Roman Aristocratic Parties and Families

by Professor Friedrich Münzer, Thérèse Ridley (Translator)

Friedrich Münzer's Roman Aristocratic Parties and Families is recognized by all students of Roman history as a path-breaking work in the analysis of the Roman oligarchy. Here for the first time was a description of the methods by which the few most politically important clans in Rome, originally patrician, had expanded to take in so many promising plebeians -- not only from Rome but from all over Italy -- and make them part of the governing class.Münzer has had many imitators since his tragic death in Theresienstadt in 1942, but none has equaled his subtlety and brilliance in reconstructing family histories, as well as the links between families through intermarriage and political alliance. Drawing on all available documentary evidence, he offers an exhaustive analysis of the Roman aristocracy over the course of nearly four centuries -- including detailed information on virtually every Roman aristocratic family, from the beginning of the genuine historical tradition in Rome

Genres: History, Nonfiction

536 pages, Hardcover

First published May 24, 1999

Reviews

[Troy Goodfellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for specialists, and, in parts, outdated by modern research and argument, but a wonderful examination of the marital links between the many powerful Roman families.

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a book that commands respect, as Münzer assumes you are on his level, so to speak. As an amateur historian, even I felt like I was chasing a bit to keep up, a rather novel feeling. Münzer's expertise is impressive, as his intuitive leaps that actually do line up. Of course, there are arguments he puts forward that I disagree with, and other sections which some modern finds invalidate, but overall, I consider him a greater authority than most modern scholars.

Münzer spends the book exploring the factions of ancient Rome, focusing attention on how they were formed (often via marriage links) and how those factions waxed and waned over the lifetime of the Roman Republic. Unfortunately, the words he chose (democratic in particular, party, progressive) were completely alien to ancient Rome, but he was right on the money when it came to recognizing that the factions (often centered around one man) were the core of ancient Roman politics. Definitely not a read for the dabbler! This is for historians with a strong specialization in ancient Rome.