Function

Facts

To ease communication

Sophisticated language for state communication, complicated laws, expensive judicial forms

To reduce false or irrelevant data

Speculation about loyalty led to death, use of divination practices, intrigues reward court members

To mitigate loss of data

Actions without confirmation have taken place, absence of independent supervision

To ease credit attribution

Money had its use reduced, it became difficult to get titles

To reduce unreal credit attribution

Right to vote needed nothing from Rome citizens, politicians earned places due spectacles, emperors imposed divine status, laws assured wealth for rich families, soldiers did not train

To reduce credit loss

Poor needed to pay heavy taxes, slavery deprived people from credit, barbarians had title negated on ethnic grounds, bagaudae