The Regal Period: some "history" and institutions

The Problems: Even Livy, the Roman historian of the Augustan Age, accepted that Roman tradition on her early history was unreliable. Nonetheless, archaeology and textual criticism do offer some insights into early institutions. It is however essential to bear in mind that we are not dealing with developed / establish monarchy, but with primitive kingship, i.e., the leadership of warrior bands.

Chronology

Aeneas&Dido ; the legend of the wolf and twins; the wolf; wolf.

1. The Institutions of Regal Rome.
   1. On the tradition and on "reconstructing" the past
      1. Note that much of the legendary material is based on stories derived from circumstantial evidence [esp the names, Brutus, Tarquinius, Romulus, etc.].
      2. Many of the tales are aetiological, that is, they answer standard questions about the formation of institutions by telling a more or less pertinent story.). The Horatii. and their sister one, two
      3. All these tales insist on the reward of the virtuous and the ultimate punishment of the evil...they are then didactic.
      4. There (again) is a genuine historical core; but it is on a very general level (e.g., conflicts with Etruscans, etc.).
   2. Institutions in the Regal Period
      1. Law, in the formal, written sense does not exist, but there certainly was an oral tradition (established ways of doing things), royal decrees and extra-legal institutions --some of which survive (see below). What we need to do is to identify those forces that bind people together? Law is not the only compelling force in our social relations: respect (pietas) for others, for parents, colleagues, teachers; shared religious and secular values; a common identity.
      2. The contributions
         1. The Indo-Europeans, including the Latins and Italic peoples, begin to arrive in Italy in about 1800 (roughly the same time that they are arriving in Greece). The introduction of the horse for work and for war is the telling characteristic.
            1. Religion--similar characteristics in Greece. Ancestor worship of family (why a binding force?); the "Olympians".
            2. Social organization was patriarchal and extended family.
            3. Economy, esp use of horse.
         2. Etruscan influence --decisive in many ways
            1. In language, not too strong, though alphabet is adopted and some words.
            2. In political representation, religion and cult / ritual decisive in many ways
               1. a unique sense of the relationship between celestial and terrestrial; they are in sympathy. Divination. What are the underlying assumptions of divination?
               2. it is a "revealed" religion; a "state-religion"
   3. The state of society at the end of the regal period.
      1. Political
         1. There was a kingship; anachronisms survived --regia, rex sacrorum, interrex. He was an elected warrior king who was nominated by elders (senate) and confirmed by people (lex curiata)
         2. Senate: a council of elders.
         3. Populus/people: divided into three tribes, the Ramnes, Tities and Luceres = "followers of Romulus" (i.e., Latins), "the followers of Titus Tatius (a Sabine king), "followers of the lucumo (Etruscan kings)? So much has been suggested. Each tribe had ten curiae, some of the curiae might consist of one family/clan, others of several families; some are plainly artificial.
      2. Material culture: the arx, early walls and gate, pottery in the Greek style, pottery in the native style,  temple (Cosa), model temple, temple (Rome), Apollo
2. Extra-legal institutions: three interconnecting concepts --familia, status and patronage (RC § 8: We shall be reading this section in detail; I will ask for volunteers to interpret). How can unity be achieved by these concepts? They alleviate anxiety because they carefully define the role of each person in society; they define the privileges, duties and responsibilities of each individual.
   1. Status. Romans had no concept of real equality.
      1. patricians and plebeians.
      2. caste, class and status?
   2. Familia (use this word rather that "family" which suggests "nuclear family")
      1. an individual without a familia is defenseless
      2. familia consists of members are not necessarily related by blood, includes then clients/dependents.
      3. It was the number of dependents that gave a Roman aristocrat his prestige.
   3. Patronage: the relationship between two parties of unequal status based on mutual moral ties (fides = "good faith"). do ut des: Latin for: "I give in order that you give".  A patron.   "I am going to make him an offer he can't refuse!"  --Don Vito Corleone. Or try this one
3. Roman religion --a test case RC §46 ff, 55 (esp).
   1. Numina: virtual pantheism.
   2. Anthropomorphic: personification or personalization of those forces; they are given human formal.
   3. There is a intimate connection between gods and men, between the celestial and the terrestrial.
4. Economy: read calendar, RC §§ 9 and 10 (71)