2011/03/01 by David Potter · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Historical Economic and Legal Thought #European Political History Analysis #Historical Economic and Social Studies
paper · doi:10.1353/ajp.2011.0006
openalex publication_date 2011/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Given that in any Roman aristocratic household during the Republic elements of the future imperial court can be found, what were the key features that enabled the latter to emerge and grow? Drawing upon Elias' analysis of court societies, this chapter maintains that the transition depends upon extraordinary religious charisma, access to renewable sources of immense wealth, and the development of integrative structures linking provincial and Roman supporters in a hierarchy dependent upon an individual rather than tenure of office.