Cultura literaria y movilidad social en la Antigüedad tardí­a: La carrera de Décimo Magno Ausonio

Abstract

The career of Decimus Magnus Ausonius is a paradigmatic example of exceptional upward mobility in the Late Roman Empire, and it has accordingly received considerable attention. The aim of this paper is to offer a reappraisal of the evidence and of the main interpretations offered in the historiography on the subject, focusing on the role of literary culture in the success of Ausonius. This analysis shows that education can serve as a key factor in upward social mobility as long as other factors are involved, particularly the establishment of family connections with members of the elite