Titus Livius: The Foundations Of Early Rome

Looking at Rome’s political struggles at the dawn of the first century B.C., it becomes apparent that the groundwork for Caesar’s Republic shattering revolt was lain down by Marius and Sulla. To be more specific, the stage was set by the class struggles between the Aristocracy, who demanded control of the Republic by virtue of tradition, and the masses, which demanded a voice.

Now that Augustus had dealt with the most eminent dangers for the Roman State, the time had come to establish and consolidate a new form of government and his own positions within it. Therefore it was one of Augustus’ main concerns to make the Senate a “useful and important instrument of government within the new order”.

Livy’s The Rise of Rome serves as the ultimate catalogue of Roman history, elaborating on the accomplishments of each king and set of consuls through the ages of its vast empire. In the first five books, Livy lays the groundwork for the history of Rome and sets forth a model for all of Rome to follow. For him, the “special and salutary benefit of the study of history is to behold evidence of every sort of behaviour set forth as on a splendid memorial; from it you may select for yourself and for your country what to emulate, from it what to avoid, whether basely begun or basely concluded.” (Livy 4). Livy, however, denies the general populace the right to make the same sort of conclusions that he made in

“Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.” — Edmund Burke. Throughout time, various men have found it worthwhile to study the events of the past and to share their findings with people of both the present and the future. Livy and Thucydides were two of these men. They both viewed history as a beneficial study, but believed this for different reasons. Asserting that “the study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind” (The Early History of Rome 30), Livy believed that history was beneficial to instruct future readers in the practice of morality. He believed that by studying past moral successes and failures, people would be warned against repeating mistakes and more likely to make moral decisions in the future. On the

Titus Flavius Vespasianus, born in 9 A.D., was the son of Flavius Sabinus and Vespasia Polla, who were of an equestrian social class (Grant 50). His name was later changed to Caesar Vespasianus August (Chilver) when he became the first emperor to successfully create the Flavian Dynasty (Hazel 320). Vespasian’s wife was Flavia Domitilla and after her death, he took on a mistress, Caenis, who was a freedwoman. He had two sons, Titus and Domitian, and a daughter who died before he became emperor (Chilver). Vespasian was a different kind of ruler because he did not come from the typical Julio-Claudian upbringings that the proceeding emperors, Vitellius, Galba, and Otho, were raised in (Dennison 265). He was a remarkably hardworking man who stayed

During the early Republican period the competition was of a more healthy nature and for hundreds of years, the Roman Republic was sustained through the practice of traditional customs of honour and conduct. Restraint, honesty, and fairness in competition helped to ensure that the commonwealth was governed by Rome’s “best men,” and therefore the Republic gradually extended its power, wealth and influence in the Mediterranean during this period. Political competition corrupted this honourable competition to find the ‘best men’ causing a shift in Roman politics and the very nature of government. With new found wealth and a lack of outside threats, these traditional values began to be degraded and became irrelevant. By the 1st century B.C.E., it can be said that the most prominent men in Rome were corrupted by greed, jealously, and ambition.

In the late Roman Republic, the external expansion of early Rome was a surprise to many. The era of the great expansion of Roman power and civilization is the era of the Roman Republic, in which its Senate ruled Rome and its assembly, which were establishments, formed at the beginning of the monarchy. The Republic had a history of many conflicts, aiding the Republic in becoming so powerful, thus making Rome become unstoppable. But as we all know from the conflicts that aroused in the past with many other large city-states and Empire’s, with incredible power comes many dilemmas. The development of early Rome was fundamental to the rise and fall of the political and economic developments of the late Roman Republic.

During the eighth century B.C.E. a small Latin speaking community was established along the Tiber River in Italy called Rome. As time passed the community expanded its power and control until its control covered almost all of Italy around 264 B.C.E. To the Romans, their political abilities were just as important as their army’s strength. Their political system worked so well because, when they conquered smaller societies the Romans allowed the conquered societies to rule themselves. Rome would also grant citizenship to non-Romans so long as the conquered societies followed Roman law and met the requirements. The republic of Rome was ruled by an Aristocratic oligarchy.

Rome was a republic 2500 years ago for more than 500 years with a parliamentary system where no one owned too much power. It was the first ever city with a million people in it. First establishment ever which allowed free-will. An insight into the history of this massive empire brings home the idea that when society is let loose to choose for itself, it progresses, rises quickly and then crumbles at the same pace. My salute to this great ancient Rome- from here an empire sent out an army which mastered the known world, for centuries Rome ruled over a quarter of people on the planet. The greatest empire world has ever known; unmatched in its brutality, its genius, its lust for power. It rose, became great and then crumbled. The stories of great

The beginning of Rome is often talked about in an ancient myth of two men, Romulus and Remus. Romulus and Remus were twin brothers who were the children of Rhea Silva and the god of war, Mars. Rhea Silva was the daughter of a deposed king, Nimitor. The man who took her father's kingdom was his younger brother Amulius. Amulius forced her to become a vestal virgin (women who served the goddess Vesta and weren't allowed to have children) to make sure there was nobody who could challenge him. Rhea Silva, while she was a priestess, became pregnant with children of Mars and because she had broken her vows, was sentenced to death. Amulius being too afraid of the gods wrath, decided not to kill the mother and her twin children and

Born as Marcus Annius Verus in Rome in ad 121,Marcus Aurelius was born into a wealthy family. His father died when was three years old,and he was raised by his grandfather.His mother also died at a young age.Hadrian saw Marcus Aurelius as a potential successor who needed more experience to become an emperor.After Hadrian died,he was succeeded by Antoninus Pius. Marcus Aurelius received his education from the best teachers and he took great interest in Stoicism,a Greek philosophy that stated that humans could live happy and fulfilling lives regardless of their backgrounds. Antonius Pius started training Marcus Aurelius to become an emperor and oved him to the imperial palace,Marcus Aurelius did not enjoy the training and life at the palace.

This is a selection from Livy’s History of Rome where he explains the circumstances under which the republic was born. First established as a monarchy, Rome’s last king was Tarquin the Proud. Tarquin’s son was an ambitious and dishonorable individual whose heinous crime ultimately led to the fall of the monarchy and the foundation of the republic.

Scullard discusses the beginning history of ancient Rome: from when it was just a collection of tribes to the Third Punic War. Through analyses of legends, artifacts, and prehistoric villages, Scullard pieces together the best hypothesis of the history ancient Rome for his time. Scullard not only focuses on Rome and the impact it made in the Mediterranean, but also gives attention to surrounding civilizations before and during Rome’s time and how they attributed to the personality of

What does it take to stay in power in Ancient Rome? Power is inequitably distributed between those who rule and those who are subjects. However, one individual controlling many citizens is a tenuous circumstance. Controlled chaos, hyperbolized real-life theater, maintains the power of leaders by promoting a sense of fear, unpredictability and helplessness amongst constituents. Many Roman leaders perceive their hold on power to be tenuous at best, and this insecurity also drives rash actions. On the other hand, powerful leaders rely on certain structures that serve their power. Indeed, these structures also support the illusion and confusion. This tension, between the unordered and ordered demonstrates the psychotic and ruinous character of

Rome began in the eighth century B.C. as a small town on the Tiber River (History 1). According to legend, Romulus and Remus founded Rome. They were brothers who were raised by wolves. When they had grown of age, Romulus killed Remus. This anecdotal story, which many Romans hold close to their hearts as a true story, seems to depict the power that