Ancient Rome 753-509 7 Kings 509 – c. 44 BCE Republic Civil wars 31 BCE – c. 476 CE/AD? Roman Empire - 1453 Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire

Rome and the Provinces

TRAJAN’S NEW PROVINCES: DACIA, MESOPOTAMIA Dacia abandoned by Aurelian in 270

Emperor’s word becomes law Emperor’s word becomes law. Various ways emperor (princeps) makes his will known as law: rescripts (written replies), responsa: most common Replies, either by letter or just subscriptions (notes added at the bottom) mandates (instructions to officials) edicts (advised by his consilium and jurists) decreta (decisions): emperor’s judicial decisions INCREASE IN: legal experts, often on emperor’s staff Praetor’s edicts still exist.

Cognitio procedure by a magistrate Complain to official who issues a summons: state-issued (not privately) If defendant does not reply to 3 summonses he loses the case The magistrate hears the case Written documents are now more important than oral testimony The magistrate rules at his discretion Court officials enforce the penalty (before it was done privately) Appeal possible all the way up to the Emperor, but you need to be of high status and have connections, of course ….

“the 5 good emperors” 96-180 CE Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius “If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus.” Edward Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776-)

Apuleius Author of the Latin novel, Metamorphoses or the Golden Ass Published his Apology (defense speech). On trial in North Africa for magic, 158-9 CE; a capital charge judge is the governor (proconsul) Claudius Maximus, a Stoic philosopher he had married a rich widow, Pudentilla; her son died she accused him in a letter of using love-charms he had knowledge of magic; a statue of Mercury; a boy collapsed 15 slaves testified

Marcus Aurelius (161-180) Hadrian when adopting Antoninus Pius had him adopt at the same time this young man (age 16) and someone else Co-ruler with adopted brother Lucius Verus: 2 Augusti Best known as a philosopher

Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (his private diary of Stoic thoughts, written in Greek)

Marcus Aurelius

(after the 5 Good Emperors:) Commodus (180-192), the first emperor “born in the purple”. Commodus depicted as Hercules:

Commodus (today) Gladiator

“Antonine Constitution” 212 AD/CE, by Caracalla: all free persons in R.E. are Roman citizens Citizenship is a legal status. Far removed from Classical Greek citizenship (participation in running a polis, city-state)

Classical period of Roman Law, c. 31 BCE – 235 CE (High Roman Empire) Under Hadrian, the praetor’s edict was codified and did not change. Jurists: rise of legal experts, often on staff of Emperor and Governor This is high point of jurists, whose work is later collected (codified): next 2 weeks Ulpian, jurist, c. 200 CE: the emperor’s word is law after the Classical period, changes appear in 3rd Century: emperor more autocratic.

DECIUS, 249-251 Acclaimed by troops Persecution of Christians Killed fighting Goths

Libellus from Egypt, 250 CE/AD To those in charge of the sacrifices of the village Theadelphia, from Aurelia Bellias, daughter of Peteres, and her daughter, Kapinis. We have always been constant in sacrificing to the gods, and now too, in your presence, in accordance with the regulations, I have poured libations and sacrificed and tasted the offerings, and I ask you to certify this for us below. May you continue to prosper. (2nd hand) We, Aurelius Serenus and Aurelius Hermas, saw you sacrificing. (3rd hand) I, Hermas, certify. (1st hand) The 1st year of the Emperor Caesar Gaius Messius Quintus Traianus Decius Pius Felix Augustus, Pauni 27.

PS on history of Romans & Christianity Great Persecutions, 302-313 CE Constantine,: 313 CE: Edict of Milan ends the persecutions of Christians. Makes Christianity legal. A Christian Empire, 4th century CE on -

Justinian (525-565) codified Roman law the Digest (law code): 533 AD/CE More than 9,000 excerpts of Roman jurists, mainly classical.