Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Citizenship and Class Structure

Concepts of Citizenship


Civitas
  • relationship between man and city; responsibilities of a member of collective society
  • most important value; linked to ownership of self, self-posession, self-control (moderation, temperance)
  • individual value is based on other's perceptions; social currency
  • individual value is conditional

Gloria - glory; reputation, fame

Dignitas - dignity; position in the social order

Fama - fame; others report of an individual, more well-known the better

Honos - a post of honor or elected office

Individual Citizen's Value = Gloria + Dignitas+ Fama + Honos


Class Structure

Patrician (senatores) - families from the founding of the city; senate is heads of patrician families

Equestrian (equites) - elevated middle class; knight or elevated plebean; earned through acts of great bravery or procurement of wealth

Plebeian (plebs or vulgus) - middle or lower class; freeborn citizens of newer families, tribes

Salves (servi), Foreigners (peregrini), Non-Citizens - little or no value

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