Constitution of the Roman Constitution of the Roman Republic Republic

and the Italian and the Italian ConfederationConfederation

Formal Structures and Formal Structures and Extra-Constitutional Extra-Constitutional

RealitiesRealities

““The Roman constitution was a screen and The Roman constitution was a screen and a sham.”a sham.”

Ronald Syme,Ronald Syme, The Roman The Roman RevolutionRevolution (15) (15)

Roman Republican MagistratesRoman Republican Magistrates

Roman Expansion and Roman Roman Expansion and Roman Political StructuresPolitical Structures

Conclusion of First Punic War Conclusion of First Punic War ((provinciaeprovinciae)) 241 BCE: Additional praetor for foreigners 241 BCE: Additional praetor for foreigners

(2)(2) Addition of Sicily and Sardinia-CorsicaAddition of Sicily and Sardinia-Corsica

227 BCE: Two additional praetors (4)227 BCE: Two additional praetors (4) Addition of SpainAddition of Spain

198 BCE: Two additional praetors (6)198 BCE: Two additional praetors (6) Prorogation (Prorogation (proconsulproconsul, , propraetorpropraetor)) Senatorial Senatorial legatilegati

Polybius on the Roman Polybius on the Roman ConstitutionConstitution

A Greek Looks at RomeA Greek Looks at Rome

Key Dates in Polybius’ LifetimeKey Dates in Polybius’ Lifetime

Ca. 200 BCE: Birth in MegalopolisCa. 200 BCE: Birth in Megalopolis 198 BCE: Achaean understanding with Rome and 198 BCE: Achaean understanding with Rome and

abandonment of Macedoniaabandonment of Macedonia Lycortas, Polybius’ father, serves as Lycortas, Polybius’ father, serves as strategosstrategos of the of the

Achaean Confederation several times in the 180s BCEAchaean Confederation several times in the 180s BCE Polybius’ in funeral entourage of the great Achaean Polybius’ in funeral entourage of the great Achaean

statesman Philopoemen (182 BCE)statesman Philopoemen (182 BCE) Polybius selected as Achaean envoy in 181/180 BCE to Polybius selected as Achaean envoy in 181/180 BCE to

Alexandria in EgyptAlexandria in Egypt Polybius elected Polybius elected hipparchoshipparchos, or cavalry commander, of , or cavalry commander, of

the Achaean Confederation for 170/169 BCEthe Achaean Confederation for 170/169 BCE Romans defeat Macedonia in 168 BCE; round up Romans defeat Macedonia in 168 BCE; round up

suspected pro-Macedonians and incarcerate them in Italy suspected pro-Macedonians and incarcerate them in Italy (Polybius among them)(Polybius among them)

Polybius as political hostage at Rome from 168-ca. 150 Polybius as political hostage at Rome from 168-ca. 150 BCE; friendship with P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus; BCE; friendship with P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus; composition of composition of HistoriesHistories

Achaean War: Romans destroy Corinth and dissolve Achaean War: Romans destroy Corinth and dissolve Achaean Confederation (146 BCE)Achaean Confederation (146 BCE)

After 146 BCE: Polybius in Greece on Romans’ behalf; After 146 BCE: Polybius in Greece on Romans’ behalf; helps to institute the new dispensation in Greecehelps to institute the new dispensation in Greece

Plaster cast of relief sculpture found in Cleitor thought to represent the Greek historian Polybius

“Greece would not have fallen had it obeyed Polybius in everything, and when Greece did meet disaster, its only help came from him”

~ Inscription on the Temple of Despoina near Arakesion reported by Pausanias, 8.37.2

Book Six: Political Analysis of the Book Six: Political Analysis of the Roman StateRoman State

““How and under what type of constitution How and under what type of constitution were the Romans able to subjugate most of were the Romans able to subjugate most of the inhabited world in half a century?”the inhabited world in half a century?” ~ ~ Histories Histories 1.1.51.1.5

AnacyclosisAnacyclosis Theory--Biological Model of Theory--Biological Model of States (genesis, acme, decline)States (genesis, acme, decline)

““Mixed” Constitution at RomeMixed” Constitution at Rome blend of monarchic, aristocratic, and blend of monarchic, aristocratic, and

democratic elementsdemocratic elements harmony through “checks and balances”harmony through “checks and balances”

Inconsistency? Roman Vulnerability or Inconsistency? Roman Vulnerability or Durability?Durability? Reader-Response Theory (Greek and Roman Reader-Response Theory (Greek and Roman

audiences)--a politics of indeterminacy?audiences)--a politics of indeterminacy? LogismosLogismos, the quintessential Greek virtue, the quintessential Greek virtue,,

as the key element in the Roman as the key element in the Roman constitutionconstitution

Polybius’ Roman Polybius’ Roman Republican Constitution (Book 6)Republican Constitution (Book 6)

Rome as Greek Rome as Greek PolisPolis Greek Political Theory Applied to Greek Political Theory Applied to

RomeRome Hostility to Democratic ElementHostility to Democratic Element Polybius’ Offense: Demagogic Politics Polybius’ Offense: Demagogic Politics

the Charge of his Political Opposition the Charge of his Political Opposition within the Achaean Confederation?within the Achaean Confederation?

Polybius’ OmissionsPolybius’ Omissions

Roman Expansion and Roman Roman Expansion and Roman Political StructuresPolitical Structures

Nature of Roman Political Nature of Roman Political AssembliesAssemblies

Extra-Constitutional Force of Extra-Constitutional Force of PatronagePatronage

Economic and Social Forces in Economic and Social Forces in Roman ElectionsRoman Elections

The Italian AlliesThe Italian Allies

Polybius’ OmissionsPolybius’ Omissions

Roman Elections and Political Roman Elections and Political AssembliesAssemblies

A Screen and a Sham?A Screen and a Sham?

Aristocratic Aristocratic AuctoritasAuctoritas and and DignitasDignitas

PatronagePatronage ContionesContiones Electoral Bribery (Electoral Bribery (ambitusambitus)) Open Balloting (until 139 Open Balloting (until 139 BCEBCE))

Polybian OmissionsPolybian Omissions

The Italian AlliesThe Italian Allies

External RelationsExternal RelationsItaly and the ProvincesItaly and the Provinces

Italian Confederation and the MilitaryItalian Confederation and the Military Warfare necessary for the stability of the Warfare necessary for the stability of the

Confederation (Momigliano)?Confederation (Momigliano)? Western ProvincesWestern Provinces

SpainSpain GaulGaul AfricaAfrica

Greece and the EastGreece and the East