Western civilization- Roman Republic terms

The Roman Republic

Person/Place/Event                What Came Before, Describe, What Came After?

Geography of Italy	Originally settled by a group of Latin-speaking peoples on the plains of the peninsula that we know as Italy. Also, there are three Islands of Italy, Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia. The Apennine mountains runs through Italy but does isolate regions. There is ample farmland and plain-land which, makes for enables the support of a large population. The island is 750 miles north to south and only 120 miles across.
Influence of the Greeks	Influences of the Greeks, whom inhabited parts of Italy during the age of Greek colonization, cultivation of the olive and the vine, passed on their alphabet system, Their architecture and cultural models through sculptures, and Greek literature was a big influence of the Romans. After the Greek influence of the Etruscans, the Etruscans passed on influence to the Romans
Influence of the Etruscans	One big influence of the Etruscans was their contribution of their concept of urbanization. Also, the Romans adopted the fortification of walls surrounding their cities. The Etruscans also had a large part in designing the buildings and layout of towns and cities. Roman dress was also adopted from the Etruscans, I.E. the toga and short cloak. The Etruscans modified the Greek alphabet in which they adapted with Latin.
Roman State – Political Institutions	First, was the “Imperium”, the right to command, led by the chief Magistrate. Individuals held this office for designated terms. The Consuls, which administered the government and led army into battle. Then, The praetor, their primary function was to execute justice. In times of emergency a Dictator was appointed after the consuls resigning and would have unlimited power for the duration of the emergency. Quaesteors assisted consuls and praetors. Aediles, supervised the public games and watched of the grain supply of the city. The Senate, a very important institution but did not have power of the chief magistrates. The Senate was a group of 300 men and served for life and met often.
Social Organization	The family was the basis of Roman society. At the heads was the paterfamilias, who theoretically had unlimited power of his family. When the head would die his sons would each become their own paterfamilias. Families were grouped into units known as gentes, or clans. Early in the republic the Romans had two or even three names. First, the praenomen, the personal name. Second was the nomen, which was the name of their families group. Lastly was the cognomen, which was the nickname of the person that they were known as.
Patricians	In the class system they were families who descended from the original senators. High-class peoples.
Plebians	The lower class, the independent, unprivileged, poor people in Rome.  Low class peoples.
Struggle of the Orders	There was a big divide between these social groups. Almost second class citizens. The plebeians could vote but not be elected to office. They could intermarry. Compromise was met after an ultimatum of sorts and two new officials were instituted known as the tribunes of the plebs. Their job was to protect the plebeians from injustice from the patricians. Then the creation of the council of the plebs, which gave the plebeians considerable political leverage. The Canuleian law made intermarriage legal due to the diligence of the plebians.
The Twelve Tables	Table III: the Execution; Law of Debt. After a debt is declared, 30 days is given until arrest. Then he is taken to court and if the court is not pleased the creditor will take him with him for 60 days and taker him to his praetors court and if not paid by then capitol punishment or sold into slavery abroad. IV: Rights of head family- kill a deformed child quickly. A son offered up for sale three times without a buyer is then freed from his father. A child born 10 months after the father’s death will not be admitted to his inheritance. V. Guardianship; succession- females shall remain in guardianship even after they have attained their majority. If a man is “mad” authority over his person and his chattels are given to nearest male relative or clansman. A man who is insane or a spendthrift is prohibited from administering his own goods shall be under trusteeship of his closest male relative. VII. Rights concerning land- Tress may be cut a height of about 1 foot. If a wind overturns a tree or a branch the neighbor has a right to cut down