean trade), this acquisition of wealth disrupted the position of aristocrats

Rise of wealthy individuals not born in positions of high rank who wanted political power monopolized by the aristocrats, this group would “elect” a leader against the aristocrats (a tyrant), Tyrant also framed themselves as leader of the people again

The Struggle of the Orders in the early Roman Republic (494-287 CCE)

The conflict between the patricians and plebeians in early Rome, where plebeians sought political equality and rights, resulting in significant social and political reforms.

Romans believed the patricians were descendants

of first 100 senators chosen by Rome’s mythical founder Romulus

449 BCE codification of Roman law in The Twelve Tables

Before this law was arbitrarily decided by patricians, Plebeians called for law being written down so it could not be changed at will of patricians

Augustus tried to give definition to social rank in Rome

Social hierarchy became more solidified under his reign, Top two Roman social (juridical orders)

• Senatorial order: need to have at least 1,000,000 sesterces

• Equestrian order: need to have at least 400,000 sesterces 

Social legislation under Augustus

Laws concerning marriage and procreation, Laws concerning adultery, Laws concerning manumission

Laws concerning marriage and procreation

men between ages of 25-60 and women between the ages of 20-50 were legally required to get married and if widowed/divorced legally required to remarry, also legally required to have children, not meeting these requirements meant you were banned from venues of public entertainment (public baths, colosseum, etc, basically meant you couldn’t participate in society) and prohibited from drawing up a will or inheriting

Laws concerning adultery

made it a public and punishable offence, a husband who discovered his wife committing adultery was required to divorce and prosecute her or he’d be subjected to various punishments (most notably being prohibited from drawing up a will or inheriting), note married men weren’t prohibited from extramarital affairs just married women

Laws concerning manumission

limited number of enslaved persons a person could free at any one time

Opting Out

withdrawing from society, asceticism

Opting out (Egypt)

Village of Koma in middle Nile Valley in 269 CE: 19 year old member of local Christian church named Anthony recorded as having heard message of Jesus to sell all he owned and withdraw from society

Movement of asceticism creates for women revolutionary opportunity to not get married, without being punished or shunned for it

Previously expectation that women get married was deeply engrained, With coming of Christianity women gained ability to renounce the world (including marriage and the family) and live their lives devoted to God, Came to be known as the Virgins of God