Plebeians

Research Case: Why Did Debt Burdens Weaken Plebeian Political Participation and Interest in Sharing Public Office?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 7 1. Question In Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book VII, plebeians had long demanded greater access to political authority. The Licinian law opened a path for plebeians to enter the consulship. Plebeians also gradually gained access to other senior offices. However, Chapter … Read more

Research Case: Why Did Lower Interest Rates Fail to End Plebeian Hardship?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 7 1. Question In Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book VII, Rome introduced measures to reduce the burden of debt on the plebeians. In Chapter 16, the tribunes Marcus Duilius and Lucius Menenius passed a measure that limited the rate of interest to … Read more

Research Case: What Was Required beyond Opening Public Office for Office Sharing to Become Real Sharing of Governing Authority?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 7 1. Question In Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book VII, Lucius Sextius, a plebeian, became consul. This meant that access to one of the highest offices of the Roman Republic was formally opened to plebeians. However, formal access to the consulship did … Read more

Research Case: Why Did the Plebeians Need Access Not Only to the Consulship but Also to the Dictatorship and Censorship?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 7 1. Question In Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book VII, plebeians finally gained access to the consulship. Lucius Sextius became consul, and one of the highest magistracies of the Roman Republic was no longer reserved only for patricians. However, plebeian political expansion … Read more

Research Case: Why Did the Patricians Continue to Obstruct Plebeian Consuls and Their Elections Even after the First Plebeian Consul Appeared?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 7 1. Question In Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book VII, Lucius Sextius became consul as a plebeian. This was the moment when the political reform associated with the Licinian Sextian laws was no longer only a legal demand. It became an actual … Read more

Research Case: Why Did the Patricians Secure the Praetorship and Curule Aedileship in Exchange for Accepting a Plebeian Consul?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 7 1. Question At the beginning of Livy’s Book VII, Lucius Sextius, a plebeian, entered the consulship. This was a major change in the political structure of the Roman Republic. One of Rome’s highest offices was no longer controlled only by the patricians. However, the … Read more

Research Case: Why Did the Sharing of Public Office Begin a New Struggle over Governing Authority Instead of Ending the Conflict between Patricians and Plebeians?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 7 1. Question At the beginning of Livy’s Book VII, an important political change took place in the Roman Republic. Lucius Sextius, a plebeian, became consul. One of the highest offices of the Republic was no longer reserved only for patricians. At first sight, this … Read more

Research Case: Why did the dedication of one tenth of the spoils become both a religious duty and a cause of stronger resentment among the plebeians?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 5 1. Question Why did the dedication of one tenth of the spoils become both a religious duty and a cause of stronger resentment among the plebeians? This question is not only about the religious act of offering something to the gods.In Livy’s History of … Read more

Research Case: Why did Rome suffer more from domestic conflict over recruitment, war tax, and long-term service than from foreign enemies?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 5 1. Question Why did Rome suffer more from domestic conflict over recruitment, war tax, and long-term military service than from foreign enemies? This question is not only about internal conflict in Rome.In Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book 5, the Veii War … Read more

Research Case: Why did the collection of war tax become both a military finance issue and a cause of class conflict?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 5 1. Question Why did the collection of war tax become both a military finance issue and a cause of class conflict? This question is not only about taxation.In Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book 5, Rome had moved into a long-term war … Read more