HIST 1061 Lecture 12: Emerging Roman Elites
Document Summary
In 218 bc, rome controls the entire mediterranean. Their legions are scattered all over the world after the punic/macedonian wars. Rome began to elect inexperienced rich men into senate. This marks the beginning of the senatorial position being watered down and ultimately will lose its significance thanks to prorogation and the doubling of senatorial seats to 600. The only way to truly climb the cursus honorum is via military accolades. Roman generals would pillage cities just to boost their legacy. The senators only cared about the betterment of themselves and belittling their political contemporaries. Any non-elites were not allowed to climb the cursus honorum. Plebs therefore have no voice in the senate which upsets them. Spqr is the senate and the people of rome. The spqr was supposed to make decisions in the name of rome. Council of the tribunes were easily corruptible and basically became part of the aristocratic order.
