The Roman Republic was a plutocratic oligarchy. As is generally true of republics, it was a mixed constitution with a monarchic component, the Consuls, and aristocratic component, the Senate, and a democratic component, the Assemblies of the Plebes. The plebes had their representatives, the Tribunes of the Plebes who could veto proposals of the Senate. […]
Did Hannibal and Scipio Ever Meet?
May 28, 2024 By Leave a Comment
According to Livy, Scipio and Hannibal met to negotiate just before the battle of Zama. Hannibal had sent spies to the Roman camp, and they were caught snooping around. Much to the shock of his underlings, Scipio told his tribune to release them and show them around the camp and answer any questions to their […]
You Won’t Even Have My Bones: The Story of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus
May 22, 2024 By Leave a Comment
My new book, You Won’t Even Have My Bones, has just been published. It is the story of the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, told in the first person. Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus was a pivotal character in history. Without him, it is unlikely that Rome would have conquered Spain during the Second Punic […]
The Repeal of the Oppian Laws
July 22, 2023 By Leave a Comment
The Oppian laws were passed during the Second Punic War at a time when Rome was badly in need of funds to carry on their war against Hannibal. They forbid women from owning more than a small amount of gold and jewelry and from riding in carriages and from wearing purple. This encouraged wealthy women […]
Would Carthage Have Destroyed Rome If They Had Been Victorious in the Punic Wars?
June 7, 2023 By Leave a Comment
After the Battle of Cannae in which Hannibal’s army killed some 50,000 Roman and allied soldiers, Hannibal expected the Romans to sue for peace. He was not inclined to destroy the city. The Romans were having none of that. They would not allow Hannibal’s emissary into the city, and the Senate made it a crime […]
Were the Romans Religious?
June 5, 2023 By Leave a Comment
The Romans were strongly religious. They worshiped a variety of Gods and believed that, at times, their gods interacted with humans. They never went into battle without first taking auguries to see if the battle would be favorable to them. They built temples everywhere, and rich Romans would sponsor a temple to whichever god he […]
Social and Economic Factors Leading to the End of the Roman Republic
April 17, 2023 By Leave a Comment
The severe erosion of the small landholding class during the second century B,C. These small farmers were the bulwark of the Roman Republic. This led to a movement, led by Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus to redistribute public lands (ager publica) to the many landless who had been kicked off their land by wealthy people buying up […]
Who Were the Brothers Gracchi, Why Were They Popular and How did They Die?
February 18, 2023 By Leave a Comment
The Gracchi brothers, Tiberius and Gaius were the two sons of Cornelia who was the daughter of Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, and her husband Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus. Cornelia gave birth to twelve children, but only three of them survived to adulthood, Tiberius, Gaius and a daughter, Sempronia. The elder by about ten years, Tiberius joined […]
Why Did The Romans Consider Quintus Fabius Maximus’ Strategy Cowardly?
February 17, 2023 By Leave a Comment
Quintus Fabius Maximus thought outside the box. The normal Roman response was to directly confront the enemy on the battlefield, and most Romans could not understand or tolerate Fabius’ thinking. Livy relates how Fabius attempted to dissuade the Consul Lucius Aemilius Paullus from confronting Hannibal at Cannae. Fabius: “I think you know why I have […]
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