Rape, Law and Politics in Ancient Roman Society

Rape, Law and Politics in Ancient Roman Society

Author: Feranmi Williams

Publisher: GRIN Verlag

Published: 2024-06-06

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9783389046067

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Bachelor Thesis from the year 2024 in the subject World History - Early and Ancient History, University of Ibadan, course: Classics, language: English, abstract: This study explores the profound impact of notorious rapes in Ancient Rome - those of Rhea Silvia, the Sabine women, Lucretia, and Livia - on the political and social development of Roman civilization. These harrowing incidents, documented in Roman history, were pivotal in shaping key political milestones such as the founding of Rome, the establishment of the Republic, and the post-Decemvirate restoration efforts. By examining how sexual assault was addressed within Roman governance and society, this research highlights the persistent issue of rape from antiquity to the present day. It draws parallels between historical and contemporary responses to sexual violence, suggesting that insights from ancient times can inform modern strategies for preventing sexual assault and promoting social welfare. Additionally, the study investigates how cases of sexual violence were cynically leveraged to incite political revolutions, leading to significant societal changes that laid the groundwork for Western civilization. By analyzing the historical relationship between sexual violence and political upheaval, this research offers valuable perspectives on the enduring effects of these events on modern social structures and the potential application of historical models to contemporary political and social issues.


Rape in Antiquity

Rape in Antiquity

Author: Susan Deacy

Publisher: Classical Press of Wales

Published: 1997-12-31

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 1905125879

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How did the Greeks and Roman perceive rape? How seriously was it taken, and who were seen as its main victims? The studies in this volume look at the social and legal realities of rape in the ancient world, and also at the numerous myths of rape which themselves may reflect real behaviour and attitudes. Modern readers, used to a discourse which focuses on the question of a woman's (or man's) consent to sexual activity and treats an unwilling partner as a victim worthy of sympathy, may find in ancient attitudes much that is disturbing.


Imperialism, Power, and Identity

Imperialism, Power, and Identity

Author: David J. Mattingly

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2013-12-05

Total Pages: 371

ISBN-13: 140084827X

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Despite what history has taught us about imperialism's destructive effects on colonial societies, many classicists continue to emphasize disproportionately the civilizing and assimilative nature of the Roman Empire and to hold a generally favorable view of Rome's impact on its subject peoples. Imperialism, Power, and Identity boldly challenges this view using insights from postcolonial studies of modern empires to offer a more nuanced understanding of Roman imperialism. Rejecting outdated notions about Romanization, David Mattingly focuses instead on the concept of identity to reveal a Roman society made up of far-flung populations whose experience of empire varied enormously. He examines the nature of power in Rome and the means by which the Roman state exploited the natural, mercantile, and human resources within its frontiers. Mattingly draws on his own archaeological work in Britain, Jordan, and North Africa and covers a broad range of topics, including sexual relations and violence; census-taking and taxation; mining and pollution; land and labor; and art and iconography. He shows how the lives of those under Rome's dominion were challenged, enhanced, or destroyed by the empire's power, and in doing so he redefines the meaning and significance of Rome in today's debates about globalization, power, and empire. Imperialism, Power, and Identity advances a new agenda for classical studies, one that views Roman rule from the perspective of the ruled and not just the rulers. In a new preface, Mattingly reflects on some of the reactions prompted by the initial publication of the book.


Law and Crime in the Roman World

Law and Crime in the Roman World

Author: Jill Harries

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2007-11-15

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 1316582957

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What was crime in ancient Rome? Was it defined by law or social attitudes? How did damage to the individual differ from offences against the community as a whole? This book explores competing legal and extra-legal discourses in a number of areas, including theft, official malpractice, treason, sexual misconduct, crimes of violence, homicide, magic and perceptions of deviance. It argues that court practice was responsive to social change, despite the ingrained conservatism of the legal tradition, and that judges and litigants were in part responsible for the harsher operation of justice in Late Antiquity. Consideration is also given to how attitudes to crime were shaped not only by legal experts but also by the rhetorical education and practices of advocates, and by popular and even elite indifference to the finer points of law.


