Poverty in the Roman Poverty in the Roman WorldWorld

Poverty in the Roman WorldPoverty 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 Who was considered poor in the

Roman world?Roman world?

Chapter 1Chapter 1

1. What does Osborne mean by ‘the 1. What does Osborne mean by ‘the civic model’?civic model’?

2. Was the free grain distribution an 2. Was the free grain distribution an attempt to relieve poverty?attempt to relieve poverty?

3. What was unique about the poor in 3. What was unique about the poor in the city of Rome in comparison with the city of Rome in comparison with other urban centers in the Roman other urban centers in the Roman Empire?Empire?

Chapter 2Chapter 2

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

Poverty in the Roman WorldPoverty in the Roman Worldthe elite perspectivethe elite perspective

Sources are problematic: literary Sources are problematic: literary sources talk much about poverty – sources talk much about poverty – from perspective of the wealthyfrom perspective of the wealthy

Primarily philosophical treatises Primarily philosophical treatises Stoic Philosopher Seneca mentions Stoic Philosopher Seneca mentions

poverty most frequently – he was poverty most frequently – he was worth about 300 million (his idea of worth about 300 million (his idea of poverty was to get along with just 1 poverty was to get along with just 1 slave)slave)

Poverty in philosophy linked to virtuePoverty in philosophy linked to virtue

Chapter 2Chapter 2

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

The Roman view of povertyThe Roman view of poverty

The poor were the rich who were not The poor were the rich who were not very rich – i.e. the poet Horace who very rich – i.e. the poet Horace who had only 2 farms and a 6000 sq ft. had only 2 farms and a 6000 sq ft. villavilla

Playing poorPlaying poor “ “ Still, my determination to put your moral Still, my determination to put your moral

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

Digest 49.17.19.2.Digest 49.17.19.2. A son-in-power, having become a civilian, made a will A son-in-power, having become a civilian, made a will

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

Imperial funds from EmperorsImperial funds from Emperors CE 315: The Law Code of Theodosius 11.27.1CE 315: The Law Code of Theodosius 11.27.1 ““A law shall be written on bronze tablets or waxed A law shall be written on bronze tablets or waxed

tablets or on linen cloths and clearly posted tablets or on linen cloths and clearly posted throughout the towns and municipalities of Italy to throughout the towns and municipalities of Italy to prevent parents from killing their infants and turn prevent parents from killing their infants and turn them to better alternatives. It should be the concern them to better alternatives. It should be the concern of your office that, if any parent should report to you of your office that, if any parent should report to you a child which he is unable, because of poverty, to a child which he is unable, because of poverty, to raise, there be no delay in issuing food and clothing, raise, there be no delay in issuing food and clothing, since the raising of a newborn infant cannot since the raising of a newborn infant cannot withstand delays. We offer funds for this program withstand delays. We offer funds for this program from our treasury and our private account.”from our treasury and our private account.”

Funds like these were established only occasionallyFunds like these were established only occasionally

Private charityPrivate charity ““To my fellow townsmen of Cirta (Numidia, North Africa) To my fellow townsmen of Cirta (Numidia, North Africa)

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

CILCIL 8.1641 ( 8.1641 (ILSILS 6818) 6818)

Relief for the poorRelief for the poor

Controlled grain pricesControlled grain pricesGrain doleGrain doleWhat were the motivations – was it What were the motivations – was it

relief for the poor?relief for the poor?

Rome's corn dole was Rome's corn dole was measured out with a measured out with a modius.modius. The coin, a The coin, a quadrans of Claudius quadrans of Claudius from 42 CE shows from 42 CE shows what must be a what must be a standard type of standard type of modius,modius, set on a low set on a low tripod. tripod.

A modius resting on a A modius resting on a three-legged stand on three-legged stand on the reverse of a bronze the reverse of a bronze quadrans of Claudius. quadrans of Claudius.

Where did the Poor live?Where did the Poor live?

Apartment Housing in the city of Apartment Housing in the city of RomeRome

Our Sources: 1. literary references to rental; 2. Our Sources: 1. literary references to rental; 2. types of rental situations described in legal texts; types of rental situations described in legal texts; 3. the archaeological remains of apartment 3. the archaeological remains of apartment houses, particularly in Ostia.houses, particularly in Ostia.

Majority of the populace in the city of Rome lived Majority of the populace in the city of Rome lived in rental apartments – ranging from large luxurious in rental apartments – ranging from large luxurious ones to tiny rooms sublet in tiny apartments.ones to tiny rooms sublet in tiny apartments.

