Higher classical studies

Senate and senators

Senators had to be freeborn citizens and the main criteria was wealth - owning property over 400,000 sesterces.

The number of senators was fixed at 300 in the mid 1st century BCE, but this numbers increased and the qualifications decreased until Augustus reduced their numbers to 600.

Senators wore a special toga with a purple stripe and had distinctive red shoes.
The senators were chosen by the censors. Ex magistrates were almost always chosen. Membership could be for life, providing a man was of good character and a man could only be expelled for severe misconduct.

The Senate House or Curia

The senators met in the curia or senate house. This happened between…