SOCIAL LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IN ANCIENT ROME. INTERVENTION MEASURES
SOCIAL LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IN ANCIENT ROME. INTERVENTION MEASURES

Summary/Abstract: Rome relied on various sources of supply, yet throughout its ancient history, it was never immune to the risk of social and economic crises which are well documented in numerous sources. Social assistance in the Roman Empire was not a well-organised system, instead it was based on patronage relationships and the role of the family. Intervention measures for Roman citizens during the Imperial Period focused on ensuring civil and political rights, such as the right to vote and to contract a legal marriage while also providing essential public services. These included social assistance through grain distributions and access to water from public resources, which played a crucial role in political and social control. Similarly, during the Republican era, an assistance plan was developed through provisions such as the distribution of grains and the distribution of land, particularly directed to the lower classes and the army.

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