the whole tree. Also, it is permitted to pick up fruit falling down on another man’s farm VIII: Torts or Delicts- If a man slanders another he will be clubbed to death. If a man maims another man retaliation of the same kind shall be invoked unless he makes a settlement with him. Burning at the stake shall be put upon a man if he burns a building or heap of corn deposited alongside a house. That is it is proven he has committed such misdeed with malice and premeditation. If because of negligence or accident he but repair and replace. IX: Public law- bribes for giving a decision are punished through execution. XI: supplementary laws- Intermarriage is forbidden between patricians and plebeians.
Cincinnatus	Chosen dictator in 457 BCE to defend Rome against the attacks of the Aequi. Dictators were appointed for time of crisis, in this case to defet the Aequi. The dictator with unlimited power would only hold this office for 6 months. Cincinnatus was only Dictator for 15 days and then returned to his farm after defeating the Aequi.
Roman Conquest of Italy	At the beginning of the Roman empire, Rome was surrounded by enemies: the Etruscans to the north, Sabine, Volscians, and Aequi to the east and south. The Latin communities of the plain of latium posed a bigger threat. They challenged Roman leadership after they set up an alliance with other Latin communities. The Latin’s of Latium revolted but the revolt was crushed in 340 BCE. Between 343 and 290 BCE., the Romans waged a struggle with the Samnites, hill people in Campania. The conquest gave Rome control over a large part of Italy and brought direct contact with Greece. By 267 BCE Romans crushed the remaining Etruscan states and had conquered all of Italy.
Carthage	Governed by to judges in 6th century BCE., and had a strong military. The military was made up mostly of mercenaries. There was a senate composed of several hundred men. By the third century BCE., Carthage’s empire had control of North Africa, Sardinia, Southern Spain, Corsica, and western Sicily.
Struggle With Carthage; the 1st Punic War	With Carthage encroaching on the coast of Italy the Romans were apprehensive and yearned for full control of the western Mediterranean. The struggle began with a conflict between two Sicilian cities and an army was sent. The Carthaginians considered this a cause for war and thus began the conquest of Sicily. The Romans fought via their navy and Carthage had problems getting their mercenaries to fight. Thus Carthage gave up Sicily and opted for peace. Three years later Rome took advantage of Carthage’s problems with their mercenaries and seized the islands of Sardinia and Corsica.
1st Punic war	(See above)
Hannibal & 2nd Punic War	218 BCE. Rome declared war on Carthage after attacking Saguntum. From Hannibal’s father Hamiclar, Carthage had control of Southern Spain, which is where Hannibal started his campaign on Rome. From there the Carthaginians moved east along the Mediterranean towards the alps with 30,000-40,000 soldiers and 6,000 horses and elephants. Hannibal and his army amazingly scaled the alps and headed south through Italy.  At the battle of Cannae, the Romans decided to face Hannibal head on, which was a bad move. They defeated the Romans here, killing almost 40,000 soldiers. By 206 BCE.; Publius Cornelius Scipio, Leader of Rome’s army in Spain, had pushed the Carthaginians out of Spain. 204 BCE., Scipio led Roman forces right to Carthage and at the battle of Zama defeated Hannibal in 202 BCE. Hannibal then left Carthage and went to help Antiochus and the Seleucid Kingdom with the struggle with Rome. A peace treaty was signed and Hannibal fled to Bithynia near the black sea and killed himself. His last words being, “ Let us free Rome of her dread of one old man.” In 201 BCE a peace treaty was signed between Carthage and Rome giving Rome Spain, Sicily, Corsica, and Sardinia. Rome was now the dominant power in the western Mediterranean.
Hannibal	(See above)
3rd Punic War	When Carthage broke their peace treaty by going to war with one of Rome’s north African allies, because they were encroaching on Carthage’s borders, Rome declared war. Scipio Aemilianus, thus starting the third Punic war, led Rome’s army. The Romans marched on Carthage but their army was no match for the Roman army and Carthage fell and was made a province called Africa.
