Poverty in the Roman World

How do we define poverty? How do we define poverty? Who is considered to be poor? Who is considered to be poor? How did the Romans define poverty? How did the Romans define poverty? Who was considered poor in the Roman world? Who was considered poor in the Roman world?

Chapter 1 1. What does Osborne mean by ‘the civic model’? 1. What does Osborne mean by ‘the civic model’? 2. Was the free grain distribution an attempt to relieve poverty? 2. Was the free grain distribution an attempt to relieve poverty? 3. What was unique about the poor in the city of Rome in comparison with other urban centers in the Roman Empire? 3. What was unique about the poor in the city of Rome in comparison with other urban centers in the Roman Empire?

Chapter 2 To what extent does the cultural context in which scholars work affect their interpretation of the ‘Roman Poor’? To what extent does the cultural context in which scholars work affect their interpretation of the ‘Roman Poor’?

Poverty in the Roman World the elite perspective Sources are problematic: literary sources talk much about poverty – from perspective of the wealthy Sources are problematic: literary sources talk much about poverty – from perspective of the wealthy Primarily philosophical treatises Primarily philosophical treatises Stoic Philosopher Seneca mentions poverty most frequently – he was worth about 300 million (his idea of poverty was to get along with just 1 slave) Stoic Philosopher Seneca mentions poverty most frequently – he was worth about 300 million (his idea of poverty was to get along with just 1 slave) Poverty in philosophy linked to virtue Poverty in philosophy linked to virtue

Chapter 2 What factors are important for a useful study of the poor in Roman society? What factors are important for a useful study of the poor in Roman society?

The Roman view of poverty The poor were the rich who were not very rich – i.e. the poet Horace who had only 2 farms and a 6000 sq ft. villa The poor were the rich who were not very rich – i.e. the poet Horace who had only 2 farms and a 6000 sq ft. villa

Playing poor “ Still, my determination to put your moral strength of purpose to the test is such that I propose to give even you the following direction found in great men’s teaching: set aside now and then a number of days during which you will be content with the plainest o food, and very little of it, and with rough, coarse clothing, and will ask yourself, ‘Is this what one used to dread?’ It is in times of security that the spirit should be preparing itself to deal with difficult times; while fortune is bestowing favours on it then is th time for it to be strengthened against her rebuffs. “ Still, my determination to put your moral strength of purpose to the test is such that I propose to give even you the following direction found in great men’s teaching: set aside now and then a number of days during which you will be content with the plainest o food, and very little of it, and with rough, coarse clothing, and will ask yourself, ‘Is this what one used to dread?’ It is in times of security that the spirit should be preparing itself to deal with difficult times; while fortune is bestowing favours on it then is th time for it to be strengthened against her rebuffs.

Digest A son-in-power, having become a civilian, made a will disposing of his peculium castrense and died in ignorance of the fact that he had been suus heres to his father. He cannot be seen as having died testate as regards his military property and intestate as regards his paternal property, although there has even now been a rescript to that effect in the case of a [serving] soldier, because a soldier had been able from earliest times to die partly testate and partly intestate; but this man does not have the right to make a will other than with proper legal usage. Of necessity, therefore, the appointed heir to the peculium castrense will take the entire property, just as if a very poor man had died after making his will, in ignorance of the fact that he had been made rich by the agency of his slaves carrying on business in another place.” A son-in-power, having become a civilian, made a will disposing of his peculium castrense and died in ignorance of the fact that he had been suus heres to his father. He cannot be seen as having died testate as regards his military property and intestate as regards his paternal property, although there has even now been a rescript to that effect in the case of a [serving] soldier, because a soldier had been able from earliest times to die partly testate and partly intestate; but this man does not have the right to make a will other than with proper legal usage. Of necessity, therefore, the appointed heir to the peculium castrense will take the entire property, just as if a very poor man had died after making his will, in ignorance of the fact that he had been made rich by the agency of his slaves carrying on business in another place.”

