5/14

Today in Western Civilization we took notes on Rome and watched some more of the video. Here are the notes that I wrote.

Poor Plebs (Literally)

-How do you keep the plebs happy (or at least keep them from revolting)?

-The post Juvenal said the people “anxiously hope for two things: bread and circuses”

-Bread (free grain from the State) and entertainment (Circus Maximus Coliseum), partly to keep them alive, and partly to keep them quiet

A Change in Rule

-Tiberius Gracchus recognized the advantages of courting the plebeians (even though he was the ultimately unsuccessful)

-Military generals worked that angle – lead an army that conquers a land, then give them a share in the spoils

-Soldier’s loyalty was to their military leader, not necessarily to Rome or the Republic

Nobody did it better than Caesar

-Julius Caesar (100 – 44 BCE)

-A highly successful general

-He conquered the huge territory of Gaul

-The soldiers were getting rich (from all of Gaul’s money) and so was Caesar

He could play the game (of politics)

-Made common folks happy

-Made friends in high places

            -Pompey (a general who conquered Syria and Palestine)

            -Crassus (the richest man in Rome, one of the richest men in all history)

-These three men formed the First Triumvirale (“rule of three men”)