New Men Dying Republic

Transcription

1 New Men Dying Republic The Roman Revolution, Pt. 2 Publius Varinius & the Fasces Breakdown of order, seeks revenge Defection and death of Hopes for

2 How should the Senate deal with the threat of the? Marcus Licinius Crassus has a plan to build a wall across the southern Italian Penn. to block and slowly starve Spartacus and his followers; however, his men are becoming increasingly undisciplined under his authority. Gnaeus Pompeius, Pompey proposes that we grant him authority to take Crassus command and destroy the rebellion by killing all of those resisting the authority of Rome; however, this will come at the cost of many Roman lives. Death of the Rebellion Hopes for Sicilian Voyage (cont d) Senate Impatient Gnaeus Pompeius, Pompey Terrorist Attacks of the Mediterranean Port of Ostia, 68 BCE Shall the Senate give up its Constitutional checks and balances to allow Pompey the Great to have Proconsular (absolute) authority over the entire Roman Empire within 50 miles of the Mediterranean, and be given nearly the entire Treasury in order to raise a fleet and army in order to fight a war on terror against these Pirates?

3 Lex Gabinia Results: Plutarch: Pompey was to be given not only the supreme naval command but what amounted in fact to an absolute authority and uncontrolled power over everyone. 144 million sesterces 500 ships, 120K infantry, 5K cavalry Terrorist Attacks Middle Eastern Robert Harris: The Lex Gabinia was a classic illustration of the law of unintended consequences: it fatally subverted the institution it was supposed to protect. The Nonmilitary Statesman A room without books is like a body without a soul. He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason. Campaign against Prosecution of, 70 BCE Quaestor, Aedile, Praetor, Consul Patrician Enemy of Captured by Complicated Love Life, 65 BCE Public Games (appeals to the people) Rise of Caesar sesterces bribe Robert Harris: In my opinion, everything that happened subsequently to Caesar stemmed form this amazing victory. That crazy outlay of twenty million was actually the greatest bargain in history: it would buy him the world.

4 Rome s Economic Crisis, BCE Empire: war with King Mithridates of Pontus Residents of Rome Senate or Demagogue? Catiline vs. Cicero Social Wars (89-91 BCE) Family of politicians and warriors Political support: Dark Past Battle for the, 64 BCE Debt Cicero s political maneuverings as Consuls rule of law and the maintenance of the constitution (optimate ideals) Rumors of slave revolts in Capua and Apulia Delivers Evidence of a Plot: Praetors ordered to raise an army Allies stir up trouble in the countryside Tribunes to stir up a mob against Cicero Fires to be lit, Cicero to be assassinated Army will be used to invade Rome Nov 6, Catiline announces he will take control of revolt Catiline offers house arrest or exile, then escapes with 300 followers Plot Thickens Arrests of Five Conspirators Remaining in Rome

5 Senate Response: Cicero = What should be done with these conspirators? Cicero: We have now for a long time, O conscript fathers, lived among these dangers and machinations of conspiracy; but somehow or other, the ripeness of all wickedness, and of this long-standing madness and audacity, has come to a head at the time of my consulship. But if this man alone is removed from this piratical crew, we may appear, perhaps, for a short time relieved from fear and anxiety, but the danger will settle down and lie hid in the veins and bowels of the republic. As it often happens that men afflicted with a severe disease, when they are tortured with heat and fever, if they drink cold water, seem at first to be relieved, but afterwards suffer more and more severely; so this disease which is in the republic, if relieved by the punishment of this man, will only get worse and worse, as the rest will be still alive. Caesar: Whatever befalls these prisoners will be well deserved; but you, Fathers of the Senate, are called upon to consider how your action will affect other criminals. All bad precedents have originated in cases which were good; but when the control of the government falls into the hands of men who are incompetent or bad, your new precedent is transferred from those who well deserve and merit such punishment to the undeserving and blameless. Questions to Consider: 1. What problems exist in Rome that make Catiline such an appealing leader to the people? 2. Why might the aristocrats and new men of the Senate fear Catiline? 3. How is the Catiline Conspiracy another form of the Gracchan Sedition and a symbol of the deepening class warfare? 4. What evidence is there that Catiline, himself, plotted to commit these acts of treason? 5. Could Cicero and his optimate peers in the Senate be using the Catiline conspiracy to give popular support to protecting their own class interests, or do they have what is best for the state in mind? 6. Should rumor be considered as evidence of a plot? 7. Should Catiline be given a trial by a jury of his peers? 8. Should Catiline and his followers be exiled in the typical Roman fashion, or should the Ultimate Decree be allowed as a method of saving Rome from being burned and the government being overthrown?