Hello, and welcome to the history of Rome, episode 87, Thinking and Feeling.

Last time, we discussed the general economic and political ordering of Roman society in

the age of the Antonines.

Today, I want to add additional layers to that discussion by talking a bit about how

these various classes felt about education, religion, and philosophy.

Obviously, your outlook depended a great deal on your position in society, but as with

most things, it was never quite that simple.

Wealth in class usually locked Romans into inescapable social roles, but it did not necessarily

predetermine their worldviews, what they held dear, what they believed, and to whom

if anyone they prayed.

One young senator reacted to his inherited wealth by turning towards Stoke's self-denial,

while his neighbor embraced the joyfully nihilistic leanings of the Epicureans.

One middle-class merchant took the loss of his inventory to fire as proof that he needed

to double down on his offerings to Jupiter, while his competitor took it to mean that

the old gods had forsaken him, and then he must find a new religion to explain and justify

his sorry lot in life.

One dirt poor pleb looked at the squalor in which he lived, and decided to enlist in

the army, with the hope of rising through the ranks, and maybe retiring to a comfortable

farm someday, while his brother said bag it, and went off to bet on the races.

There were general outlooks that defined each class, but by no means did everyone march

in lockstep with one another.

Identity formation in ancient Rome often followed the same path it does today.

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