Social Categories

I. Global Categories

slave freedman free

        citizen   non-citizen

 plebeian   patrician

II. Divisions of Elite

Family (Gens): extended clan
o Descended from common ancestor
o Designated by nomen (e.g. Gens Cornelia)

Nomenclature

P(raenomen) Nomen Cognomen <Agnomen>
 e.g. P(ublius) Cornelius Scipio Africanus

Order (ordo):  1) Senators
    2) Equites (Knights)

Faction: Optimates vs. Populares

The Basic System

1. Magistrates

a) Consuls (2): "eponymous" magistrates
 or Military Tribunes (5)
 or Dictator (1) + "Master of Horse" (1)

b) Censors (2)
o Usually distinguished ex-consuls
o 5-year term (lustrum)
o Rites, records & public works

2. Senate (± 300)
o Composed of ex-magistrates

3. Assembly
o Comitia Centuriata: upper class bias

Reforms & Developments.

Secessions of Plebs, *494; *449; c. 287
XII Tables, 450
Lex Licinia (Licinian Law), 367/6

Magistrates
o (Consuls)
o + Praetors (8+): sub-consuls, judiciary
o + Quaestors (20): financial officials
Cursus Honorum: 'ladder' of offices
---
o (Censors)
o + Pro-magistrates (proconsuls etc.)
---
o + Tribunes of the Plebs (5-10)
 o Sacrosanct; veto legislation
o + Aediles: public safety, urban affairs

Assembly
o (Comitia Centuriata)
o + Comitia Tributa
o + Concilium Plebis:  (> Plebiscite)