Power and Privilege in Roman Society

Richard Duncan-Jones

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781316715765
• Topic: Storia
• Subtopic: Storia antica

How far were appointments in the Roman Empire based on merit? Did experience matter? What difference did social rank make? This innovative study of the Principate examines the career outcomes of senators and knights by social category. Contrasting patterns emerge from a new database of senatorial careers. Although the highest appointments could reflect experience, a clear preference for the more aristocratic senators is also seen. Bias is visible even in the major army commands and in the most senior civilian posts nominally filled by ballot. In equestrian appointments, successes by the less experienced again suggest the power of social advantage. Senatorial recruitment gradually opened up to include many provincials but Italians still kept their hold on the higher social groupings. The book also considers the senatorial career more widely, while a final section examines slave careers and the phenomenon of voluntary slavery.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title page
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Contents
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Preface
• List of Abbreviations
• Part I Social Status and Senatorial Success
• Part II Equestrian Perspectives
• Part III The Unprivileged
• Appendix 1 Scoring Systems for Senators
• Appendix 2 Non-Vigintiviri and Additional Senators
• Appendix 3 The Duration of Army Posts
• Appendix 4 Details of Vigintiviri
• Appendix 5 Some Senatorial Careers
• Appendix 6 Early and Late Priesthoods
• Appendix 7 Inventory of Senators in the Database
• Bibliography
• Name Index
• Subject Index