The Research Of Plebian Welfare In The Antonine Dynasty

The study of plebian welfare in the Antonine dynasty is a problem that academia should pay attention to.The variety of plebian welfare is not only an major part of inspecting this prosperous dynasty,but also an indispensable section of studying the history of imperial social life.This paper tries to regard the plebian order as studying object,enumerate and discuss various welfare contents,analyse the exploitative class nature of the welfare of slavery,inquiry the reasons of it and its impacts on the empire.This paper consists of four parts.The first part is the introduction,mainly elaborate research status at home and abroad,the meaning of the topic,the place of innovation,research method and so on.On the basis of the materials collected by the author,the research situation at home and abroad is systematically sorted out,and the research status of the plebian welfare in Antonine dynasty is summarized.The second part chiefly frames the plebian range during the imperial period,defines the term “welfare” and analyse the change of the plebian welfare from the Republic to the Empire.Confined within the slave-owner class,the Roman plebian welfare was minor handouts irregularly provided by welfare providers,in order to meet their political needs.In the transition from the Roman Republic to the Empire,the political system changed fundamentally,the subject and motivation of welfare showed new characteristics.The third part is the main body of the paper,which discuss successively the contents of plebian welfare,the welfare for the plebian children and causes of plebian welfare in the Antonine dynasty.Firstly,narrate plebian welfare contents in the Antonine dynasty.Mainly from the money reward,corn supply,public entertainment activities and public buildings to elaborate the plebian welfare.Secondly,investigate the background and content of the "alimenta" system of the Antonine dynasty,analyze motivations of the implementation of this system,emphasize the class nature of welfare under the Antonine dynasty.Finally,explore the causes of plebian welfare.In antiquity,the causes of the plebian welfare are complicated,which can neither be separated from the subjective consideration of welfare subject,nor can it fall to notice the objective threat of the social mob.The fourth part contains two parts.In the first place,evaluate the dual influence of the plebian welfare of the Antonine dynasty on the empire.On the one hand,the welfare of plebs was closely related to the strength and prosperity of the dynasty.On the other hand,the exploitative class nature of welfare had a negative influence on the empire.In the second place,summerize the whole text.