Opulence and Corruption in the Aristocracy
Historian Olympiodorus sheds light on the opulence of the Roman aristocracy, with annual incomes reaching staggering amounts of gold. The late empire witnessed a transition from a silver-based monetary system to one based on gold, reflecting the abundance of gold reserves. The bureaucracy, enriched by gold salaries, engaged in widespread corruption, particularly evident in judicial and military administration.
Chapter 2: Social Hierarchies| Class 11 History Notes
Tacitus offers a nuanced depiction of social classes in the early Roman Empire, delineating between senators, members of the equestrian class, the respectable populace associated with great houses, the lower class engrossed in entertainment, and slaves. However, by the late empire, significant shifts occurred, with the consolidation of senators and equites into a unified aristocracy, dominated by families of African or eastern origin.
Let us learn more about the social hiearchies!