Roman and Greek society

To properly assemble a character, you use the characteristics Time/genre, Race, Class, Background. This can be applied to both fantasy characters and historical characters for reenactment, LARP, living history, and RPG. This blog about classes in classical antiquity is ideal if you want to create a Roman character.

The ancient Greek and Roman societies have had a lasting influence on the development of Western culture and society. An important aspect of daily life in these ancient civilizations was the presence of classes. Individuals were categorized based on basic their social status, wealth, and power. This article explores the different classes in Greek and Roman antiquity and the role they played in these societies.

In ancient Greece, there were various social classes: the aristocrats, citizens, and slaves. The aristocrats, also known as the nobility, were the highest class and held political power, wealth, and land ownership. They were known for their education, physical strength, and participation in politics. This class also included the renowned philosophers and other scholars of that time. 

The citizens formed the middle class and were usually farmers, fishermen, traders, and craftsmen. They had limited political rights and were responsible for governing the city-state (polis). The slaves were the lowest class and were owned by the aristocrats and citizens. They had no rights and were used for labor in households, agriculture, and crafts. Ancient Greece influenced Roman culture, and as a result, some characteristics of their society were adopted by the Romans. 

In ancient Rome the social classes were more complex and varied than in Greece. Roman society was divided into different classes based on basic of wealth, ancestry, and political power. The main classes were the patricians, plebeians, equites, and slaves. The Roman Empire recognized both citizens and residents. Roman citizenship was an important concept in ancient Rome and played a crucial role in the political, legal, and social structures of the Roman Empire. Citizenship granted an individual certain rights and privileges not enjoyed by non-citizens, such as legal protection, the right to vote, and access to certain positions and offices.

Roman citizenship evolved over the course of the empire's history. Initially, it was limited to patricians. These patricians were members of the oldest and most prominent families in Rome and enjoyed special privileges and influence in the politics and administration of the city. In 287 BC, plebeians also received Roman citizenship. This occurred after a political struggle of over two centuries between the patricians and plebeians, during which plebeians gradually acquired more rights and political participation. In 212 AD, Emperor Caracalla issued the 'Edict of Caracalla', which granted virtually all inhabitants of the Roman Empire citizenship automatically. This edict, the Constitutio Antoniniana, ended the formal distinction between Roman citizens and non-citizens.

were the highest class and were descendants of the ancient Roman aristocracy. They had political and social privileges that often remained within the family for generations. They held high offices and were owners of large estates. 

also known as the knight class, were wealthy citizens primarily involved in trade and finance. They owned horses and often served as cavalry in the Roman army. Before Augustus' military reforms, Roman warriors, like those in ancient Greece, had to finance their own equipment. In contrast, only those who could afford equipment had to serve in the Roman army. This changed during Augustus' military reforms. 

constituted the majority of the population and were farmers, traders, and craftsmen. They had fewer political rights and often represented their interests through popular assemblies. The plebeians formed, at least in the early years, the vast majority of the Roman population. Later, the patricians and plebeians mingled more, and the strict social divides became less clear. Additionally, freed slaves and foreigners were not considered plebeians because they did not have citizenship rights. 

Legionaries did not really form a class, but from the late republic and imperial era, the profession of legionary became an attractive alternative for plebeians. Over the centuries, legionaries became an increasingly separate class with the same status as Roman citizens. 

Roman mercenaries were recruited from other peoples such as the Germans and Celts. This group also did not form a class, but was very large. In the later years of the imperial era, more than 50% of the Roman army consisted of auxilia. If an auxilia served 25 years in the Roman army (and still lived), he was awarded the Roman diploma. He was now a full Roman citizen. 

The status of foreigners in the Roman Empire varied depending on several factors, such as their origin, social status, and the specific period in the history of the empire. Firstly, the inhabitants of Roman territory outside Italy, such as provinces and conquered areas, were seen as foreigners. They were generally considered subjected peoples. Although they sometimes enjoyed local autonomy and self-governance, they were ultimately subordinate to the authority of Rome. These subjected peoples often had limited political rights and frequently had to pay taxes to Rome. Foreigners who settled within Roman territory (migrants) had different legal positions depending on their status.

