https://getpocket.com/explore/item/lessons-in-the-decline-of-democracy-from-the-ruined-roman-republic?utm_source=pocket-newtab
Watts chronicles the ways the republic, with a population once devoted to national service and personal honor, was torn to shreds by growing wealth inequality, partisan gridlock, political violence and pandering politicians, and argues that the people of Rome chose to let their democracy die by not protecting their political institutions, eventually turning to the perceived stability of an emperor instead of facing the continued violence of an unstable and degraded republic.
I mean, yeah, but their institutions didn't work anymore. The arrangement between the Particians and Plebians broke down when the Plebians who were expected to serve in the legions could no longer afford land. Augustus solved that by giving land on the frontier to legionaries once they retired. The real lesson is that you can't just harangue people about decency and tradition and norms when their basic needs aren't being met and expect that to fix everything.
I'm reading *The Assassination of Julius Caesar" by Michael Parenti, and he points out the many times that the Senate and other prominent Romans totally disregarded the political norms as a matter of the class warfare they were waging on the proletariat. Something something something mutual ruin of both classes.
I've gotta get around to reading that and iirc "a people's history of the roman republic" because the Populares, Gracchi, and Caesar's dole are just fascinating
That's actually the subtitle of the book, if you're not referring to a different one.
Youre right. There was another book that I found along side Parenti's but I cannot remember the name
The Roman Republic and later Empire fell because people didn't respect propriety enough in the marketplace of ideas.
:troll: with the shotgun screaming I HATE ROMANISM I HATE ROMANISM I HATE ROMANISM
as the western historians pile through the door insisting [every white imperial project] is just like Rome
The thing is, a lot of western countries try to emulate Rome, so they just build the exact same flaws into their empires and are surprised when they meet a crisis.
Are they treating it as though violent rhetoric and disregard for norms comes from nowhere, and isn't a result of deteriorating material conditions?
Rule #1 of American historical interps: NEVER mention material conditions.
Look, one of the following has to come first: a) Deteriorating conditions caused by political decisions or b) people getting really mad and being RUDE about deteriorating conditions.
I, Dr. Jason Daley, have put B in front. This is not ideology, im just very smart
Violent government of a violent culture in violent part of the world during a violent millinneum fell apart because of violent rhetoric.
This is idealism. Violent rhetoric or disrespecting institutions are super structural symptoms of causes originating materially.
violent rhetoric and disregard for political norms
Those darn Brutus Bros are at it again!
That a respected scientific institution like the Smithsonian is going all-in on idealism just shows that the entire popular political sphere is running on the equivalent of geocentrism.
what's a "political norm?" I'm dirt poor and can't afford land, nothing else matters. That's how it was in Rome and that's how it is now and that's how it always is when there's massive inequality. Romans were smart enough to find a way to give people land, we're about to see a massive housing crisis become a super-massive housing crisis.
We're in fuckin 1320 motherfucker
Edit: maybe more like 320 if it's rome.
