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10/14/2005 The Weakness of the Late Republic The Roman Empire at the time of Julius Caesar: military might but internal instability Results of Imperialism Crises of the Late Republic Economic: flood of wealth from the empire into Italy Rich became richer, poor became poorer Establishment of large estates and slave-based commercial agriculture Social Think Spartacus! Ruin of the small farmer Increase of the urban proletariat Decrease in the citizen soldier, rise of professional soldiers loyal to their generals Repeated threats of slave revolts Political Division of wealthy into the politically empowered and the relatively disenfranchised Rise of demagogic politics and political violence—The Roman Revolution Tribunes like the Gracchi appealed to the people to outmaneuver the senate Generals began to use their armies as political tools 10/14/2005 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 2 1 10/14/2005 Rise of the Generals Marius Sulla Conquered much of the East for Rome Crassus First to use army against the government: Sulla’s march on Rome Dictatorship Pompey the Great Created the first “professional army,” more loyal to himself than the state Depended upon populares politicians (senators who worked through the people rather than the Senate) to provide pay and pensions for his soldiers and veterans Put down the slave revolt of Spartacus “First Triumvirate” Alliance of Pompey and Crassus with a young up-and-coming politician, Julius Caesar 10/14/2005 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 3 Sallust, Commentator on an Age Sallust, c. 86-35 B.C. Political career Early phase Served as an officer of Caesar between 49-45 B.C. in the Civil Wars Governor of Africa Nova (Numidia, which Caesar had reduced to a province) Retired from politics after Caesar’s death in 44 B.C. Expelled from Senate in 50 B.C. for alleged immorality. Caesarian phase Expelled from the Senate for corruption and mismanagement of a province when he was governor Retired from public life Turned to history writing Became a critic of the politics and behavior in which he had engaged! 10/14/2005 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 4 2 10/14/2005 Sallust and History Early works rejected the annalistic model in favor of the historical monograph Used episodes, the Jugurthine War and the Catilinarian Conspiracy, to illustrate the larger theme of Roman decline Style Followed model of Thucydides Accuracy? Short, terse sentences for “historical momentum” Archaic diction Use of speeches Not a rigorous pursuit of truth but a dramatic narrative with vivid characters meant to illustrate moral decline—the moralizing tendency of Roman historiography “Sallust’s monographs were much admired in classical antiquity . . . and later by St. Jerome and St. Augustine. They continued to be popular through the greater part of the Middle Ages, supplying more ideas and suggesting more turns of phrase than any other pagan author.” (Handford, 8 adapted) 10/14/2005 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 5 The War Against Catiline Prologue: The Greatness and Decline of Rome Early Romans—poor, simple, austere—were models of good morals and traditional values Power and greatness led to a decline in values “But when our country had grown great through toil and the practice of justice . . . when Carthage, the rival of Rome’s sway, had perished utterly, and all seas and lands were open, then Fortune began to grow cruel and to bring confusion into all our affairs. Those who had found it easy to bear hardship and dangers, anxiety and adversity, found leisure and wealth . . . a burden and a curse. Hence the lust for power first, then for money, grew upon them. These were, I may say, the root of all evils.” (packet, 74-76) The attempted revolution of Catiline In 63 B.C., a renegade and desperate patrician senator, Catiline, attempted a coup and social revolution The consul of the year, Cicero (more below), managed to suppress the plot Sallust saw Catiline’s attempt as symptomatic of the corruption of the Roman Late Republic (see packet, 76-77) 10/14/2005 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 6 3 10/14/2005 The Career of Cicero Background From a wealthy Italian family important in local affairs but not at Rome Cicero had a thorough Latin and Greek education, studying rhetoric and philosophy Gained a reputation as a public speaker, particularly in the law courts Was the first person (a novus homo) in his family to be elected to offices in Rome and enter the Senate Cicero’s consulship As a novus homo, or new man, Cicero tried to become part of the senatorial aristocracy by joining with the optimates (conservative politicians who worked through the Senate) Elected consul in 63 B.C. Saw his successful suppression of the Catilinarian Conspiracy as his “finest hour” 10/14/2005 7 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic In Catilinam I Cicero’s View of the Catilinarian Conspiracy "Cicero Denouncing Catiline“ By Cesare Maccari Rhetorical devices in first paragraph (packet, 79-80) What is his problem and how does he try to bluff Catiline into leaving the city of Rome? Cicero lacked political support and hard evidence 10/14/2005 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic Used his hearsay evidence to discredit Catiline, made him fear that Cicero knew more than he does Catiline forced to show his hand, flees the city but not arrested Personification of Rome in ¶ VII (packet, 83) Peroration (conclusion) in ¶ XIII (packet, 86-87) 8 4 10/14/2005 Caesar and Cato After Catiline fled Rome, Cicero arrested his fellow conspirators Although junior magistrates, Sallust portrays Caesar and Cato the Younger as prime movers in the senatorial debate about the Catilinarian conspirators Caesar, praetor-elect and newly chosen pontifex maximus Advocates house arrest for life of conspirators Cato, tribune-designate but also noted for his Stoicism and incorruptibility Moves swift, capital punishment Sallust’s characterization (packet 77-78) Caesar: generous, compassionate, populist, avid for glory Cato: upright, austere, stoic In a time of moral decline, Sallust sees them as the greatest of the Romans . . . 10/14/2005 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 9 Career of Caesar Patrician and populares, revolutionary, dictator, and noblest of the Romans 10/14/2005 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic A patrician popularis His consulship Conquest of Gaul The civil war against Pompey Cleopatra His dictatorship and assassination 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 10 5 10/14/2005 Caesar the Builder Above: Julius Caesar’s Temple of Venus Genetrix in the Forum Iulium. Right: The Roman Forum and other fora at the time of Augustus. Note: A – Sulla and Catulus’ Tabularium; K – Caesar’s Curia Iulia; and M – Temple of Venus Genetrix. 10/14/2005 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 20. The Weakness of the Late Republic 11 6