Politics in the Roman Republic (Key Themes in Ancient History)

The Politics Of The Roman Republic Has In Recent Decades Been The Subject Of Intense Debate, Covering Issues Such As The Degree Of Democracy And Popular Influence, 'parties' And Ideology, Politics As Public Ritual, And The Character Of Rome's Political Culture. This Engaging Book Examines All These Issues Afresh, And Presents An Original Synthesis Of Rome's Political Institutions And Practices. It Begins By Explaining The Development Of The Roman Constitution Over Time Before Turning To The Practical Functioning Of The Republic, Focusing Particularly On The Role Of The Populus Romanus And The Way Its Powers Were Expressed In The Popular Assemblies. Henrik Mouritsen Concludes By Exploring Continuity And Change In Roman Politics As Well As The Process By Which The Republican System Was Eventually Replaced By Monarchy. This Original And Readable Book Will Be Important For All Students And Scholars Of Roman History And Of Politics In General. Senatus Populusque Romanus: Institutions And Practices -- Leaders And Masses In The Roman Republic -- Consensus And Competition. Henrik Mouritsen, King's College, London. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 176-197) And Index. Series Page 3 Title Page 6 Copyright 7 Table of Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations (Authors and Works) 11 Introduction 14 1 Senatus Populusque Romanus: Institutions and Practices 19 Polybius and the Roman Political System 20 Cicero’s Res Publica 26 ‘The Power of the People’: The Comitia in the Roman Republic 28 ‘Religion’ and ‘Politics’ 34 Voting and Assemblies 38 The ‘Struggle of the Orders’ and the Evolution of the Roman Political System 44 The Comitia Centuriata 52 The Reform of the Comitia Centuriata 55 The Centuria Praerogativa: Lottery and Elections 58 Breaking the Rules: Ambitus 64 2 Leaders and Masses in the Roman Republic 67 Popular Participation 68 ‘Saying Yes’: Voting in the Popular Assemblies 71 From Comitia to Contiones: the Rise of a New Paradigm 74 Comitia as ‘Civic Rituals’ 80 Audience and Communication at Contiones 85 Why Did the Romans Hold Contiones? 92 The Contio in the Late Republic 98 Leaders and Masses: the ‘Political Culture’ of the Republic 107 Epilogue: Politics and Military Expansion 112 3 Consensus and Competition 118 Narrative and Periodisation: the Making of the ‘Classic’ Republic 119 Before the ‘Fall’ 121 Inventing the ‘Populares’ and ‘Optimates’ 125 Sallust: Politics without ‘Optimates’ and ‘Populares’ 136 Politics without ‘Parties’ 139 Sulla and the Tribunate 149 Content and ‘Style’ in Late Republican Politics 160 Popularity in the Late Republic 166 Discourse and Ideology 172 The End of the Republic 177 Bibliographic Essay 186 Bibliography 189 Index 211 Resumen del editor: "The politics of the Roman Republic has in recent decades been the subject of intense debate, covering issues such as the degree of democracy and popular influence, 'parties' and ideology, politics as public ritual, and the character of Rome's political culture. This engaging book examines all these issues afresh, and presents an original synthesis of Rome's political institutions and practices. It begins by explaining the development of the Roman constitution over time before turning to the practical functioning of the Republic, focusing particularly on the role of the populus Romanus and the way its powers were expressed in the popular assemblies. Henrik Mouritsen concludes by exploring continuity and change in Roman politics as well as the process by which the republican system was eventually replaced by monarchy. This original and readable book will be important for all students and scholars of Roman history and of politics in general." Índice: 1. Senatus Populusque Romanus: institutions and practices -2. Leaders and masses in the Roman Republic - 3. Consensus and competition