History Student Reacts to His Year: Cato | Historia Civilis Reactions

Today we watch His Year: Cato (62 BCE) by Historia Civilis.

[Derkosson]

Technically, surrounding the senate with armed bodyguards was legal for Cicero, since he did it while he was dictator.

[Souledex]

Coming back to this video- Cato’s policy is very fascist/Napoleon esque. I wonder what about this period produced so many great political minds.

It’s wild we don’t have more folks like that today able to spin a moderate message. I don’t even think that would be good, but for as much as people talk about it I assume it would be popular.

Similarly in Britain their conservatives used to be big proponents of their public healthcare system, or here Republicans would always try and cut welfare but keep social security.

Probably because so much political framing is very “culture war-y” these days it’s harder to be deliberate and on message with a moderate policy. I imagine our comparative lack of Sophist education may be a detriment there cause that’s basically all the Romans learned. Political violence and bribery are also more effective I imagine when everyone lives in the same city.