However, foreigners could also have other sub-statuses. Some had a ius Latii, which meant they enjoyed some of the rights and privileges of Roman citizenship, but not all. Others had the status of peregrinus, which meant they were foreigners without Roman citizenship. Peregrini had certain legal rights but were generally subject to the laws and authority of Rome. Over the centuries, the area associated with citizenship by the Romans shifted. As a result, people from Gaul automatically became Roman citizens. The Romans actively encouraged foreigners to become Roman citizens. For instance, a mercenary could participate as auxiliae in the Roman army, earning Roman citizenship after 25 years of service. Loyalty and economic contributions could also grant Roman citizenship. Integrating 'new Romans' was very important to keep the Roman Empire together. Generally, foreigners in the Roman Empire were not entirely equal to Roman citizens, but their specific status and rights could vary depending on different factors.

were widespread in the Roman Empire and were used for various forms of labor, ranging from domestic work to mining and even teaching. In the 1st-3rd centuries AD, the Roman Empire was expected to have 2-3 million slaves at all times. Slaves were made from prisoners and conquered peoples. Also, children of slaves were slaves. Although slaves were considered property, Roman jurists recognized that slaves had certain rights. For example, an owner was expected to provide their slaves with food, shelter, and clothing. In some cases, slaves could also 'own' property, such as money or goods, but these still belonged to their owner.

Some slaves were fortunate to be placed in households where they enjoyed relatively good conditions, such as education and social mobility. Others were subjected to hard physical labor and lived in poor conditions.

Some Roman thinkers wrote about the humanity of slaves. Stoic philosophers like Seneca, for example, emphasized that slaves shared the same essential human characteristics and feelings as free people. Moreover, instances of manumission sometimes occurred, where slaves were freed by their owners and obtained the status of freedmen. Freedmen had some rights and could participate in society, although they often still faced restrictions.

The main difference between a gladiator and a charioteer was that charioteers came from the free class and were professional athletes. Chariot racing was extremely dangerous, and most charioteers did not live long! Chariot racing was a very popular sport in ancient Rome, especially on the circus track, like the famous Circus Maximus in Rome. The charioteers, known as "aurigae," were talented and well-trained athletes who raced with horse-drawn carts. They were admired and respected in Roman society for their skills and bravery. Many charioteers served under an owner (lanista). However, the lanista could not decide over the life or freedom of the racers, and the racers enjoyed autonomy and fame in their profession.

Gladiators were usually slaves, prisoners of war, or convicted criminals, but there were also voluntary gladiators. They became the property of a lanista, who trained them and provided them with accommodation and equipment. Gladiators were trained in various fighting styles and fought against other gladiators, wild animals, or even experienced soldiers in large amphitheaters. Despite the dangerous nature of their profession, successful gladiators enjoyed popularity and status, and some managed to earn their freedom.

In both ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, there were (limited) opportunities for social mobility between the classes. Generally, individuals remained bound to the class in which they were born, although there were exceptions. For example, in the Roman Empire, it was possible to rise to a higher class through military service, trade, and political career. Despite the separation between the classes, there was interaction between them. For instance, aristocrats could enter into marriages with other aristocratic families to increase their status and wealth. Trade and economic activities also facilitated contact between different classes, although the social distance was usually maintained.

The Roman culture was a strong patriarchal culture in which men held power and prestige. This was adopted from the Greeks as opposed to the Etruscans, where women were freer and held higher esteem. Through Christianity, this tradition was continued in the Middle Ages and thus perpetuated into our modern society. The status and rights of women depended on various factors, such as their social class, marital status, and period in Roman history. The legal status of women in the Roman Empire was complex and evolved over time. In the early Republican period, women had limited legal rights and were subject to the patriarchal authority of their father or husband. As time progressed, their rights were somewhat expanded. Women could, for example, own and manage property, but often under the guardianship of a male relative. Marriage was an important legal institution for women, and their rights and duties were largely determined by their husband. Compared to Celtic and Germanic cultures, Roman women had limited rights. 

