plebs
- Created by: Grace Moorhouse
- Created on: 03-06-15 10:27
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- plebs
- 'kept them quiet with games and money distributions'
- social legislation reflected unemployment
- no real industry in Rome- large numbers of unemployed citizens. even those in trade etc suffered from food shortages.
- it had become an important part of social legislation to provide grain doles and free games- but the govt alone could not provide enough and so it was up to wealthy individuals. PATRONAGE
- at the time of Augustus- around 2/3rds of the plebs urbana were recipents of the grain dole. he had reduced number eligible for ration of 5 modii a month from 250,000 to 200,000.
- SUET: augutsus revised the roll of citizens, ward by ward and tried to obviate the frequent interruptions of their trade and business which the public grain distribution entailed.'
- he handed out tickets three times a year for a four months supply of grain.
- SUET: augutsus revised the roll of citizens, ward by ward and tried to obviate the frequent interruptions of their trade and business which the public grain distribution entailed.'
- at the time of Augustus- around 2/3rds of the plebs urbana were recipents of the grain dole. he had reduced number eligible for ration of 5 modii a month from 250,000 to 200,000.
- it had become an important part of social legislation to provide grain doles and free games- but the govt alone could not provide enough and so it was up to wealthy individuals. PATRONAGE
- augustus attitude to those seeking handouts
- many people attempted to survive purely on his public charity- sometimes when people demanded largesse he branded them 'shameless rascals'
- games and shows
- gladitorial games, beast hunts in the forum, amphitheatre and circus, athletic competitions etc even mock sea battle- excavated a river next to tiber.
- majority given in his own name. but 23 were given on behalf of family members and other magistrates.
- gladitorial games, beast hunts in the forum, amphitheatre and circus, athletic competitions etc even mock sea battle- excavated a river next to tiber.
- no real industry in Rome- large numbers of unemployed citizens. even those in trade etc suffered from food shortages.
- personal donations by Augustus to the plebs:
- provision of grain was a great drain on the treasury.
- he made frequent cash donations to the plebs as well as providing grain from his own granary.
- political implications of donations
- donations of 23 seem to coincide with his changed ocnstitutional position.
- his distributions in 5 and 2 BC correspond to his sons being introdcued to official life.
- despite this Suetonius states: 'show that he did all this not to win popularity but to improve public welfare.'
- his distributions in 5 and 2 BC correspond to his sons being introdcued to official life.
- donations of 23 seem to coincide with his changed ocnstitutional position.
- employment opportunities
- augustus helped many of the plebs gain steady work- extensive building programme.
- they regarded him as a benfactor
- augustus helped many of the plebs gain steady work- extensive building programme.
- gradual loss of legislative power
- plebs gradually excluded from political life. their function as tribunes wtc was no longer needed due to Augustus'' 'recommendation' of people.
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