Roman Virtue

HBO, Rome (2005-07)
Cincinnatus

Virgil (Publius Virgilius Maro, 70 B.C. - 19 B.C.)
Livy (Titus Livius Carus, 59 B.C. - A.D. 17)
Tacitus (Publius Cornelius Tacitus, A.D. 56-120)

Punic wars
Carthage, Phoenician colony (Tyre)

  1. 264-241 (Sicily)
  2. 218-201 (Italy)
  3. 149-146 (Carthago delenda est)

Hamilcar Barca
Haniba'al Barca
Quintus Fabius Maximus, dictator - "Fabian" tactics
Cannae, 216 B.C.
Publius Cornelius Scipio "Africanus"
Numidians
Zama, 202 B.C.

Crisis of Virtue
latifundia
ager publicus

  • citizen farmers
  • serve in militia
  • assembly
  • warfare
  • no land
  • permanent army
  • no assembly
  • war declared by Senate

T. Sempronius Gracchus, 133 B.C.
C. Sempronius Gracchus, 121 B.C.

C. Octavius "Augustus" 27 B.C. - A.D. 14

Roman Republic
Roman Empire

Roman Empire
province < pro-vincia
consul > pro-consul

Virgil's admonition

Others will cast more tenderly in bronze
Their breathing figures, I can well believe,
And bring more lifelike protraits out of marble;
Argue more eloquently, use the pointer
To trace the paths of heaven accurately
And accurately foretell the rising stars.
Roman, remember by your strength to rule
Earth's peoples - for your arts are to be these:
To pacify, to impose the rule of law,
To spare the conquered, battle down the proud.
                              --Virgil, Aeneid, 6.1145-54

"Captive Greece took her barbarian captors captive."

I. Decline and Fall - A.D. 378

Huns
Goths

Alemanni
Danube River

foederates

378 - Adrianople
Valens

410 - Visigoths
455 - Vandals