Forbidden pleasures : sumptuary laws and the ideology of moral decline in Ancient Rome
This thesis investigates two important and related aspects of Roman history during the period 217 B.C. - A.D. 70. Salient types of social legislation, in particular the leges sumptuariae, funerariae, aleariae, marital and sexual laws and magisterial edicts, form one element of the inquiry. The reasons for, and the extent of, the public regulation of the personal expenditure and private behaviour of citizens are explored under the changing political circumstances of the period. Another concern is to analyse the development of a prominent theme in the classical writers and historians, namely, the perspective of moral decline. The deep-rooted and pervasive pessimism evident in the historiographical tradition during a period of exceptional prosperity and imperial expansion is critically examined. The interaction between law and morality is a principal focus of this thesis. In chapter 1 (10-30), the general themes of the work are introduced. A review of the relevant scholarly literature is followed by a brief exposition of my methodology and objectives (11-13). Then a chronological survey of the important social regulations passed during the Republic and early Principate is provided (13-17). Chapter 2 (31-72) probes
Miles, Deri Pode
Roman; Marital; Sexual; Law
Forbidden pleasures : sumptuary laws and the ideology of moral decline in Ancient Rome. This thesis investigates two important and related aspects of Roman history during the period 217 B.C. - A.D. 70. Salient types of social legislation, in particular the leges sumptuariae, funerariae, aleariae, marital and sexual laws and magisterial edicts, form one element of the inquiry. The reasons for, and the extent of, the public regulation of the personal expenditure and private behaviour of citizens are explored under the changing political circumstances of the period. Another concern is to analyse the development of a prominent theme in the classical writers and historians, namely, the perspective of moral decline. The deep-rooted and pervasive pessimism evident in the historiographical tradition during a period of exceptional prosperity and imperial expansion is critically examined. The interaction between law and morality is a principal focus of this thesis. In chapter 1 (10-30), the general themes of the work are introduced. A review of the relevant scholarly literature is followed by a brief exposition of my methodology and objectives (11-13). Then a chronological survey of the important social regulations passed during the Republic and early Principate is provided (13-17). Chapter 2 (31-72) probes
pleasure law ideology moral decline ancient_rome investigate two_important relate aspect roman_history period salient type social legislation particular marital sexual law magisterial edict form element inquiry reason extent public regulation personal expenditure private behaviour citizen explore change political circumstance period another concern analyse development prominent_theme classical writer historian namely perspective moral decline deep rooted pervasive pessimism evident historiographical_tradition period exceptional prosperity imperial expansion critically_examine interaction law morality principal_focus thesis general theme work introduce review_relevant scholarly_literature follow_brief exposition objective chronological survey important social regulation pass republic early principate provide probe