Please read Plutarch's account of one of the many "ambitious young men" who lived during what is sometimes called the Age of Cicero. Pick out a key line that shows how this man's work might have tended to support or destroy republican government in Rome. Explain why you chose this particular line.You can use one of these abridged biographies of Crassus, Cicero, Pompey, Sertorius, Cato the Younger, or Lucullus. If you prefer the complete text, go to the links in the right hand column here (scroll down a bit).
Pompey was then at Picenum, where he raised an army of about seventeen thousand men. With this force he set out to join Sylla, and succeeded in doing so only after being attacked several times by the opposite party. He was just twenty-three years old when he elevated himself to the office of general, and Sylla was so struck by his appearance and the excellent condition of his army that he saluted him as Imperator when they met. This was an honorable title, and one that had never before been bestowed on a Roman who had not been in the senate; indeed, it was one for which such great generals as Scipio and Marius were fighting. But Sylla felt that Pompey deserved it, and his respect for that young man was so great that he would always rise and uncover his head when he approached. When he had made himself master of Italy and was declared dictator, he rewarded his principal officers handsomely; but to Pompey he gave most, knowing that he owed more to his services than to those of any other man.
ReplyDeleteI specifically choose this paragraph because this is the start of how Pompey really got his start in Roman affairs. His actions in helping Sulla obviously helped lead to the destruction of the republican government. Sulla ushered in the start of the destruction of the republic government. Sulla also gave a lot of power to Pompey because of the actions that he did. Sulla also gave Pompey and a lot of other men ambitions to gain power and change rules in the Roman republic constantly. From the start of Sulla affecting Pompey to the end of Pompey trying to obtain what he wanted it ended up hurting the Roman republic government. When going through the lecture today you can also see that Pompey would do some of his own rule changes in order to get what he wanted which was being a consul as well as being a proconsul so he could obtain more power throughout his life. Being the top dog was always the major importance of everything trying to get power. He did help keep Rome from destruction of threats but with the help of Sulla affecting his future goals Pompey helped led to the destruction of the Roman republic government.
The line I chose was :
ReplyDeleteSome more honest citizens were so indignant that it was proposed to appoint a dictator, and Pompey was the man selected. But, fearing that as dictator he might become a tyrant, it was decided, after much debate, to appoint him sole consul.
One of the reasons why I chose this line was because of the state of the Roman government. Before Sulla’s leadership, Roman representatives could run for continuing terms to serve as council or tribune. But Sulla saw the danger and wanted to give the senate back the control they had lost. They obviously had seen what Pompey was able to do for the Romans, and some of the successes that he had, but nonetheless, there was always that concern of having a Roman dictator or a dictator that took charge and ended up hurting the Roman people. A little further down the line, Pompey discusses how he wishes that she shared the government with no one, which is concerning to the point they made earlier. On top of that, Pompey had worked hard for his time in the Roman government and felt that he should make the most of it, and focus on things that would benefit him and the government, not necessarily others. This was how the Roman government was at times, having powerful individuals who gained power in the Roman government, and using their powers to further advance their ideologies or other influences they wanted to have on the Roman government and the Roman people. This was the one thing that the Romans were trying to avoid, so that’s why there was some scepticism when discussing Pompey and his influence on the rest of the Roman people at this stage of his political career when he was finally elected.
- Nile Hesson
Cicero was a well-renowned poet, politician, and philosopher who is still credited for his influential work in modern times. Despite his influence, he still played a part in the destruction of the republic in Rome. Despite his honorable reputation and actions in regard to politics (especially during his time as a lawyer) his actions contributed to the fall of the Roman republic form of government.
ReplyDeleteThe actions I'm referring to are his actions in regard to the execution of Cataline's conspirators after his attempted assassination. In Rome, it was seen as a terrible thing to do to execute someone in an unfair or nonexistent trial. This is precisely what Cicero did. In the reading it states "Clodius hated Cicero ... caused the old law to be renewed which declared any one guilty of treason who had a citizen put to death without trial. This was a blow aimed at Cicero, who had executed those engaged in the Catiline conspiracy." After he exposed Catiline and his followers for attempting to assassinate him, he ordered the execution of Catiline's primary officers, which was later regarded as a bad move politically. Not only that, but it showed the people of Rome that even honorable men like Cicero were not above these kinds of actions.
This lead prominent men after him to be more accepting of these kinds of actions, and placed a further sense of mistrust between the working and ruling classes of Rome.