Destruction of Carthage	Carthage posed no threat to Rome. Although, Rome did not forget the traumatic experience of the 2nd Punic war. The Romans completely destroyed Carthage by burning and looting and selling any survivors into slavery. During the destruction of Carthage, the Carthaginians were horribly massacred. People were burned alive along with their houses and some, in the clean up, thrown into a pit alongside dead bodies.
Roman Imperialism	Rome’s empire was created in three stages; The conquest of Italy, the conflict with Carthage, and the involvement with the domination of the Hellenistic kingdoms in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Much of their plan for expansion was not planned yet opportunistic. It is said that some aristocratic leaders rose who favored expansion for glory and it’s economic benefits. By the second century BCE, Roman imperialism had become more brutal and arrogant and had many negative repercussions for the development of Romans internal republic.
Social, Economic, Political Problem	by the 2nd century BCE., the senate became the main governing force. Through the wars of the last centuries the senate began to exhibit enormous power by controlling foreign and domestic policy, controlling and directing armies, and financial affairs of Rome. Wealthy families, both plebeian and patrician, were increasingly controlling the Senate and magistracies. Collectively, they were referred to as nobiles. These men were elected to important republic offices, all coming from less than 40 families and 50% of them coming from less than 10. There was a split between aristocrats. The senate and the equestrians, formally families of Rome’s cavalry, began to separate and become apprehensive towards each other. The Senate passed a law that barred the equestrians from high office. This group would eventually play an important role in the political turmoil of fall of Rome.
Land Problem	The land problem was tied in with the social, economic, and political problems. Because there was so much war going on soldiers service was increased to six years. Upon returning back home to their farms deteriorating, the farmers sold their land instead. This gave rise to large farming states, or latifundia’s. These latifundia’s were government owned and tilled by peasants. Many of the former farming peoples moved to cities, creating a huge mass of day laborers. The Gracchus brothers tried setting forth reforms to try and help out this situation but the displeased senate had both killed; Tiberius first and Gaius soon after he was elected adjacent to his brothers murder.
Reforms of Tiberius & Gracchus	Tiberius believed that Rome’s main problem was the decline of small farmers. One of Tiberius’ reforms was for the government to take public owned land and distribute it to landless Romans. Senators, most owning large chunks of land, were furious with this and assassinated Tiberius. His brother, Gracchus, carried on his efforts with the reforms. Gracchus replaced Senators with Equites, giving the Equestrians two forms of political power; control over the provincial jury courts and as tax collectors in the new Asian provinces. As a result of all this Gaius and his followers were murdered in 121 BCE.
Marius	Marius had served alongside the senate appointed general Metellus and quarreled with him, returned to Rome and ran for consulship. He was from the Equestrian order and the plebs voted for him for consulship.
Marius & New Roman Army	Due to the disastrous failure of the Senate to control the army, Roman citizens were angered with the Senate and looked to be done with them, resulting in the rise of Marius. He became consul in 107 BCE., and was appointed control of the armies in Africa. Generals no longer need to be loyal to the Senate. Marius won the Jugurthine War to a successful end and then another success in defeating the Gauls, who were a threat to Italy. The new army was a more professional one the generals were now fully in charge of their armies. The generals promised their veterans land as initiative to fight for Rome. This legacy of Marius placed a lot of power in the hands of generals. This was a very dangerous direction for Roman politics.
