Description
Book SynopsisWere high appointments in the Roman Empire based on merit or on social standing? Some strong social biases emerge from this innovative study which uses a specially compiled database. There was considerable aristocratic preference in both army and civilian commands, and the higher equestrian posts suggest similar patterns.
Table of ContentsPart I. Social Status and Senatorial Success: 1. Introduction: the senator; 2. Social standing and its impact on careers; 3. The career ladder at Rome; 4. Service overseas; 5. Defenders of the empire; 6. Influx from the provinces; 7. The chronology of the senatorial evidence; 8. Career inscriptions and what they leave out; Part II. Equestrian Perspectives: 9. Defining the equites; 10. The public employment of equites; 11. The economic involvements of equites; 12. The devaluation of equestrian rank; Part III. The Unprivileged: 13. Slavery: the background; 14. Slavery as a career; Appendixes: 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.
