CIVIC LIFE IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE UNDER THE ANTONINES

THE ANTONINES OR 5 GOOD EMPERORS

M. Cocceius Nerva, 96-98

M. Ulpius Traianus, 97-117

(Optimus Princeps)

Hadrian 117-138, Antinous

Antoninus Pius 138-161

M. Aurelius, 161-180

Sources: Scriptores Historiae Augusti and inscriptions

Roman Imperial Bureaucracy at Rome – the emperor and his bureaucrats, approximately 5000 administrators dispatching orders to city councils at the local level. “government light”

Governors and Procurators as imperial intermediaries at the periphery, making sure the councils comply with imperial orders

Polis system of political organization; the grass roots organization of the empire: He boule kai ho demos (the council and the people of the city). Elites at the local level clearly bought into the governmental system of the Roman Empire, as expressed by the numerous dedications honoring Roman emperors that have been found locally in excavated communities. Most proclaim the emperors, particularly the 5 Good Emperors, as “Lord of the Civilized World,” or oikoumene. Oikoumene came to mean the collective of those communities or poleis that viewed themselves as participating elements of the Roman World Order. At the local level the oikoumene was represented by the elite members of the city councils (Boule)

City Councils

Imperial priests of the imperial ruler cult, a great way to display one’s loyalty to the realm and thereby gain notice and possible advancement into the Roman hierarchy (principally through the Roman army). To worship the emperor was to demonstrate loyalty to the realm.

gymnasiarchs – councilors who administered the educational institution designed to develop young cadets for the local militia and ultimately future councilors.

Dekaprotoi or decuriones – boards of 10 councillors who collected Roman taxes from the community

Eirenarchs – keepers of the peace (“sheriffs” who could marshal the local militia to suppress local violence). Frequently the eirenarch also served as gymnasiarch and thus trained and commanded the local militia

Liturgy = munera – instances of public philanthropy (literally “gifts”) that were expected of newly appointed magistrates of the polis. Typically, this was required to enter the council for life. Philanthropy included throwing expensive festivals or games or improvements of local infrastructure (baths, aqueducts, etc.) all at the magistrate’s personal expense. The Greek tradition for was known as euergetism (good works or philanthropy)

In short,

· Tribute was collected by decuriones at the local level

· Police work was conducted by eirenarch / gymnasiarch

· Imperial Ruler Cult was centered on the Sebastion

· Local Amenities including festivals/munera were funded by wealthy individuals who were typically rewarded with the honor of erecting their own statues in the town center (at their own expense). This designated them as the elite and everyone else as commoners.

The Roman hierarchy was exempt from munera – so it was useful to hold high offices locally and to expend funds lavishly on the community in order to be noticed by the Roman hierarchy and promoted to imperial rank (as equites in the military). From there senatorial rank was possible, if not in one generation, then the next.

Roman society gradually became bifurcated into two classes: decurial class, and the landless poor, ultimately to become distinguished as Honestiores vs. humiliores. During the military emergency of the Late Empire (235-476 AD) everyone of any status became locked into place and their children were expected to perform the same tasks. Munera transformed from “gifts” to “taxes”; councilors were expected to make up shortfalls in the tax levies from their own resources; wealthy people tried to evade the burden by seeking exempt status in the Roman hierarchy or the church

Sebastion – imperial cult center – bearing statues of Roman emperors. The focal point of expressions of loyalty to Roman authority and hence participation in the oikoumene

In the Early Empire there was enthusiastic participation by elites at the local level to improve the status of their towns and their families.

Rivalry in public building – homogeneity of Civic institutions: council house, theater, stadium, amphitheater, gymnasium, bath. These features were visible in most municipal settlements.

Prosperity – Pax Romana, elimination of publican extortion, possibility of reaping profit from investment stimulated increased productivity and material prosperity

For the Roman Economy:

Keith Hopkins, tribute stimulated rising productivity over time

MI Finley, The Ancient Economy (reductionist view)

M. Rostovtszeff, Econ and Soc. History of the Roman Empire (obsolete modernist view, viewed the rise of an ancient bourgeoisie and ancient industry; massively documented with source material, even if uncritically utilized)

George Bean and Terence Mitford, Jouneys in Rough Cilicia (Vienna, 1965, 1970) Die Inschriften der griechische Städte aus Klienasien