Sulla & role of Sulla	Originally being appointed consul by the senate and later appointed as commander for the war against Mithridates, Lucius Cornelius Sulla rose to power during the Italian revolt. He marched on Rome for Marius, who had recently come back into the picture, and subsequently fled from Italy. Sulla reestablished power after Marius fled Rome. When Sulla headed east Marius came back to Rome, with the consul Cinna, overthrew the government, outlawed Sulla, and killed his supporters. Civil war had become a normal occurrence in Roman politics. Marius soon died but Cinna used his forces to remain as consul. In 82 BCE, after crushing Mithridates; Sulla returned to Italy and seized the armies opposing him, and then seized Rome forcing the senate to grant him title as dictator to “reconstitute the Republic”. After quelling the opposing armies, Sulla revised the constitution and restored power to the Senate. He eliminated most of the power of the assemblies and of the plebs. When doing this he also returned the senate back to the seat of jury court. His legacy that he left behind was not that of which he intended. He thought that he had returned Rome to it’s traditional government but, his legacy as a powerful commander seizing cities would be seen as very alluring to ambitious men.
Role of Sulla	(See above)
Pompey	Pompey fought for Sulla along with Crassus and upon his return from command in Spain in 77 BCE., he was welcomed as a military hero. Pompey and Crassus were elected consuls in 77 BCE. Both men had been supporters of Sulla but while as consuls’ they undid his work. Pompey went on to defeat Mithridates, after dealing with the Pirates of the Mediterranean, and reorganized the east. But, when he returned home he disbanded his army and expected his veterans to receive land promised. There had been new people that rose to high office and had much complication doing so.
Cicero	One of the new people, mentioned above, was Cicero. Marcus Tullius Cicero. He came from the equestrian order that had recently been restored back into power. He became consul in 63 BCE; used his oratorical and lawyer skills to prosecute some innocent people and defend those accused of crimes, such as a corrupt provincial governor. He returned the scales and balance system with the senate, the plebs, and the equestrians. Next, was to grant a commander. Pompey was the man for this job. The senate did not see it the same way and would not allow it. Same for Julius Caesar.
Struggle – Pompey & Caesar	During the first Triumvirate after Crassus was killed in battle the three powerful men had been reduced to two; Julius Caesar and Pompey. Naturally, the two butted heads and turned on each other. Pompey fled to Greece with Caesar soon to follow.
Crassus	Before his reign with Pompey, Crassus was said to be a very rich man due to Sulla and owned most of Rome. In 82 BCE., Crassus was selected by the senate to command the slave rebellion in Spain, where he was successful. In 77 BCE., Crassus and Pompey joined forces as consuls. In 60 BCE., Caesar and Pompey joined forces with Crassus called the First triumvirate. In 55 BCE., Crassus was given command in Syria while the others of the triumvirate were in command of their respective areas. Crassus was killed in battle in 53 BCE., Leaving Pompey and Caesar in -charge.
Dictatorship of Julius Caesar	When Caesar defeated Pompey and his forces and became a very powerful man, much to the apprehension of the senate. Caesar did not appoint himself king, yet Dictator in 47 BCE., and in three years time he was Dictator for life. Within the same year a group of resentful leading senators had him assassinated.
Assassination of Caesar	A group of leading Senators resented Caesars domination and had him assassinated. The Senators believed that the old republican system would then return. Unknowingly they had just set the stage for a civil war that would lay the final blow to the republic.
Octavian	Octavian was Caesars grandnephew and was adopted by Caesar as his son. At the age of 19, after Caesars assassination, Octavian took command of some of Caesars legions. He then forced the Senate to make him consul and joined forces with Marc Antony and Marcus Lepidus. The Second Triumvirate.
Marc Antony	When Lepidus was pushed aside by Octavian and Antony they spilt the empire in half. Octavian took the west and Antony the East. To solidify the deal Antony married Octavia, Octavian’s sister. But the huge empire was big enough for two rulers. At this time Antony abandoned Octavia, fled and allied with Cleopatra VII, and subsequently fallen in love with her.
Final Struggle – Octavian-Antony	Octavian and Antony realized that two men could not rule the empire. When Antony abandoned Octavian’s sister and allied with Cleopatra VII, Antony started a propaganda war against Antony. Octavian accused Antony of giving away land to Cleopatra “ whore of the east.” At the battle of Actium, Octavian crushed Antony and Cleopatra’s army. Antony and Cleopatra fled to Egypt and committed suicide together a year later.

