Class notes

Complete notes on The Life and Times of Cicero

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Course
Unit 1 CIV1 - An introduction to an aspect of Classical Civilisation 1

Institution
AQA

Book
Selected Works

Chronologically ordered notes of the life and times of Cicero. These notes cover the hierarchy of Roman Society, the early life of Cicero, his political career and family life, along with notable events and laws passed at the time, such as the Catiline Conspiracy and the fall of Julius Caesar. I f...

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Uploaded on February 20, 2017
Number of pages 34
Written in 2015/2016
Type Class notes
Professor(s) Unknown
Contains All classes

cicero
rome
classics
classical civilisation
julius caesar
catiline conspiracy

Book Title:Selected Works

Author(s):Marcus Tullius Cicero

Edition:april 1974
ISBN:9780140440997
Edition:1

Study Level
A/AS Level
Examinator
AQA
Subject
Classical Civilisation
Unit
Unit 1 CIV1 - An introduction to an aspect of Classical Civilisation 1

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The Life and Times of Cicero
Roman Class system

Plebeians

 Had had the right to pass laws and have Tribunes by the end of the early Republic
 Lost land after military service
o Caused many to migrate to Rome
 Economy was under strain to uphold population

Equestrians

 Increasingly powerful middle class
 Originated from cavalry
o More wealth and above the legions – could own a horse
 Cicero was Equestrian
 Made money from trade
o Slaves, spices, silks, woods and animals
 Businessmen and bankers
o Lent money on interest
 Tax collectors

Roman Politics – The Cursus Honorum

Consuls

 Always two elected annually
 Held imperium (control of Rome’s armies)
 Prevented autocracy
 Both consuls took turns monthly
 Political year started in January
 Highest winner took the Curule chair first

Praetors

 6 rising to 8 under Sulla
 Annual office
 Responsible for judiciary and courts after their year in the office
 Right to govern in a province
 Had title of propraetor and kept imperium in their province
 Needed to return to province to tax population to pay off debts from bribes
o Corrupt system

Aediles

 Elected annually
 Responsible for infrastructure of Rome
 4 in total
 Water systems
 Entertainment – parties to win over population for elections

, o Julius Caesar made 200 gladiators dress in silver and fight to the death
 Responsible for the food supply

Quaestors

 20 in total
 Had to be 30 years’ old
 Annual election
 Minimum wealth qualification
 Administrative function
o Public records
o Worked in the Temple of Saturn
 Some stayed in Rome, some were posted to provinces

Dictator

 Ancient office not used extensively
 Only voted in for 6 months during a crisis

Tribunes

 Represented the Plebeians
 10 elected annually
 Raised laws to the assemblies
 Could veto

The Senate

 Numbered 600 during period due to Sulla’s conservatism
 Managed foreign policy
 Controlled expenditures
 Made up by a majority of Patricians
 Automatic right to enter the senate if you had been a Quaestor
o Prior magistrates make for a good advisory
 Worked with Tribunes to get laws passed
 In theory the senate was an advisory body, in reality it governed

1. Cicero’s background and early years
 From Appinum but had property in Rome on the Esqualine hill (unfashionable)
 Had Greek tutors
o Developed his skills in rhetoric
 Wealthy equestrian background
 Hard to find the 400,000 ses to qualify for Quaestorship
 Entered the law courts instead of the army
 Had no experience of Roman politics and no ancestors of magisterial importance
 Father had connections with Scarius the Princeps Senatus
 Cicero modelled his own career on Lucius Licinius Crassus’ consul in 95BC
 Cicero frequented the courts and understood how they worked
 Served briefly in the general staff of Pompey’s father during the social war

,Sextus Roscius 80BC

 Cicero’s first success in the civil courts Quaestio de Sacariis
 Defended Sextus Roscius who had been accused of patricide
o Faced a brutal death
 Accuser Erucius was confident Cicero would fail
o Attitude changed after mention of Chrysogonous
 Cicero accused Chrysogonus, Magnus and Capito from benefitting from the murder
o Cui Bono?
o Roscius had no motive

Cicero’s argument

 Roscius had no motive and was away from Rome at the time of the murder
o He did have connections with the Metilla however
 Magnus and Capito were more likely suspects
o Magnus was in Rome
 Messenger travelled to Amenia to inform Capito of the murder not Roscius
 Chrysogonous bought farms cheaply at auction
o Valued at 6million but bought at 2000
o Used case as a ploy against public outcry
 Cicero provided an argument based on probability rather than proof
o People wanted the restoration of law and order after proscriptions
 Cicero’s use of rhetoric made the case appear true
 Capito refused to hand over the slaves at witnesses to the victim’s death
 Cicero exposed the guilt of Chrysogonus and publicly challenged the proscriptions
o Separated the crimes of Chrysogonus from the regime and Sulla’s reforms

Outcome

 Roscius was acquitted
 Cicero called to take on more cases
o Helped increase wealthy clientel
 Cicero absolved Sulla of any involvement
 Indirectly criticised Rome’s leading politicians and the proscriptions
 Chrysogonus disappeared
 Sulla could not react as he had established the new courts
o Had to let them function
 Cicero left for Asia in 77BC to improve rhetoric technique
o Learnt to speak slower, improving his health

Marriage to Terentia

 Provided dowry of 400,000 sesterces – enough to enter the senate
 Marriage was essential for politics
 Had credible connections
o Sister in law was a vestal virgin
 Had given enough proof of his ability as an orator
 Enjoyed considerable independence
 Still kept her private property

,  Acted as a hostess during parties
 Important for Cicero to establish a stable family life
o Would look good to clients
 Aware of open house policy

2. The Start of Cicero’s Political Career
 Cicero presented the case of Roscius as a blow for liberty against a tyrant
 Went East with his brother Quintus 77BC
o Practised voice control, declamation and theory

Cicero as Quaestor – 75BC

 Served in Western Sicily from 75BC
o Served under governor Sextus Peducaeus helping with administration
 Had automatic access to the senate as Quaestor
 Sicily became Rome’s most important provider in cereals
o Political advantage for Cicero
 Acted as a financial adviser
o Calculated the price and quantity of grain bought
o Increased the supply of grain to Rome
o Decreased the dependence on publicani
 Returned to Rome 74BC
 Crassus had improved his position in Rome through the exercise of patronage
o Fire brigade
o Very rich, used money to influence the senate by supplying them with property
 Return of Pompey threatened Crassus
 73-71BC Spartacus revolt
o Defeated by Crassus who had them crucified along the Apian Way
 Pompey dealt with small slave revolt in the north
o Took most of the glory
o Given a triumph while Crassus walked behind him
 Both Pompey and Crassus served as consuls in 71BC

How noteworthy was Cicero’s quaestorship in Sicily?

Rome

 Increased grain supply
o Improved relations with Sicily
 Pacifies Roman mob through a political solution
 Another reliable patron for Sicilians
o Can benefit from Roman rule
 Curbs political and provincial unrest
 Quaestorship bought automatic membership to the senate

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