Roman Census

  • The Roman Census was held every 5 years from 435 BCE and every 14 years from 28 BCE onwards.
  • It was used to keep a record of all those eligible for taxation and the value of their Property and Land.

History

  • The first Roman Census was held in 435 BCE, in a Public Building called the Villa Publica in the Campus Martius.
  • The Census records were then deposited in the Atrium Libertatis, next to the Villa Publica, and later in the Temple of the Nymphs.
  • Originally, the population had to return to their place of birth for the Census. When the Roman Empire expanded, a group of censor takers were sent out to the Provinces to collect the information on the day of the Census, which they then brought back and stored in Rome.

The Requirement for a Census

  • The Census was originally held to keep a record of eligible men for military service.
  • It later came to be used to assess taxes.

The first Census of the Roman Empire (28 BCE)

  • Augustus decreed the Census should be taken of the entire Roman Empire three times:
    • However, the Census only included Roman Citizen, and excluded every one else:
      • In 28 BCE, the population was 4,063,000.
      • In 8 BCE, the population was 4,233,000.
      • In 14 CE, the population was 4,937,000.

The Requirements of the Census

  • Each Tribe was called forward separately, and the Paterfamilias of each family gave the details.
  • The Names, Praenomen, Nomen, Cognomen, that of his Father or Patron and the names of his wife, of his children, and all their ages.
  • He then had to give a financial assessment of his Property and Land.

A Roman Census document from Egypt

  • A Census document from Egypt dated 119 CE showed:
    1. The Man’s name, and the names of his father, mother and grandfather.
    2. The village where he was born.
    3. His age and profession.
    4. Identifying birth marks or scars.
    5. His wife’s name and age, and her father’s name.
    6. His son’s name and age.
    7. The names of other relatives living in the same house.
    8. The document was signed by the village registrar and three other official witnesses.

 

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