Cover Image

Political conversations in late Republican Rome /

This book analyses senatorial political conversations and illuminates the oral aspects of Roman politics; it offers a new perspective of Roman politics through the proxy of conversations and meetings.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rosillo López, Cristina (Author)
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2022.
Edition:First edition.
Subjects:
Political oratory > Rome.
Rome > Politics and government > 265-30 B.C.
Rome > History > Republic, 265-30 B.C.
Éloquence politique > Rome.
Rome > Politique et gouvernement > 265-30 av. J.-C.
Rome > Histoire > 265-30 av. J.-C. (République)
Ancient.
HISTORY.
Ancient & Classical.
LITERARY COLLECTIONS.
LITERARY CRITICISM.
Political oratory
Politics and government
Rome (Empire)
265-30 B.C.
Electronic books.
History
Online Access:Connect to the full text of this electronic book
Table of Contents:
  • Cover
  • Political Conversations in Late Republican Rome
  • Copyright
  • Dedication
  • Acknowledgements
  • Contents
  • List of Figures and Tables
  • Introduction
  • Why are conversations important?
  • Senatorial relationships and Roman politics
  • Outline of the book
  • 1: A wider definition of politics and political participation
  • 1.1 Extra-institutional politics
  • 1.2 What is politics and political participation?
  • 2: Sources for political conversations in Late Republican Rome
  • 2.1 Why the letters of Cicero?
  • 2.2 Why do later sources display a different perspective?
  • 3: Face-to-face meetings
  • 3.1 Le métier du sénateur romain: the importance of being present in Rome (or nearby)
  • 3.2 The importance of meeting in person
  • 3.2.1 The 'circulatory system'
  • 3.2.2 The limitations of letters
  • 3.2.3 Face-to-face meetings as problem-solving: the encounters of 49
  • 3.2.4 Physical presence and negotiation
  • 3.2.5 Caesar as ruler and face-to-face meetings
  • 3.3 The myth of senatorial meetings: the 'conference of Luca'
  • 3.3.1 The 'standard version' of the 'Conference of Luca'
  • 3.3.2 The logistics of senatorial 'conferences'
  • 3.3.3 Caesar's face-to-face politics during his proconsulship in Gaul
  • 3.3.4 The 'Conference of Luca' as a litmus test for being connected or disconnected
  • 3.4 Conclusion
  • Appendix: Informal meetings January-May 49
  • 4: How to have conversations
  • 4.1 The early socialization of the Roman elite
  • 4.2 The social expectations governing conversation
  • 4.2.1 Learning how to have a conversation
  • 4.2.2 Social expectations: dynamics of conversations
  • 4.2.3 Conversations and disagreement
  • 4.2.4 Conversations and placating anger
  • 4.3 Occasions for conversation
  • 4.3.1 Dinners
  • 4.3.2 Senaculum
  • 4.3.3 Consilia and meetings
  • 4.4 Conclusions
  • 5: Dynamics of conversations
  • 5.1 Methodological issues
  • 5.2 Conversations, insider information, speculations, and predictions
  • 5.3 Non-verbal information: gestures, feelings, and impressions
  • 5.4 Conversations transmitted in direct speech: case studies
  • 5.4.1 Cicero and Caesar (28 March 49)
  • 5.4.2 Curio and Cicero (14 April 49)
  • 5.4.3 The so-called consilium of June 44 (group conversation)
  • 5.5 A non-Ciceronian perspective on conversation
  • 5.6 Conclusions
  • 6: Oral circulation of information
  • 6.1 Circulation of information
  • 6.1.1 What kind of information was sought?
  • 6.1.2 Requesting and fishing for information
  • 6.1.3 The connection and disconnection of the flow of information
  • 6.2 Control of information
  • 6.2.1 Could the circulation of information be restricted?
  • 6.2.2 When things got out of control: leaked conversations
  • 6.3 Conclusions
  • 7: The role of non-senatorial actors in conversations and meetings
  • 7.1 How to identify and refer to these actors?
  • 7.2 Non-senatorial actors: analysis
  • 7.2.1 Freedmen
  • 7.2.2 Elite women
  • 7.2.3 Non-elite women