Imperial funds from Emperors CE 315: The Law Code of Theodosius CE 315: The Law Code of Theodosius “A law shall be written on bronze tablets or waxed tablets or on linen cloths and clearly posted throughout the towns and municipalities of Italy to prevent parents from killing their infants and turn them to better alternatives. It should be the concern of your office that, if any parent should report to you a child which he is unable, because of poverty, to raise, there be no delay in issuing food and clothing, since the raising of a newborn infant cannot withstand delays. We offer funds for this program from our treasury and our private account.” “A law shall be written on bronze tablets or waxed tablets or on linen cloths and clearly posted throughout the towns and municipalities of Italy to prevent parents from killing their infants and turn them to better alternatives. It should be the concern of your office that, if any parent should report to you a child which he is unable, because of poverty, to raise, there be no delay in issuing food and clothing, since the raising of a newborn infant cannot withstand delays. We offer funds for this program from our treasury and our private account.” Funds like these were established only occasionally Funds like these were established only occasionally

Private charity “To my fellow townsmen of Cirta (Numidia, North Africa) and to my beloved Siccenses (citizens of Sicca), I, Publius Licinius Papirianus, wish to give 1,300,000 sesterces. I trust to your good faith, beloved townsmen, that from the 5 percent interest on this sum there may be fed and maintained each year 300 boys and 300 girls, the boys from the ages three to fifteen, each boy receiving two and a half denarii a month, the girls from the ages three to thirteen at two denarii a month. Residents as well as townsmen should be chosen, as long as the residents reside in buildings within the boundaries of our colony-town. If these arrangements seem acceptable to you, it will be best for the duovirs of each year to choose the children; but you must take care that a replacement at once be found for each child who reaches adult age or dies, so that the full number may always be fed and maintained.” “To my fellow townsmen of Cirta (Numidia, North Africa) and to my beloved Siccenses (citizens of Sicca), I, Publius Licinius Papirianus, wish to give 1,300,000 sesterces. I trust to your good faith, beloved townsmen, that from the 5 percent interest on this sum there may be fed and maintained each year 300 boys and 300 girls, the boys from the ages three to fifteen, each boy receiving two and a half denarii a month, the girls from the ages three to thirteen at two denarii a month. Residents as well as townsmen should be chosen, as long as the residents reside in buildings within the boundaries of our colony-town. If these arrangements seem acceptable to you, it will be best for the duovirs of each year to choose the children; but you must take care that a replacement at once be found for each child who reaches adult age or dies, so that the full number may always be fed and maintained.” CIL (ILS 6818) CIL (ILS 6818)

Relief for the poor Controlled grain prices Controlled grain prices Grain dole Grain dole What were the motivations – was it relief for the poor? What were the motivations – was it relief for the poor?

Rome's corn dole was measured out with a modius. The coin, a quadrans of Claudius from 42 CE shows what must be a standard type of modius, set on a low tripod. Rome's corn dole was measured out with a modius. The coin, a quadrans of Claudius from 42 CE shows what must be a standard type of modius, set on a low tripod. A modius resting on a three-legged stand on the reverse of a bronze quadrans of Claudius. A modius resting on a three-legged stand on the reverse of a bronze quadrans of Claudius.

Where did the Poor live?

Apartment Housing in the city of Rome Our Sources: 1. literary references to rental; 2. types of rental situations described in legal texts; 3. the archaeological remains of apartment houses, particularly in Ostia. Our Sources: 1. literary references to rental; 2. types of rental situations described in legal texts; 3. the archaeological remains of apartment houses, particularly in Ostia. Majority of the populace in the city of Rome lived in rental apartments – ranging from large luxurious ones to tiny rooms sublet in tiny apartments. Majority of the populace in the city of Rome lived in rental apartments – ranging from large luxurious ones to tiny rooms sublet in tiny apartments. Information on rental agreements are concerned primarily with long-term and more luxury apartments (cenacula) and involved renters of some social standing Information on rental agreements are concerned primarily with long-term and more luxury apartments (cenacula) and involved renters of some social standing Legal sources are biased in favour of individuals of significant social status Legal sources are biased in favour of individuals of significant social status

