Public Land in the Roman Republic: A Social and Economic History of the ager publicus

Abstract

This thesis discusses ager publicus, a kind of public land specific to the Roman Republic. Although many works have been devoted to this kind of land, there is as yet no book which investigates in depth its role in the society, economy, and politics of the Roman Republic. Many aspects of the history of this type of land are still hotly debated, from its development in the early Republic and the legal rights that could be held on it by Roman citizens and allies, to its role in the developments of the second century BC and the Gracchan period. This book aims to fill the gaps in our knowledge by giving a comprehensive overview of the history of ager publicus in the Roman Republic. By discussing ager publicus in its wider context and connecting it to such themes as population growth and proletarianization, its importance in the Republic will become clear. At the same time the legal developments concerning this land will be discussed in a new light, by putting the relevant laws in their social context. The thesis shows that the privatization of this land in the late third and second centuries BC was direct result of growing pressure on the land as a result of population growth and an increase in agricultural production for the market.