Human rights in ancient Rome / Richard A. Bauman. [print]

1. Introduction -- Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto -- The meaning of human rights -- Questions of terminology -- The enforcement of human rights -- Structure and scope -- Evaluation.

2. Human rights: the Greek experience -- Preamble: the meaning of philanthropia -- Philanthropia: the Athenian model -- Philanthropia: the defining moments -- The Hellenistic period -- Evaluation.

3. Humanitas Romana -- Preamble: the meanings of humanitas -- The concept of humanitas Romana -- Humanitas Romana: a first appraisal -- The role of Panaetius -- The debut of the word 'humanitas' -- Humanus: Terence and universalism -- Evaluation.

4. Human rights prior to Humanitas Romana -- Preamble -- Early Rome: ius humanum -- The Scipionic age: humanitas and maiestas -- The Scipionic age: philanthropia -- The Scipionic age: domestic humanitas -- Primacy in humanitas: vival contenders -- Evaluation.

5. Human rights in the Late Republic: Cicero -- Preamble -- Cicero and universalism -- Humanitas and punishment: the death sentence -- Huanitas and punishment: exile -- Humanitas and the law -- Evaluation.

6. Human rights in the Late Republic: curbs on ill-treatment -- Preamble -- Maiestas, morality and humanitas -- Curbs on rapacity: early attempts -- Statutory relief for non-Romans: the lex Calpurnia -- The problem of mass enslavement -- Additional statutory relief: repetundae and maiestas -- Evaluation.

7. The new image of Humanitas: part one -- Preamble -- Humanitas and clementia: Augustus and Tiberius -- Humanitas and clementia: Seneca -- Humanitas and clementia: Flavians, Antonines, Severans -- Clementia Caesaris: Julius Caesar -- Clementia Caesaris: Augustus and Tiberius -- Clementia Caesaris: Seneca and Nero -- Clementia Caesaris: Domitian to Alexander -- Evaluation.

8. The new image of Humanitas: part two -- Curbs on rapacity: jurisdiction -- Curbs on rapacity: some cases -- Universalism: the merits -- Universalism: the demerits -- Freedom of speech -- Social welfare: the aliments.

9. Man's inhumanity to man -- Preamble -- Genocide -- Slavery -- Racial prejudice -- Death at the games.

10. Conclusion.

The work is cast in chronological form, covering the Roman Republic and Principate. For the Republic the main thrust is from the late third century BC to the era of Cicero and Caesar. The Principate is covered from its inception to AD 235 with the main emphasis on the period from Augustus to Marcus Aurelius. The Republican and imperial phases are treated separately, corresponding to what are in some respects significant differences between the liberal, easygoing climate of the former and the more carefully tailored, professional ambience of the latter. One of the by-product of the investigation has been the updating of some of the writer's findings on maiestas.

This unique and stimulating book investigates the concept of human rights in the Roman world. The author argues that on the theoretical side, thinkers such as Cicero and Seneca developed ideas and, on the pragmatic side, practical applications were forwarded mainly through law. Bauman presents a comprehensive analysis of human rights in ancient Rome and offers enlightening comparisons between the Roman and twentieth century understanding of human rights. -- Publisher description.

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