Late Republic: The Last Years of the Roman Republic

This lecture covers developments in Rome from 133-31 BCE. The Republic's failure to reform led to civil wars and collapse.

[JawsOfHistory]

The amount of consistently great videos you release is incredible.

[LTrotskystCentury]

The Senate was simply interested in protecting their own privilege, not building a civilization. I'm certain your kitty agrees with me.

[sunlesssentinel]

I really liked this video. My wife and I had multiple discussions spawned from it contents.

[forgetfulfunctor]

Man. Can't imagine living in a country like this

[theLetterDoubleYou]

40:38 Slip of the tongue, Sulla's golden boy* is what you meant

[Arwcwb]

Thank you for such informative well researched videos with such excellent presentation.

[Slender_Man_]

I’d say the most interesting discussion is: when did the late Republic really start? When was it a certainty that the system was doomed to collapse in one way or another? Was it when Caesar was named Dictator for life, or his initial 10 year appointment as dictator? Was it when Pompey was appointed as Rome’s sole consul only 3 years after having prior served? Was it when Clodius had turned the streets of Rome into a blood bath? Was it when Caesar got himself elected to Pontifex Maximus and thus consolidated enough power to simply play with Rome’s legal system? Was it back during the Marius and Sulla civil wars? Was it the Grachi Brother’s bribery scandal and their subsequent assassination at the hands of Sulla’s conservatives? You could even go back to when Scipio Africanus was falsely accused of bribery by war hawk Cato the Elder after he had saved the republic from Hannibal of Carthage and Rome’s own incompetent leadership.

[decimusausoniusmagnus]

I will name my first daughter Thersitia.

[ericthegreat]

I know comparisons between Rome and modern America have been overdone to death, but the turbulent Roman 50s sounds a lot like the lead up and course of January 6th... lmao

[Arwcwb]

31:00

That delivery is why these videos are so great - gonna be laughing about that one for a while.

[weilandiv]

Thanks for all you do, Thersites. I can't get enuff!

[atbundros]

US Citizens must study this history lest we repeat it.

[Dracapane]

43:51 You say that the calendar reform was merely a technocratic reform instead of a deeper political one. I would disagree with that, because the regulation of the calendar was the prerogative of the "pontifex maximus", one of the highest priesthoods in Rome. Since atleast around the time of the Gracchi this was used to lengthen consul years of political friends and shorten those of enemies by choosing the insertion of the intercalary month that was added to the regular (lunar) months, as well as political implementation of festive days in the calendar.

Ceasar was pontifex maximus from 63 B.C.E until his death in 44.He himself used the political functions of this office extensively between 63 and 59 (the year he was consul) for political purposes, and even disregarded (already previously broken) traditions when he didn't give up the office with the start of his governourship in Gaul (the pontifex maximus wasn't supposed to leave Italy).

So what might seem now as merely technical calendar reforms was both a political and religious decision to regulate an important function of an office he himself abused.

[ericcloud]

Thank you Thersites! The Grachi' brothers are one of my favorite chapters of Roman History. They both dedicated their lives to bettering their fellow citizens lives, & thus were cruelly slain in the forum. A blasphemy to every God the Roman prayed to

[MatthewLum]

Lepidus would have been a much stronger triumvir if not for Marcus Agrippa. While Octavian (Augustus) was a cunning and ruthless politician, he had none of the military prowess of Lepidus or even Mark Antony.

It's worth noting Lepidus was Julius Caesar's master of horse, and thus theoretically, the most high ranking Roman official under Caesar, until the Ides of March.

Augustus' cherished friend and trusted lieutenant, Agrippa is probably one of the most underrated generals in the history of the Roman Republic. That's saying something, considering he existed in the same era as Publius Ventidius, the only Roman general to notch a triumph for victories over Parthia in history, up to that point. ⚔️

[ekszentrik]

Our calendar is the Julio-Gregorian calendar.

[jtmcgee]

Its like concentrating wealth, power and influence into fewer and fewer hands would lead to one person seizing total control. Maybe selectively enforcing laws may give people the idea that the law doesnt apply to them if they win or have enough resources leading to civil war? I know hind sight is 20/20 but I always worry about the precedent my actions or the actions of others set and the slippery slope it can be . I guess its my love of history and time as a leader in the military that makes me contemplate the primary, secondary and tertiary effects of my actions.

[Schnitzelfox]

I love your cat, I want to hear more about her

[francescogiordano]

Excellent knowlodge of roman history like very few people could have done on youtube👏👏👏👏👏

[sandramadaris]

Very interesting and enlightening. One can easily draw comparisons to today's American society. Some things never change, and history repeats itself. Buckle up, hunker down.