Agrippina the Younger
Personality Agrippina The Younger
Historical Context
Roman Social and political structures
Imperial Family
Emperor From the time of Augustus, exercised total control over * Political * Military * Economic * Religious affairs
Family Members of the Juio-Claudian family enjoyed considerable power and influence
Upper Classes
Consular Came from noble families – senators who had achieved office of consul and were respected because of their experience and authority
Senators Membership was hereditary and limited to those with property qualification of one million sesterces
Equestrians Member was based on property qualification of 400 000 sesterces. Their wealth was gained through public office, trade and banking.
Freedmen (liberti) ex-slaves who had acquired wealth from trade, banking, manufacturing and land dealings
Lower classes
The lower classes included poor freeborn citizens, ordinary freedmen and slaves
ROle of Imperial WOmen
The women of the Juilo-Claudian royal family were raised in the palace under strict supervision
Augustan program of reform was to restore traditional Roman values such as the importance of marriage and family
Females were expected to be modest, marry young, to have large families and as Roman matrons, to exhibit the feminine form of gravitas, this is to behave with a sense of dignity and awareness of their responsibilities
‘A strong minded women was also able to influence general aspects of an emperor policy… (the early) principate sees women’s involvement in politics and public life at a peak. Perhaps because of the novelty of having the palace replace the forum, the women of the Domus rose to a higher and more spectacular position than any of their republican forebears. In a very real sense, the domestic history of the period is the history of those women’ Bauman, Women and Politics in Ancient Rome page 6
Education
The Romans placed a high value on education
The women of the
Historical Context
Roman Social and political structures
Imperial Family
Emperor From the time of Augustus, exercised total control over * Political * Military * Economic * Religious affairs
Family Members of the Juio-Claudian family enjoyed considerable power and influence
Upper Classes
Consular Came from noble families – senators who had achieved office of consul and were respected because of their experience and authority
Senators Membership was hereditary and limited to those with property qualification of one million sesterces
Equestrians Member was based on property qualification of 400 000 sesterces. Their wealth was gained through public office, trade and banking.
Freedmen (liberti) ex-slaves who had acquired wealth from trade, banking, manufacturing and land dealings
Lower classes
The lower classes included poor freeborn citizens, ordinary freedmen and slaves
ROle of Imperial WOmen
The women of the Juilo-Claudian royal family were raised in the palace under strict supervision
Augustan program of reform was to restore traditional Roman values such as the importance of marriage and family
Females were expected to be modest, marry young, to have large families and as Roman matrons, to exhibit the feminine form of gravitas, this is to behave with a sense of dignity and awareness of their responsibilities
‘A strong minded women was also able to influence general aspects of an emperor policy… (the early) principate sees women’s involvement in politics and public life at a peak. Perhaps because of the novelty of having the palace replace the forum, the women of the Domus rose to a higher and more spectacular position than any of their republican forebears. In a very real sense, the domestic history of the period is the history of those women’ Bauman, Women and Politics in Ancient Rome page 6
Education
The Romans placed a high value on education
The women of the