In general, women from higher social classes had access to education. Although education mainly consisted of being able to recite works of classical masters such as Plato and Aristotle. For women from the aristocracy, there was sometimes more emphasis on a broader education, including literature and rhetoric. There were some well-known Roman women, such as Cornelia, the mother of the Gracchi, and the poetess Sappho, who were known for their intellectual ability. Additionally, women often handled bookkeeping and could read and write. 

In the Roman Empire, the family was the basic of society, and women played a central role in family life. They were seen as the managers of the household and had the responsibility for raising children and managing the household. This could range from a small household in a Roman apartment building to managing a large villa. Women played a management role in this because, especially in wealthy households, much work was done by slaves. Managing the slaves was a full-time job in itself. Women from the lower classes were often involved in crafts such as weaving, sewing, and herbal preparation. Some women from poor families had to work outside the home, for example as maids or in prostitution.

Women often had a strong (political) influence on family decisions and could exert a lot of power through this means. They also organized parties where often within higher classes impressions were made on political allies. They could develop political and social networks and exert influence through their connections and relationships. Some women, empresses like Livia and Agrippina, had considerable influence on the political scene.

The Roman religion was heavily adopted from the Greek religion. Additionally, there was room for gods from other religions, such as the Celtic Cernunnos and Epona, and the Egyptian Isis were adopted. The polytheism, where various gods were worshipped, was open to other beliefs (but initially not to Christianity).   

The Roman religion had an extensive collection of gods and goddesses, rituals, and temples, and was an essential part of the daily life and culture of the Romans. In addition to temples, many Romans had a household altar (lararium) where they worshiped their household gods. Which gods these were often depended on the profession and preferences.

In the Roman polytheistic religion, there were numerous gods and goddesses representing various aspects of human life and nature. Jupiter, the chief god, embodied the sky and thunder, while Juno was the goddess of marriage and family. Mars was the god of war, and Minerva was revered as the goddess of wisdom and the arts. These gods and goddesses were worshiped and honored in temples and at public ceremonies.

The Roman religion included a wide range of rituals and festivals that honored the gods and brought the community together. Offerings, prayers, and processions were common practices in temples and sanctuaries. Famous festivals, such as the Saturnalia, were a time of joy and festivities, where social norms were reversed and people entertained themselves with banquets, gifts, and entertainment.

Temples were the sacred places where the gods were worshiped. These magnificent structures were architectural masterpieces and served as meeting places for believers. Priests played an important role in maintaining the religious traditions. They led ceremonies, offered sacrifices to the gods, and were the intermediaries between the people and the divine world.

With the rise of Christianity, the class structures in the Roman Empire began to shift. Christianity preached an equality of all people before God, challenging the status and power of the aristocrats. The concept of charity and care for the poor led to greater concern for the underprivileged, slaves, and gladiatorial games. Events such as gladiator fights and animal fights came to an end, but slavery continued to be widely used until the fall of the Roman Empire. The Romans did not abolish slavery; it gradually declined due to economic downturn. 

Also, the aristocracy largely managed to retain its power and status through the integration of Christianity into existing structures and the cooperation between church and state, which remained active to a greater or lesser extent into the early modern period. Aristocratic families embraced Christianity and held important positions within the new religious hierarchy. This allowed them to maintain their political and social influence, albeit in a different context.

Did you know that the population of the Roman Empire never saw their emperors? People recognized the emperor through Roman busts and statues and through Roman coins. After the death of an emperor, the head of the statue was usually replaced so that the rest of the statue could be reused. Roman coins circulated for hundreds of years. As a result, the coins in the purse often depicted different emperors. 

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What did all those different Romans look like? 

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