For Rent From August 13, with a 5-year lease From August 13, with a 5-year lease On the property of Julia Felix, daughter of Spurius: the elegant Venus Baths, streetfront ships and booths, and second- story apartments On the property of Julia Felix, daughter of Spurius: the elegant Venus Baths, streetfront ships and booths, and second- story apartments CIL CIL

For Rent The Arrius Pollio Apartment Complex owned by Gnaeus Allius Nigidius Maius FOR RENT from July 1 streetfront ships with counter space, luxurious second-story apartments, and a townhouse. The Arrius Pollio Apartment Complex owned by Gnaeus Allius Nigidius Maius FOR RENT from July 1 streetfront ships with counter space, luxurious second-story apartments, and a townhouse. Prospective renters, please make arrangements with Primus, slave of Gnaeus Allius Nigidius Maius Prospective renters, please make arrangements with Primus, slave of Gnaeus Allius Nigidius Maius CIL CIL 4.138

Majority of lower –class people lived in dingy very cramped cheap apartments not in organized Cenacula but in mezzanines or backrooms of ground-floor shops in which they worked Majority of lower –class people lived in dingy very cramped cheap apartments not in organized Cenacula but in mezzanines or backrooms of ground-floor shops in which they worked Evidence suggests over 90% of population of Ostia lived in the shops or small flats or slept in the streets. (see Also Ammianus Marcellinus ) Evidence suggests over 90% of population of Ostia lived in the shops or small flats or slept in the streets. (see Also Ammianus Marcellinus ) leases for poor different terms – no evidence leases for poor different terms – no evidence Small flats on upper floors of low quality buildings, usually rows of small rooms, often larger rooms partitioned into small cubicles with very poor or indirect light; or could rent 1 or 2 rooms in an apartment suite Small flats on upper floors of low quality buildings, usually rows of small rooms, often larger rooms partitioned into small cubicles with very poor or indirect light; or could rent 1 or 2 rooms in an apartment suite Sublets common Sublets common

Terminology Meritoria – lodgings of the poor; in legal sources inns Meritoria – lodgings of the poor; in legal sources inns Taberna meritoria - often used for an inn Taberna meritoria - often used for an inn Taberna - dwilling of the poor in Horace, Carmen Taberna - dwilling of the poor in Horace, Carmen In legal sources any residence In legal sources any residence Latin authors used terms with indifference wide variety of words referring to lodging houses Latin authors used terms with indifference wide variety of words referring to lodging houses Inns probably had both transient lodgers and permanent lodgers Inns probably had both transient lodgers and permanent lodgers

Rent Lowest rent for cenaculum recorded 2,000 HS (paid by a freedman in 2 nd century BCE) Lowest rent for cenaculum recorded 2,000 HS (paid by a freedman in 2 nd century BCE) Senators rented in Rome usually higher than 6,000 HS Senators rented in Rome usually higher than 6,000 HS Low class rental (in Petronius) 1 as per night for room in unpleasant inn Low class rental (in Petronius) 1 as per night for room in unpleasant inn Context: late Republic unskilled labourer made about 1000 HS/year Context: late Republic unskilled labourer made about 1000 HS/year Iulius Caesar in 48 BCE remitted all Roman rents up to HS 2,000/year, all Italian rents to 500 HS/year Iulius Caesar in 48 BCE remitted all Roman rents up to HS 2,000/year, all Italian rents to 500 HS/year To own an urban Insula (apartment complex/block) was excellent investment but also risky To own an urban Insula (apartment complex/block) was excellent investment but also risky Rental contracts paid 6 months in advance and the rest at end of annual term Rental contracts paid 6 months in advance and the rest at end of annual term Middleman used for subleasing of insua – 20-33% commission payable Middleman used for subleasing of insua – 20-33% commission payable