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In ancient Rome, citizenship was the path to power
From the Republic to the Empire, civitas—full Roman citizenship—was prized by those who had it and coveted by those who did not.
A denarius from from the late second-century B.C. shows Roman citizens voting. A voter (left) receives a tablet from the rogator (center). Votes are cast by placing the tablet in a basket, known as the cista (right).
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