Communal responses to socio-economic problems in Italy and Gaul, 31 BC - AD 284
This thesis looks at the nature and evolution of communal responses to socio-economic problems in imperial Italy and Gaul. Ancient analysis of this topic tended to view any popular expression of discontent as the result of the moral failings of the plebs, or, somewhat more generously, as being due to poverty. These two lines of thought have had an effect on modern scholarship, shaping opinion not only on how the Roman elite viewed the general population, but also influencing and distorting our view of the actual situation. In some cases, poverty certainly was the underlying cause of unrest, as it has so often been throughout human history; to see it as the sole cause (and to imagine that the Romans perceived it to be the sole cause) is, however, an oversimplification. This thesis aims to show that a complex array of factors was responsible for those popular actions (e.g. grain riots) traditionally seen as reactions to deprivation. It will be seen that not only the socio-economic problems that caused these actions, but also the underlying customs and social mores that dictated how people reacted to these problems were manifold. In addition to showing the socio-economic complexities that dictated popular response,
Spiegl, Steven
Rome ; Italy ; Gaul ; sociology ; self-help ; violence ; communal response ; ancient history ; classics
Communal responses to socio-economic problems in Italy and Gaul, 31 BC - AD 284. This thesis looks at the nature and evolution of communal responses to socio-economic problems in imperial Italy and Gaul. Ancient analysis of this topic tended to view any popular expression of discontent as the result of the moral failings of the plebs, or, somewhat more generously, as being due to poverty. These two lines of thought have had an effect on modern scholarship, shaping opinion not only on how the Roman elite viewed the general population, but also influencing and distorting our view of the actual situation. In some cases, poverty certainly was the underlying cause of unrest, as it has so often been throughout human history; to see it as the sole cause (and to imagine that the Romans perceived it to be the sole cause) is, however, an oversimplification. This thesis aims to show that a complex array of factors was responsible for those popular actions (e.g. grain riots) traditionally seen as reactions to deprivation. It will be seen that not only the socio-economic problems that caused these actions, but also the underlying customs and social mores that dictated how people reacted to these problems were manifold. In addition to showing the socio-economic complexities that dictated popular response,
communal response socio_economic problem italy gaul look_nature evolution communal response socio_economic problem imperial italy gaul ancient analysis topic tend_view popular expression discontent moral failing somewhat generously due poverty line_think effect modern_scholarship shape opinion roman elite view general_population also influence distort view actual situation case poverty certainly underlie cause unrest often throughout human_history see sole cause imagine romans perceive sole cause however aim_show complex array factor responsible popular action grain riot traditionally_see reaction deprivation see socio_economic problem cause action also underlie custom social more dictate people react problem manifold addition show socio_economic complexity dictate popular response