Roman Senate

Plutarch’s Life of Cicero: Incorruptible Statesman and Stoic Philosopher in a Corrupt Roman Republic
Greek and Roman History

Plutarch’s Life of Cicero: Incorruptible Statesman and Stoic Philosopher in a Corrupt Roman Republic

08/14/2026 Bruce Strom 0

COMPARING AND CONTRASTING CICERO AND CATO THE YOUNGER
When Cicero served as consul, the top political office in Rome, for a year, he thwarted the Catiline Conspiracy that threatened to overthrow the government. Previously, he served in other important annual offices that often preceded holding the consulship. But like Cato the Younger, Cicero was not a leading figure in the Civil Wars that led to the breakdown of the Roman Republic and the founding of the Roman Empire.
Likewise, Cato the Younger was a prominent senator who also earned renown and a Plutarch biography. Both Cato and Cicero were unique: they were morally incorruptible when blatant, rampant corruption was increasing. As consul, Cicero succumbed to violence when he summarily executed the conspirators without a trial. Although he praised the moral qualities of both, Plutarch offered greater praise for Cato the Younger.
Cicero lived during a transition. Class tensions had resulted in the Agrarian Revolt and Social War when the politics in the Roman Republic became increasingly violent. In Cicero’s youth, General Sulla had marched on Rome with his army, and although his dictatorship was not permanent, he did execute many of his political rivals, setting dangerous precedents. […]

Did Rome Fall, or Evolve to Barbarian Kingdoms? Sack of Rome, and Attila the Hun’s Invasions
Greek and Roman History

Did Rome Fall, or Evolve Into the Barbarian Kingdoms? Sacks of Rome, and Attila the Hun’s Invasions

09/15/2025 Bruce Strom 2

Peter Brown contends: “The Roman Empire was not violently breached by barbarian “invasions.” Rather, between AD 200 and 400, the frontier itself changed. From being a defensive region, which kept Romans and barbarians apart, it had become, instead, an extensive middle ground, in which roman and barbarian societies were drawn together. And after AD 400, it was the barbarians and no longer the Romans who became the dominant partners in the middle ground.” Indeed, after AD 400 barbarian tribes served in the army of the Huns, and barbarians from most of the tribes, including the Huns, served in the Roman armies. […]

Roman Emperors before Marcus Aurelius
Greek and Roman History

Roman Emperors Before Marcus Aurelius

09/15/2023 Bruce Strom 8

Hadrian’s peace policy was controversial, he abandoned Trajan’s conquests in Dacian Romania and Parthian Persia to concentrate on consolidating the Roman Empire. The problem was that the Roman Empire needed continual expansion, including war booty and slaves, to fund the empire and feed the growing populace of Rome. This policy certainly did not prevent future conflict with Parthian Persia.
Historians debate whether Hadrian’s defensive posture was wise. Were there prosperous provinces left to conquer on the frontiers? On the other hand, the successful expansion of the empire by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian several centuries later nearly bankrupted his Empire. […]