Chariot Racing During The Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Chariot racing entered the social life of the Romans as a religion-related activity,but with the development of the Roman political system,chariot racing was gradually given a more political connotation.As the first dynasty of the Principate,the Julio-Claudian emperors were part of and formed a period of political transition from Republic to Empire.In order to consolidate his politics,the Princeps,on the basis of the Roman Republican tradition of the chariot racing,modified the chariot racing to suit the development to a quasi-monarchical order.This dissertation will use classical sources,from the political perspective,to elaborate on the Roman Republican traditions,administrative measures,and social classes involved in the chariot racing during the Julio-Claudian dynasty,and to explore the role of the chariot racing in the political culture and communication of the Principate.This dissertation consists of three parts.The introduction introduces the research background and offers a literature review.The main body consists of four sections.Since the Julio-Claudian dynasty inherited many Roman Republican political traditions,the first section explores the connection between chariot racing and Roman Republican politics.As a part of the Games,the chariot racing developed from a worship performance in the early religious celebrations to a rather secular entertainment in the political arena of the late Roman Republic,and played an important role in the Roman social and cultural development.The second section describes the management measures of the early Principate regarding the chariot racing.At the beginning of the Principate that established many close management systems,chariot racing was sponsored by the Princeps,who adjusted the overall theme,seating,and organization of the chariot racing,and transformed the event into a ruling tool of politics of the Principate.The third section analyzes the chariot racing from the perspective of social hierarchy.Chariot racing involved nearly all status groups of the Roman society.By analyzing the roles played by the three main groups of charioteers,plebeian audience,patrician audience in the chariot racing,we can explore their status,prestige,and role in the early Principate.The fourth section deals with the relationship between chariot racing and political culture and communication practices of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.Under the Principate,chariot racing became integral part of the political culture of the Principate.The Princeps’ partial management of the chariot racing was based on Greek culture,and the chariot racing was used to build the political image of the Princeps as generous and authoritative,to reshape the political status of the plebeians.During the Julio-Claudian dynasty,chariot racing developed into the mainstream culture of the Roman Empire.It was a political arena for the Princeps to assert his authority in front of the patricians and the plebeians,as well as a political and communicative link between the Princeps and the plebeians,and thus played an eminent role in consolidating the Principate.