Culture

Roman Society and Values Obligations to gods and other people Mos Maiorum v. res novae Ancestral values v. new things What shape did they take? Virtus (virtue): manliness; all aspects of a person’s character knew and protected the good,; country first, family second, person last Pietas (piety): respect the order of life Dignitas (dignity): self-worth Fides (faithful): keep obligations, pay debts, justice based on social ranking Rural myth: best life is the farm life (Cincinnatus) Public Status Ius imaginum (right to images): wax heads of prominent ancestors The values of the Romans concerned obligations to the gods and other people The gods demanded sacrifices and rituals but didn’t really care how the people treated each other. They would protect people as long as they received their worship. Of course, it was a guessing game to figure out why the gods weren’t blessing them. Why would the people value each other if there wasn’t any value placed on each other by the gods. Largely, it wasn’t until the advent of a God to which you could ascribe actual qualifications that humanity could truly value one another. In other words, God is good- an unchanging quality- therefore since God is good and places value in humanity, humanity has something to work towards. I am valued therefore I can value. So what allowed the Romans to value? Mos Maiorum Values of the greatest/majority The belief that the ancestors had it right. There were almost divine values that were incorporated into the fabric of history and the material world. These values worked in the past and would keep working. They were the first traditionalists and conservatives. 3. It promoted traditional virtues and patriarchy. 4. Distrusted self-indulgence, excessive independence, and foreign (including Greek) influence. So Greeks as effeminate. 5. These virtues discouraged improper public behavior, and excessive indulgence inpleaures, and even theatrical performances. What shape did these values take in Rome? The romans learned that certain actions would gain certain personal beneficial results. The values were tied into the concept of quid pro quo. Their ancestors learned that certain laws governed human behavior and they would mutually benefit all if followed. This included both the material world and the spiritual. So they needed to act in given ways towards others and the gods. They were obsessed with public status and could lose status according to how well they behaved. Private virtues Virtus: Manliness: this would encompass all aspects of man’s character in both the public and private settings. protected the good, put country first, family second, and person last, knew good vs. evil Women just had to marry and raise virtuous children (prudential) Pietas: Respect for the order of life and the role that everyone plays in it. A person would also be aware of the impact that one would have on others in their own respective role which would check their behavior. Fulfill obligations to the gods so they would bless you, your family, and the city Fulfill obligations to the ancestors or their values so you would continually be blessed as well Livy provides a dramatic example of a deficit in pietas. He describes the newly elected consul, Gaius Flaminius, who enters into battle against Hannibal without fulfilling his consular responsibilities prior to departing. The result is a dramatic Roman defeat at Trasimene Lake. In contrast, an extraordinary example of Roman duty was demonstrated by Publius Decius Mus. Decius Mus was a consul during the Latin Revolt. While leading Rome’s forces in battle, a moment occurred when it appeared the tide was about to turn against Rome. Decius Mus realizing this critical moment summoned a priest, took off his armour and put on his consular toga. He then prayed to the gods and devoted his life as a sacrifice if the Romans were to win the day. With the prayer compete he charged into the enemy force sword unsheathed. He left his armour behind wearing only his purple trimmed toga of a consul as he urged on and inspired his soldiers. The Roman forces emerged victorious, and Decius Mus survived the battle and became a figure of legend. Dignitas: (Lucretia) Self-worth, purity of mind and physical health (happier and healthier equals more productive) People would receive honors in public rewards for their dignity Helped inspire self-control, set purpose in life Material and social rewards for adhering to Roman values Election to high gov. positions, public recognition Bearing children and educating them for women Men could command other younger men if they were respected in the society Gravitas Understanding the seriousness of the situation which relied on self-control and discipline Mercy is also a part of discipline…Scipio showed mercy to enemies and thereby won them over. Showed that he could swallow pride and give mercy. Social Fides: Keeping obligations, keeping words, paying debts, treating people fairly based on social rank Women: be a virgin and faithful wife Mutual respect, loyalty, gratefulness, putting others first Rural Myth After defending your country, the best life was one of hard work in the fields. You supported your family next. Cincinnatus is an example of a recalcitrant farmer called upon to be a dictator. He left after his duty was down and went back to farming his poor land. He valued hard work rather than status. Public Status Ius imaginarum Those men who had a lot of ancestors as magistrates created ius imaginum (right to images) and displayed them in their homes. Those who didn’t have any were the Novus homo. The more a house had the more status a family had.

The Power of the Father Familia Basic unit Included extended family Pater familias (senior male: master of the family) Patria potestas (father’s power) Life, death, and property Women Managed and own property Raised virtuous young The family unit The pater or father was in charge. In Indo-European cultures the men were dominate. Patriarchy, patriotism, patron, patronize, paternal Are all English derivative of pater/patronus. “father” is a cognate of pater Family was sub manu or under his hand Power to sell son or kill him. Rarely occurred unless it was treason or deserting the army. Father made all the decisions over what happened to the family members Slaves were included in the family Families part of larger clans or gens by marriage and the clan leaders ruled the state Theoretically possessed legal power over his kids and slaves until his death. Technically they couldn’t own anything. Wives were under the power of their father! However most children were married and independent because fathers would die young The most important aspect was simply his provision for his family

Citizenship in Rome Male Roman Citizens Freedmen, Plebian, Patrician Right to vote, pay taxes, military service 30 tribes based on land (during Servius Tullius) Immune from wrongful arrest and imprisonment Lose citizenship: Dodged census, self-mutilation, army deserter Female Roman Citizens No vote Influence policy by “activism” Roman Citizen Freedmen (different than Greece as Rome even from the myths was very inclusive) Plebian (lower class) Fought in the military which would cause hardship via debt Worked in a variety of occupations basically supporting the landed aristocrats (almost a serfdom) Patricians couldn’t survive without them Patrician (upper based on landed or later trade wealth) Male divisions of equites and senators Women could be in all groups Right to vote, pay taxes, and serve in the military Lose citizenship if dodged a census to evade taxation (Mary/Joseph had to attend a census), mutilated one’s self to avoid the army, or deserted the army Citizens were immune from arrest and imprisonment without trial 30 tribes 26 in the country and 4 in the city (for those without land) by 241 there were

The Rest of Society Upper Class Roman Children Latin Citizens Private education at home and with tutors Girls and boys would learn to read and write Girls: to train up moral generations Boys: rhetoric Latin Citizens Half-citizenship offered to Latin allies in Italy Civitas sine suffagio (citizens without vote) Provincials Those living in conquered territories Had to be represented by a Roman Citizen Non-citizen Slaves Upper Class Roman Children Private education at home and with tutors Girls and boys would learn to read and write Girls: to train up moral generations Boys: rhetoric Latin Citizens In between allies and roman citizens during the 3rd century Conduct law suits in Rome on same terms If moved to Rome became a citizen Whole towns with this status were called municipia and referred to as civitas sine suffragio Eventually distinctions would cease to exist and by Ad 212 all territories would have universal citizenship Provincials Foreign territories who had only rights if represented by a roman citizen. Paul would have lived in a province so it is not clear why he would have full citizenship Non-citizen Slaves (men and women)