The Influence of Wealth in Imperial Rome
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE - ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
i I. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1 II. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................6 1. The Increasing Scramble for Wealth................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................6 2. Bribery and Political Corruption................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................10 3. The Plundering by Governors in the Provinces................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................16 4. The Tax-farmers and Usurers Under the Republic................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................23 III. Commerce, Trade and the Accumulation of Wealth................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................37 1. The Prosperity of the Early Empire, and the Process of Romanization................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................37 2. The Ancient Attitude Toward the Means of Gain................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................56 3. Great Fortunes and Millionaires................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................65 4. Banking and Interest................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................72 5. Sea Traffic and Foreign Commerce................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................80 6. Roman Roads and Land Travel................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................95 7. Internal Commerce and Industry................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................105 8. Local Trading, Especially in Rome................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................115 9. The Professional Careers as Means of Livelihood................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................122 10. Landed Property................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................138 IV. The Expenditure of Wealth................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................152 1. Roman Luxury and Roman Sumptuary Laws................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................152 2. Debtors and Spendthrifts................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................163 3. Houses and Villas................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................167 4. Gourmandizing, Costly Funerals and Other Extravagances................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................174 5. The Delators................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................187 V. Slaves, Freedmen and Plebeians................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................194 1. The Life of the Lower Classes in Rome................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................194 2. The Slaves................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................206 3. The Freedmen................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................217 4. The Condition and Rise of the Lower Classes................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................224 5. The Roman Guilds................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................229 6. The Small Farmers and Coloni................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................237 VI. Private Munificence and Some Modern Phases................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................248 1. The Ancient Idea of Beneficence................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................248 2. The Benefactions of the Rich................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................253 3. Private and Semi-Private Exhibitions of Games................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................263 4. The Sportula. Receipt of Donatives by the Rich................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................268 5. Presents on the Saturnalia................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................273 6. Certain "Modern" Phases................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................276 7. "Back to the Country"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................283 VII. Marriage, Divorce and Childlessness................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................288 1. Money and Motives in Marriage................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................288 2. Divorce and the Causes Thereof................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................291 3. Childlessness................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................296 4. Marriage Legislation................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................300 5. Happier Marriages................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................305 6. Legacy Hunting................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................309 VIII. Some Reasons Why the Roman Empire Fell................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................314
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