Empire and Power:

Individual and Family in Ancient Rome

When Tiberius inherited sovereign power from Augustus, he became the second emperor of Rome, thus permanently instituting dynastic succession. This system introduced new players into the ruling hierarchy: the Imperial family and court. Tacitus and Suetonius offer incisive portrayals not only of the autocrat and aristocratic officials, but also the women and freedmen surrounding the court. It is these individuals who, through detailed descriptions of their personal intrigue, characterize the administration of the Empire. Though expressing common perceptions of gender and status, Martial, Petronius, and Seneca reveal the reactions of a society with conservative Roman Republican ideals being reconciled in an increasingly Hellenized Empire. Both Greek and Latin sources from the High and Late Empire reflect the changing status of women and freedmen amid a growing diversity of customs and ideas. This new fluidity was encouraged by the preferences of elite families emanating from various provincial backgrounds, rather than strictly Roman and conservative ancestry. This course will focus on these individuals and families of the Roman Empire who broke traditional stereotypes and formed new fashions and societal rules. Topics include: the changing status of traditional gender types and established class systems and the role of rulers, women, and freedmen.

Tiberius, Emperor 14-37

Prima Porta Augustus, Emperor 31 BC-14	Livia, wife of Augustus	Tiberius, Emperor 14-37
Agrippina the Elder, wife of Germanicus	Messalina, 3rd wife of Claudius	Agrippina the Younger, 4th wife of Claudius and mother of Nero