The Cambridge Companion to the Roman Republic

The Cambridge Companion to the Roman Republic

Author: Harriet I. Flower

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2014-06-23

Total Pages: 519

ISBN-13: 1107032245

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This second edition examines all aspects of Roman history, and contains a new introduction, three new chapters and updated bibliographies.


The Cambridge World History of Violence: Volume 1, The Prehistoric and Ancient Worlds

The Cambridge World History of Violence: Volume 1, The Prehistoric and Ancient Worlds

Author: Garrett G. Fagan

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2020-03-31

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 1108882900

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The first in a four-volume set, The Cambridge World History of Violence, Volume 1 provides a comprehensive examination of violence in prehistory and the ancient world. Covering the Palaeolithic through to the end of classical antiquity, the chapters take a global perspective spanning sub-Saharan Africa, the Near East, Europe, India, China, Japan and Central America. Unlike many previous works, this book does not focus only on warfare but examines violence as a broader phenomenon. The historical approach complements, and in some cases critiques, previous research on the anthropology and psychology of violence in the human story. Written by a team of contributors who are experts in each of their respective fields, Volume 1 will be of particular interest to anyone fascinated by archaeology and the ancient world.


The Politics of Immorality in Ancient Rome

The Politics of Immorality in Ancient Rome

Author: Catharine Edwards

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2002-05-09

Total Pages: 250

ISBN-13: 9780521893893

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The decadence and depravity of the ancient Romans are a commonplace of serious history, popular novels and spectacular films. This book is concerned not with the question of how immoral the ancient Romans were but why the literature they produced is so preoccupied with immorality. The modern image of immoral Rome derives from ancient accounts which are largely critical rather than celebratory. Upper-class Romans habitually accused one another of the most lurid sexual and sumptuary improprieties. Historians and moralists lamented the vices of their contemporaries and mourned for the virtues of a vanished age. Far from being empty commonplaces these assertions constituted a powerful discourse through which Romans negotiated conflicts and tensions in their social and political order. This study proceeds by a detailed examination of a wide range of ancient texts (all of which are translated) exploring the dynamics of their rhetoric, as well as the ends to which they were deployed. Roman moralising discourse, the author suggests, may be seen as especially concerned with the articulation of anxieties about gender, social status and political power. Individual chapters focus on adultery, effeminacy, the immorality of the Roman theatre, luxurious buildings and the dangers of pleasure. This book should appeal to students and scholars of classical literature and ancient history. It will also attract anthropologists and social and cultural historians.


The Roman Republic: A Very Short Introduction

The Roman Republic: A Very Short Introduction

Author: David M. Gwynn

Publisher: OUP Oxford

Published: 2012-08-30

Total Pages: 168

ISBN-13: 0191642355

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The rise and fall of the Roman Republic occupies a special place in the history of Western civilization. From humble beginnings on the seven hills beside the Tiber, the city of Rome grew to dominate the ancient Mediterranean. Led by her senatorial aristocracy, Republican armies defeated Carthage and the successor kingdoms of Alexander the Great, and brought the surrounding peoples to east and west into the Roman sphere. Yet the triumph of the Republic was also its tragedy. In this Very Short Introduction, David M. Gwynn provides a fascinating introduction to the history of the Roman Republic and its literary and material sources, bringing to life the culture and society of Republican Rome and its ongoing significance within our modern world. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.


Classical Mythology: A Very Short Introduction

Classical Mythology: A Very Short Introduction

Author: Helen Morales

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2007-08-23

Total Pages: 167

ISBN-13: 0192804766

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From Zeus to Europa, to Pan and Prometheus, the myths of ancient Greece and Rome continue to pervade the numerous facets of our existence. The author explores the rich history and varying interpretations of classical myth in both high art and popular culture as well as its ongoing influence in modern society.