Julius Caesar – Good or Bad For Rome?

Background:
In the years before Caesar became powerful, Rome was suffering from a great deal of disorder and violence. During the 80’s B.C., two Roman leaders, Marius and Sulla had clashed for power. Their clash resulted in a bloodbath as first Marius and then Sulla killed the other’s supporters. Sulla won and, in working to restore order, became a dictator and gave his friends in the Senate almost total control over the military and the courts. After Sulla died, the leader of the Roman province of Spain tried to make the provincials equal in power to the Senate (Rome’s top law making body, made up of wealthy Roman landowners). This revolt was put down by the general, Pompey. At the same time a slave leader, Spartacus, led a massive revolt of 70,000 slaves and peasants. Another general, Crassus, finally put down this revolt.

Stop here and discuss:
1.	What problems did Rome have during this time?
2.	Who were Pompey and Crassus and what special jobs did they do for Rome?

1.    There were many problems during this time including: Social, economic, and political. Society was uprooted and morals were pushed to the wayside. There were thousands of farmers who abandoned their farms and moved into the cities, whom became the mass of day laborers. Due to the poor social situation and lack of public owned farms the economy was in shambles. For politics; there was much turmoil, there was many civil wars, and there was much distrust. 2.    Pompey and Crassus both were military heroes who fought under Sulla. Both men joined forces as consul by force and soon would create the First Triumvirate with Julius Caesar. Both men had crushed opposing forces and rebellions in their military career. Pompey reorganized the east and stuck by the soldiers that fought for him by demanding land be given to them for their service. They gave power back to the tribunes and equestrians.

After Sulla died, Pompey and Crassus became Consuls (2 leaders who shared the power over the government for one year) and restored power to the Tribunes (leaders of the people’s assembly who could block laws, through a power called “veto”). Pompey stepped down when his term was up as Consul. The Senate feared to give him more military power but the Assembly granted a three year period of absolute power and a navy in order to fight the pirates in the Mediterranean who were threatening Rome’s food supplies. Pompey accomplished this job in three months.

Stop here and discuss:
1.	What job did Crassus and Pompey hold?
2.	What was the “veto”? How is it part of America’s government?
3.	Was Pompey a good military leader? Why do you think so?

1.    Crassus and Pompey became Consuls after Sulla’s death. 2.    Veto was an act of the tribunes that blocked laws. This “veto” is now part of our government’s checks and balance system. 3.    Yes, Pompey was a great military leader. He cared for the men who fought for them and seemed to be a man of his word. When he returned to Rome after war he demanded land for the veterans.

The Assembly forced the Senate to give Pompey command against the Mithridates who had again conquered Asia Minor and Greece, both important parts of Rome’s empire. Pompey not only defeated the Mithridates, but brought all of the Middle East to the Euphrates River under Roman control or alliance. While Pompey was away, a rebellion, led by a man named Catiline, plunged Rome into civil war. When Pompey returned he disbanded his army outside of Rome and came back to the city as a private citizen. The Senate, thinking to avoid another dictatorship like Sulla’s, refused to grant his Pompey’s veterans any land or to recognize his military triumphs in the East. As one can see, Rome of the 60’s B.C. was marked by disorder among the common people, angry soldiers who had not been given what they considered their lust rewards for fighting and a Senate which looked back to a period of dictatorship under Sulla.

Stop here and discuss:
1.	Why do you think the Roman Senate was afraid of Pompey?
2.	What was Rome like in the 60’s B.C.?

1.    The Roman senate was afraid of Pompey because he was a powerful military commander. Because of this power the senate was afraid of another dictatorship like that of Sulla’s. 2.    Rome was in disorder among the average citizens, soldiers disenchanted by fighting and not receiving their rewards.

First Triumvirate:
While Pompey was in the East, Crassus, the general who had put down the slave revolt and who was also a very wealthy Senator, tried to increase his power at home by working with a man named Julius Caesar. Caesar was very popular with the people because his family had for many years supported democratic causes and as magistrate he had lavished money on public games and works project which employed common people.

To get control of Rome, the three men, Pompey (who brought soldiers and prestige), Crassus (who brought wealth), and Caesar (who brought influence over the common people) formed an alliance called the First Triumvirate. The men wanted to restore Rome’s security by distributing choice offices and military commands to their friends and supporters. Caesar was given command of Gaul (what is now France and Germany) and Crassus was given command of the army in Parthia (modern Iran and Pakistan) and Pompey was given recognition for conquering the Mithridates and stayed at home in Rome.

