Benefit of imperial rule for the people (bread and circuses) Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the phrase used to describe the benefits of imperial rule for inhabitants of Rome?
“Bread and circuses” [Juvenal, Satires]
This phrase highlights how emperors maintained control over the populace through lavish entertainment and provisions, reflecting a satirical view of how emperors placated the masses.
What types of events did Augustus provide to entertain the Roman people? [Res Gestae]
Gladiator battles, beast hunts, naval battles
These events were part of Augustus’s strategy to keep the population engaged and satisfied.
How many sesterces did Augustus give to each man, and in what years? [Res Gestae]
400 sesterces, given three times: 29BC, 24BC, and 12BC
This was a significant sum that contributed to Augustus’s popularity.
What did Tacitus suggest about the Senate under Tiberius?
The Senate was forced into ‘subservience’ to survive and protect their position
This implies a shift in power dynamics during Tiberius’s reign.
What did Gaius do to gain popularity among the people? [Suet]
“would scatter vouchers among the audience entitling them to all sorts of gifts”
This tactic was used to secure public favor.
What significant financial gift did Claudius provide to soldiers and what was important about this? [Suet]
15,000 sesterces, making him the “first of the Caesars to purchase the loyalty of his troops”
What actions did Nero take during games to win over the people? [Suet]
Gave out gifts, including vouchers for farms, ships, and slaves
This shows how emperors utilized public events to distribute wealth.
What does the closing of the Gates of the temple of Janus Quirinus 3 times signify under Augustus?
It was a period of peace
What was the people’s reaction to Claudius’s rise to power? [Josephus]
®The people were happy that Claudius was in power as they believed “the emperors acted as a curb for its rapacity and were a source of protection for themselves”
According to Dio what was the public response to Nero’s ousting?
celebrated as if they’d been “freed from slavery”
According to Suetonius how did Augustus prepare for fires?
“He organized stations of nightwatchmen to watch for fires”
What did Claudius do to recruit firefighters during a fire outbreak? [Suet]
Sat with bags of gold and paid people
What price reduction did Nero implement for corn after a fire? [Tacitus]
“Less than a sesterce a pound”
What differing views did historians have regarding largesse under Tiberius?
Suetonius and Tacitus say it was rare, while Velleius Paterculus disagrees
Why does the reign of Gaius suggest the threat of civil war wasn’t reduced and instability remained? [Josephus + Dio]
Gaius killed by a senatorial and praetorian conspiracy, and so tumultuous.
