BMCR 2009.08.42: Sampson on Weber, Roman Agrarian History. (Translation by Richard I. Frank of 1891 doctoral dissertation)

Max Weber, Roman Agrarian History. (Translation by Richard I. Frank of
1891 doctoral dissertation).  Claremont:  Regina Books, 2008.  Pp. xiv,
244.  ISBN 193005355x.  $24.95 (pb).

Reviewed by Gareth C. Sampson, [email protected]
Word count:  1757 words
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This work is an English translation of Max Weber's thesis on Roman
agrarian history awarded at the University of Berlin in 1891; its
original title being 'Die Roemische Agrargeschichte in ihrer Bedeutung
fuer das Staats-und Privatrecht' or 'Roman Agrarian History in its
relation to Roman Public and Civil Law'. The work was compiled under
the supervision of Theodor Mommsen and submitted in order to gain the
qualification necessary to teach at university level (Habilitation).
Given the importance of Weber's later works to a number of disciplines,
having both a modern version of this work, and an English translation,
makes this book an important volume for anybody working in the field of
Roman agrarian history or political theory.

The work is a straight translation of the 1891 German text rather than
a commentary and begins with short introduction outlining the
background both to the work and Weber himself. The translation has been
undertaken by Richard Frank, who was responsible for translating
Weber's later work on 'The Agrarian Sociology of Ancient Civilizations'
published in 1976. This enables Frank to be familiar with Weber's style
and language, as this work clearly shows in what is an excellent
translation of the text into English. An aspect of the translation
process that works especially well is the retention of the various
technical German phrases used by Weber, provided in brackets alongside
the English translation, as well as any Latin terms used. The overall
effect allows the reader to capture the nuances of Weber's original
argument.

Weber's work is composed of four chapters and ranges over a variety of
topics related to Roman agrarian history, across both the Republic and
Empire. The work is prefaced by Weber's short introduction (nine pages
in the translation), in which he sets out the purposes of this work; an
analysis of the connections between Roman land and Roman law, rather
than a specific work on agrarian history.

The first chapter focuses on the process of Roman land surveying and
the various types of land in use. As Weber himself stated in the
introduction, he argued that there was a correlation between the
methods used to survey a particular type of land and the status of both
the land itself and its owner in Roman law. This is a short
introductory chapter, less than 28 pages in translation, and is broken
down into a number of subsections. The first subsection deals with
methods of land surveying of both ager scamnatus and ager centuriatus,
before moving onto methods of land distribution used in the colonies
founded by Rome, with Weber arguing for the distribution of land to
veterans by lot. He then moves onto discussing the significance of and
reasons behind the differing systems of land distribution. The work is
copiously referenced to both ancient authors and the surviving
inscriptions, though the chronology of his sources does tend to create
a disjointed feel to the evidence. He then moves his argument onto the
category of ager quaestorius and issues of taxation. On the whole this
first chapter is an introductory one setting out the mechanics behind
the issues of land distribution before moving on to the more
substantial questions surrounding the topic.

Chapter Two, which runs to 44 pages of the translation, focuses on the
issue of the financial and legal implications of the various types of
land in Italy under a chapter heading of the 'Significance of Tax-Free
Lands', though the chapter discuses more than the title suggests. The
initial discussion focuses on the colonization process in Italy, and is
composed a number of small sections on various aspects of this process
such as allotments and territorium, land not allotted and a lengthier
discussion of the legal organisation of colonies. Again the overall
effect of switching between these short sections does leave the reader
jolted, though we must remember that this is essentially a postgraduate
thesis.

The chapter then moves on to discuss land surveyors once more, the sale
of farms and lots and the Roman common land, again all done in brief
sections. Weber then moves on to a lengthier discussion on the
'Significance of Property Rights', centred on the role of possessio,
though the date range does jump between the early Republic and the time
of Constantine in just a few short paragraphs. The next sections shift
focus once again, on to the real estate business in Rome and ager
privatus, before finishing with a section on the 'Agrarian Revolution
at Rome', though again this amounts to little over four pages of the
translation. Overall this chapter is a busy one, jumping from topic to
topic and changing time periods throughout each section. Thus this
chapter acts as more of an introduction to a large number of different
topics, some of which are highly technical and others very broad in
their outlook, without finding a central theme to link them together.