Information on rental agreements are concerned Information on rental agreements are concerned primarily with long-term and more luxury primarily with long-term and more luxury apartments (apartments (cenaculacenacula) and involved renters of ) and involved renters of some social standing some social standing

Legal sources are biased in favour of individuals of Legal sources are biased in favour of individuals of significant social statussignificant social status

For RentFor Rent

From August 13, with a 5-year leaseFrom August 13, with a 5-year leaseOn the property of Julia Felix, On the property of Julia Felix,

daughter of Spurius: the elegant daughter of Spurius: the elegant Venus Baths, streetfront ships and Venus Baths, streetfront ships and booths, and second-story apartmentsbooths, and second-story apartments

CIL 4 1136.CIL 4 1136.

For RentFor Rent

The Arrius Pollio Apartment Complex The Arrius Pollio Apartment Complex owned by Gnaeus Allius Nigidius owned by Gnaeus Allius Nigidius Maius FOR RENT from July 1 Maius FOR RENT from July 1 streetfront ships with counter space, streetfront ships with counter space, luxurious second-story apartments, luxurious second-story apartments, and a townhouse. and a townhouse.

Prospective renters, please make Prospective renters, please make arrangements with Primus, slave of arrangements with Primus, slave of Gnaeus Allius Nigidius MaiusGnaeus Allius Nigidius Maius

CIL 4.138CIL 4.138

Majority of lower –class people lived in dingy very Majority of lower –class people lived in dingy very cramped cheap apartments not in organized cramped cheap apartments not in organized Cenacula but Cenacula but in mezzanines or backrooms of in mezzanines or backrooms of ground-floor shops in which they workedground-floor shops in which they worked

Evidence suggests over 90% of population of Ostia Evidence suggests over 90% of population of Ostia lived in the shops or small flats or slept in the lived in the shops or small flats or slept in the streets. (see Also Ammianus Marcellinus 14.6.25)streets. (see Also Ammianus Marcellinus 14.6.25)

leases for poor different terms – no evidenceleases for poor different terms – no evidence Small flats on upper floors of low quality buildings, Small flats on upper floors of low quality buildings,

usually rows of small rooms, often larger rooms usually rows of small rooms, often larger rooms partitioned into small cubicles with very poor or partitioned into small cubicles with very poor or indirect light; or could rent 1 or 2 rooms in an indirect light; or could rent 1 or 2 rooms in an apartment suiteapartment suite

Sublets commonSublets common

TerminologyTerminology

MeritoriaMeritoria – lodgings of the poor; in legal – lodgings of the poor; in legal sources innssources inns

Taberna meritoriaTaberna meritoria - often used for an inn - often used for an inn TabernaTaberna - dwilling of the poor in Horace, - dwilling of the poor in Horace,

Carmen 1.4.13Carmen 1.4.13 In legal sources any residence In legal sources any residence Latin authors used terms with indifference Latin authors used terms with indifference

wide variety of words referring to lodging wide variety of words referring to lodging houseshouses

Inns probably had both transient lodgers Inns probably had both transient lodgers and permanent lodgersand permanent lodgers

RentRent Lowest rent for cenaculum recorded 2,000 HS (paid by a Lowest rent for cenaculum recorded 2,000 HS (paid by a

freedman in 2freedman in 2ndnd century BCE) century BCE) Senators rented in Rome usually higher than 6,000 HSSenators rented in Rome usually higher than 6,000 HS Low class rental (in Petronius) 1 as per night for room in Low class rental (in Petronius) 1 as per night for room in

unpleasant innunpleasant inn Context: late Republic unskilled labourer made about 1000 Context: late Republic unskilled labourer made about 1000

HS/yearHS/year Iulius Caesar in 48 BCE remitted all Roman rents up to HS Iulius Caesar in 48 BCE remitted all Roman rents up to HS

2,000/year, all Italian rents to 500 HS/year2,000/year, all Italian rents to 500 HS/year To own an urban Insula (apartment complex/block) was To own an urban Insula (apartment complex/block) was

excellent investment but also riskyexcellent investment but also risky Rental contracts paid 6 months in advance and the rest at Rental contracts paid 6 months in advance and the rest at

end of annual termend of annual term Middleman used for subleasing of insua – 20-33% Middleman used for subleasing of insua – 20-33%

commission payablecommission payable