The social history of Rome during the Republic is dominated by the so called Conflict of the Orders. This conflict centered on the Twin problems of Debt and availability of farmland.
Political and Social power was concentrated in the hands of the Aristocratic Patricians (Fathers) who belonged to a privileged "Clans." The plebs constituted the commons and constituted the clients of the Patricians. The plebs were itself divided into 2 groups: those who belonged to prominent families and those who were poor. The plebs belonging to prominent families considered themselves equal in status to the ones from privileged "clans," but were constitutionally prevented from enjoying an egalitarian status with the Patricians.
By the end of the monarchy, there were 4 basic rights, all 4 possessed by the Patricians, though only 2 by the high class plebs. On the 2 public rights, ius (the right to participate in the assembly) and ius honoris (right to hold office), only the 1st was held by the high class plebs. Likewise, of the 2 private rights, the ius commercium (right to buy and sell), and ius concubii (right of intermarriage), only the 1st was held by high rank plebs. The prohibition of intermarriage was critical in keeping the 2 Orders separate.
Patricians monopolized the priest-hoods, principal magistracies, the interregnum procedure, senate membership, and effectively controlled the popular assembly through patron-client relationships.
The Senate originated during the monarchy as a council of kings, appointed first by kings and then during the Republic by the chief magistrates. By the end of the monarchy there were 300 Senators, based on 3 Roman Tribes, each consisting of 10 individuals (curi-ae). The assemblies were 3 in number: -comitia curiata, in which each of the 30 original clan-type individual had a single vote. -the comitia centuriata, a military assembly based on landed wealth. -comitia tributa, the plebs assembly.
Following the temporary emigration of the plebs from Rome to the Aventine in 494 BC, they formed their own state within a state with an assembly and annually elected their own magistrates for nearly 2 centuries.
The Greeks,who had colonized Magna Graecia in Southern Italy came to dominate Roman cultural life.
Geek literature, mythology, and history were central in Roman education, and Greek was the 1st language of Roman education. Many young Roman aristocrats were routinely educated in Greece and were thus bilingual. By the 1st century BC, only a small percentage of the population of the residents of Rome were of Roman or Italian ancestry, perhaps 10 percent. Within Rome itself various national groups often maintained linguistic and cultural traditions; the extensive Jewish community, e.g., which numbered from 30 to 50 thousand, was a Greek-speaking community, because of the hellenization of Palestine.
Administration of city government was divided into 14 districts under Augustus, with a magistrate chosen annually by tot to govern each district. Seven fire-fighting brigades called "vigiles" were organized, each responsible for 2 of the districts. Just outside the North East city limits was stationed a special force of about 10,000, known as the Praetorian or Imperial Guard, for the protection of the emperor. There were also 3 "urban cohorts," a kind of city police force, to maintain law and order in Rome. Prostitution was regulated like other business enterprises. A prostitute had to be identified by distinctive garb, had to be registered with the government, and had to pay a special tax.
The wealthy and influential often lived in palatial homes on the hills, homes maintained by large house-holds of servants and slaves, sometimes numbering into the hundreds. Down in the Valleys the common people were crowded together in enormous tenement houses several stories high, limited in height to 70 ft /21 m. This tenement blocks were separated by narrow, crooked, dirty streets filled with the customary traffic, and corruption prevalent in big cities. The historic fire of 64 CE happened here in these poor areas. Only 4 out of the 14 districts of Dome were spared.
There were very few persons in Rome who could be called "middle class;" the wealth rested with a small minority. When Paul 1st reached Rome, half of the population were slaves, brought there as prisoners of war, as condemned criminals, or as children sold by parents, slaves with no legal rights. The greater part of the other free of the population were paupers who practically lived off government subsidies.
Two things, food and entertainment, were provided by the state to keep the poor people from rioting, hence the satirical phrase "bread and circuses," inferring that this was all that was needed to satisfy the poor of Rome. Water was brought many miles into the city by aqueducts. Wine was cheap commodity.
For the enjoyment of those so inclined there libraries available. For the entertainment of the general populace there were public baths and gymnasiums, as well as the theaters and circuses. The theatrical performances consisted of Greek and Roman plays, dances and pantomimes. One theater held 40,000 individuals. In the great amphitheaters and circuses exciting games were held, chiefly spectacular chariot races and desperate gladiatorial contests in which men and beasts fought to death. The Circus Maximus had a capacity of more than 150,000 persons. Admission to the game was free.
The high cost of these government expenses was not borne by the populace of Rome, for after the conquest of Macedonia in 167 BC, Roman citizens were tax free. Instead, the provinces were heavily taxed, both directly and indirectly. (Matthew 22).
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