-Haylee Bohnet
From Cicero:
ReplyDelete"It was bold and outrageous, but they might have succeeded had not the plot been revealed to Cicero, who exposed it in an oration, and thus saved Rome and drove Catiline from the city."
I chose this quote because it shows Cicero's unwavering loyalty to the Roman Republic. Throughout Cicero's political career, he always wrote in defense of the Republic. He was vocally resistive of Caesar's reformer policies, arguing that they should adhere to the policies of the Republic. Though he shunned the violence of Caesar's assassination, as he was a very against violence, he did support the assassins actions, for he believed that they were ridding Rome of the tyrannical Caesar to reform the republic. Cicero put too much faith into Octavian to assist him in reforming the Republic, as Octavian was the heir of Caesar, and led to the death of him and his beloved republic. I believe that the writings of Cicero, though almost defiantly over-glorified by his ego, showed that we was a great advocate for the continuation of the Roman Republic. Furthermore, I believe that it is at least in part thanks to Cicero that the Republic lived as long as it did through the times of the Roman Revolution.
"Meanwhile, Sertorius gathered about him the senators who had fled from Rome to him, and established a government with Roman laws and institutions, giving all the offices to his own countrymen in order that he might prove that it was his purpose to restore liberty to them, not to make the Spaniards powerful against them. Thus he showed himself a true patriot, for he loved his country and wanted to return to it."
ReplyDeleteI chose this paragraph because it shows how influential Sertorius was while also showing how much he loved his country. Sertorius was more against Sulla's constitution than Rome itself--as it is said above, "for he loved his country and wanted to return to it." He wanted to rid Rome of the major senatorial influence and change some rules around regarding Sulla's ideas. Sertorius was able to fight back against the senate for a good long while, thus proving the endurance and willpower of the anti-senate Roman influences.
-Lauren Bland
However, though Cicero, full of hope, was being borne on towards a political career, a certain oracle took the edge from his eager desire. When he inquired, namely, of the god at Delphi how he could become most illustrious, the Pythian priestess enjoined upon him to make his own nature, and not the opinion of the multitude, his guide in life. 2 And so during the first part of his time at Rome11 he conducted himself with caution, was reluctant to sue for office, and was therefore neglected, being called "Greek" and "Scholar," those names which the low and ignorant classes at Rome were wont to give so readily. 3 But he was naturally ambitious and was urged on by his father and his friends, and so when he gave himself in earnest to the work of an advocate, he did not advance slowly to the primary, but his fame shot forth at once, and he far surpassed those who strove with him for distinction in the forum".
ReplyDeleteThese aspects may have aided Cicero in supporting the Roman Republican Government because he is depicted as being stable and cautious of the way he approaches politics. With though like that, destruction may not be as certain than if he was not cautious.
I choose to read the story of Cicero.
ReplyDelete"At that battle Pompey was defeated and had to fly. Then Cato desired Cicero to command part of the army, but he declined, and announced that he would take no further share in the war. Thereupon some of the young warriors drew their swords, called him traitor, and would certainly have dispatched him on the spot had it not been for Cato, who interposed and led him out of the camp."
I chose this line because it goes to show that even though great power can be given to people, in this case Cicero, they may not always jump at the opportunity to take it. This may have lead to the destruction of the republican government in Rome because with Cicero's example, it would have been clear that the Romans were scared to take power that were handed to them, making them easy to attack and destroy.
The line I chose was from Crassus right at the beginning:
ReplyDeleteMarcus Crassus lived at the same period with Pompey and Cæsar and Cicero, whose lives follow this, and he was one of the best public speakers in Rome. Often when others refused to undertake a case that seemed unimportant, he would give it so much of his time and attention that his fellow-citizens looked upon him as one who was ever ready to work for them. Besides, he had a pleasant way of greeting even the humblest of his countrymen, and of calling each by name, that added much to his popularity. This was unlike many rich men, and Crassus was enormously rich, for not only was he the owner of several silver-mines, but he had valuable lands and a host of slaves, whom he hired out. They were laborers on his estates, readers, writers, silversmiths, stewards, and household waiters. These he always overlooked himself, for he considered it the duty of a master to see that his servants were properly instructed in their various pursuits.
I chose these lines because of how they describe Crassus as a man of the people. Being a man of the people is something that I think all government officials should strive for. It doesn't matter how much money, power, and/or influence a person has because if pushed far enough the many can/will rise up against the few and overthrow them by their sheer might and determination against oppression.