Roman Senate
Also called: Senate · Topic: The Roman Empire · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "An Empire Across Three Continents"
Meaning
The Senate was the body that controlled Rome under the Republic (509–27 BCE). It represented the aristocracy: the richest families, who mostly owned land and were of Roman and later Italian descent. Members served for life. Wealth and holding office counted for more than birth. Under the emperors the Senate kept its prestige but lost real power. Most surviving Roman histories were written from the senators' point of view. They judged emperors by how they treated the Senate.
Example
By the third century, senators from the provinces outnumbered those from Italy. Emperor Gallienus (253–68) barred senators from commanding armies. Under Constantine, senators and equites (knights) were merged into one larger aristocracy.
Don't confuse with
- Equites: these "knights" ranked below senators. They were landowners, but many were also shipowners, traders and bankers.