BLOG POST #1: To Be Roman, To Be American

Oct 3, 2016
2 min read

For our second Humanities Core lecture, Professor Zissos spoke to us about the word, 'Roman' and its many definitions, one of the most important being, "a broad legal, political, and cultural category that has to do with the process of Romanization and citizenship and the gradual induction of conquered elites into imperial power structures," (Zissos, Lec 1). This particular description ties into the passage Annals 11.23-25 by Tacitus in which he records a discussion between Roman Senators and the Emperor Claudius concerning who should fill the offices in the Senate. The text, although not very long, explores the question of what it means to be a Roman and what qualifies a person as Roman, a notion that is paralleled in our own culture. Who qualifies someone as an American and what does it mean for our society as a whole?

In Tacitus' passage, one of the Senators states, "Is it a small thing that Veneti and Insubres have already burst into the Senate-house, unless a mob of foreigners, a troop of captives, so to say, is now forced upon us? What distinctions will be left for the remnants of our noble houses, or for any impoverished senators from Latium?" (Tacitus). This Senator believes that only those of Roman/Italian descent qualify as Romans and, in turn, qualify to be able to be elected to the Senate. In America, there are many people who hold a comparable view. Although this nation was founded by immigrants, nativism has been an issue in America at various points in history. An example of this is the Irish immigration following the Irish Potato Famine of 1845. Immigrants faced all sorts of persecution from being referred to as Patties (Patty wagons were a derogatory word for police vehicles because so many Irishmen were part of the force) to being completely prevented from working. Even though the Irish had become American citizens, they were still heavily persecuted throughout the 1840s.

Emperor Claudius is disappointed by his comrade's remarks and decides to share thoughts of his own. He goes on to speak about how although the Britons, Gauls, etc., were once independent, they were currently under the rule of the Roman empire and were, therefore, Romans (Tacitus). All Romans originated from someplace other than Rome, even the earliest rulers (Tacitus). "United as they now are with us by manners, education, and intermarriage, let them bring us their gold and their wealth rather than enjoy it in isolation," (Tacitus). Claudius argues that because these various people groups are united under one empire, they have the right to be able to partake as leaders in the empire's government.

A parallel to this can be found in the United States as well. America is a diverse country consisting of people from a copious amount of nationalities with unique backgrounds now together under one flag and, like Rome, has developed the ideal that no matter one's country of origin, race, or ethnicity everyone has the right to hold public office and to find and earn their place within society.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Sources:

The Complete Works of Tacitus. Translated by Alfred John Church. New York, Random House, Inc. Random House, Inc. reprinted 1942.

Zissos, Andrew. Humanities Core Lecture 1. September 28, 2016.