Chapter Three is the most substantial of the work, over 60 pages in
translation, and focuses on the key issues surrounding public and
private lands, which will be the focus of most readers' attention. Once
again this chapter is broken down into a large number of subsections,
some 46 in total, each focussing briefly on a different topic. Once
again the chronology of events under discussion ranges from the early
Republic to the late Empire, but the focus shifts from being focussed
solely on Italy to covering Africa, Asia and Sicily. As is to be
expected, the chapter begins with a discussion on the various legal
differences between the two categories of land and includes a
discussion on the origins of the differentiation and the differences
between the communal and clan basis for land organisation. The
discussion then moves on to the nature of agrarian capitalism as
practised in Republican Rome. Here we find Weber, on what now seems
familiar territory, referring to the degeneration of the proletariat
into an urban rabble who became estranged from the land, allowing the
landowning class to expand at their expense. Weber them moves on to
analysing the agrarian law of 111 BC, which he argues signalled the end
of ager publicus in Italy. He then moves onto a wide ranging discussion
on various aspects relating to the leasing of land in Rome, both legal
and financial.

As the chapter progresses Weber widens his focus to briefly consider
tithed lands in Sicily and Asia and tribute-bearing lands in Africa.
After widening his geographic scope the next few sections widen the
chronological setting, with sections discussing late development in the
Roman Empire, focussing on Ulpian and Diocletian's land tax reforms.
The sections that follow then discuss various issues surrounding
taxation and land, advancing the evidence to the reigns of Theodosius
and Justinian, with which he brings the chapter to an end. Once again
this chapter covers a broad range of topics, some in great technical
detail, albeit in a brief and somewhat breathless manner. As with the
second chapter the title is somewhat of a misnomer with the discussion
ranging far wider than the reader might assume.

Chapter Four is a shorter chapter, just 34 pages, and is given the
title of 'Large Estates under the Empire, though as in the first three
chapters, the material discussed is far greater than the title
suggests. The first section focuses on a general discussion on the
nature of a typical large estate, as found in sources, such as Cato,
Varro and Columella, with sections on the kind of crop produced on such
estates, such as the replacement of grain with cash crops of olive oil
and wine. The focus soon shifts back onto familiar Weberian territory
with a discussion on the legal position of tenants and the possible
nature of the lease. The focus shifts again in the next few section to
a brief discussion of the position of the agricultural labourers and
the economic position of the peasantry under the Empire, which he
argues improved when the political disenfranchisement of the
aristocracy under the Empire meant that large estates were run on more
economic grounds. Once again however, before these areas are developed
Weber moves onto once again discussing the nature of leaseholders in
this period and the legal status of possessiones.

This procession of sections changing from practical, political to legal
discussions continues when Weber once more reverts to a discussion on
the organisation of large estates, followed by the fate of rural
workers and finally a discussion of the use and morality of slaves in
ancient agriculture. This is followed by a short few paragraphs of
conclusion where Weber links the changes in agricultural holding to the
growth of world citizenship and thoughts on the utopian ideal of the
unity of mankind, though again all too briefly.

The conclusion is followed by a short appendix on an inscription found
at Arausio (CIL XII.1244), including some of Weber's own sketches of
it, and then the footnotes to the work, which feature a number of
discussion of ancient sources as well as the modern commentators (of
the time).

Overall it is hard to categorise the nature of this work. We must begin
by congratulating Richard Frank for an excellent translation of Weber's
thesis, which captures the nuances and flavour of the man's thoughts.
In this respect alone, the work is an important one, allowing us to
have an accessible copy of Weber's work on Roman agrarian history, and
providing us with an insight into the developmental stages of his
political thinking. Having said, this we come to the work itself, which
is notable for both the breadth of its scope, the degree of the
scholarship and the frustration the reader has with the constant
failure to develop points in any depth and the endless jumping back and
fourth between topics. In many ways this is indeed an authentic
postgraduate thesis which encompasses a huge jumble of ideas and
thoughts but with little structure. This can most easily be seen by the
misleading chapter titles, which do not give the reader the scope of
the subjects and concepts within. Fundamentally, this work is a
postgraduate thesis that was never meant to be published in this form.
Nevertheless, despite these structural weaknesses it is a highly
enjoyable and informative read, if being somewhat frustrating and
breathless at the same time. This work is one which will be of
fundamental interest to anyone working in the field of Roman agrarian
history or interested in the works of Weber, but is also highly
recommended to anyone with a passing interest in Roman political or
social theory.