Stop here and discuss:
1.	When Crassus, Caesar, and Pompey joined together, what strengths did each of them have?
2.	Which was the most important of these strengths? Why?

1.    Crassus: was extremely wealthy and a powerful commander. Caesar: was very popular with the people due to his family’s interest in the public games, democratic causes, and works projects that employed many common citizens. Pompey: had many soldiers (loyal) and grand military prestige. 2.    The most important was Caesar. Without the support of others you might as well not have the other strengths of the Pompey and Crassus. With support you can solicit investments and contributions and also gain the admiration of great commander and armies.

After Crassus died in battle, competition for power between Caesar and Pompey became open conflict. Caesar was a brilliant commander and led his soldiers to many victories against the Germans. He added all the lands west of the Rhine River to the territory of Rome, including Britain. He wrote about these battles in popular diaries called “Commentaries,” which were great propaganda pieces to show to the people what a good soldier he was. Caesar also dealt well with the Gauls. He treated them leniently and his good sense made them trust him and remain loyal. The soldiers and the people loved him and wanted Pompey overthrown and Caesar to be their leader.

Stop here and discuss:
1.	How did Caesar increase his power?
2.	Did Caesar do anything wrong in gaining power? Why do you think so?

1.Caesar increased his power by not only conquering many lands but also by gaining the loyalty of the people of those lands with his trustful personality.        2.When he became dictator he angered the senate. The senate was still powerful. I feel this lead to his assassination only three years later.

Meanwhile, The Senate, though fearful of Pompey, became more fearful of Caesar because of his tremendous popular appeal. Caesar now also had a strong and loyal army behind him. Caesar sought to gain the Consulship while he was still in Gaul in 48 B.C. The Senate declared him a public enemy and told him to disband his army. Caesar said he would do so if Pompey did the same. When Pompey refused, Caesar marched with his army toward Rome. His illegal action started another civil war. Caesar fought Pompey’s followers in Spain and then in Greece. Pompey fled to Egypt and was killed by an agent of the king. Caesar went to Egypt and fell in love with the king’s sister, Cleopatra.

	Stop here and discuss:
	1.	Why do you think the Senate declared Caesar a public enemy?
	2.	How do you think Rome’s experience with Sulla and Marius affected their reaction to the struggle between Caesar and Pompey?
	3.	Was Caesar right or wrong to have entered Rome with his army? Why?
1.    They declared Caesar a public enemy simply out of fear. 2.    They were afraid of a dictator taking over again and creating another civil war because of the Situation with Sulla and Marius. 3.    He was right to do so. He was a leader of the people and the senate was afraid that he would take control and ruin the senate.

Caesar’s Rule:
Caesar returned to Rome as its master, his authority having surpassed that of the Senate. He became king in all but name. He had his name stamped on coins, had his statue put in the temple and wore royal purple. He took power from the Senate and made the magistrates his appointees. But, he did not punish his enemies in the government by sending them from Rome as earlier leaders had done.

He enacted many reforms to improve the economy. He limited the grain dole to those actually in need so that the capital city would not continue as a magnet for idle mobs. He established Roman colonies by giving land to the soldiers and landless peasants in Carthage and Corinth. He made a law which limited the number of slaves estates could employ so that the poor free people would have more work.

In the provinces (land conquered by Rome) he appointed new governors and made them strictly accountable so they would no longer simply plunder the people of all their wealth. He reduced taxes and made collections fairer. He allowed the people in Sicily, Spain and Gaul to become Roman citizens so they could participate in the central government as well as their local governments.

Stop here and discuss:
1.	What reforms did Caesar make which helped the poor?
2.	What reforms did Caesar begin to make in the provinces? Were they good or bad for Rome? Why?
3.	How did Caesar increase his power?

1.    He did what Sulla tried to do. He created jobs for people, gave food to the more needing, which dispersed the mobs in the cities. Also, Caesar handled the colony situation well. 2.    He made the governors of those provinces accountable for their actions so they would not take advantage of the citizens by taking their wealth. 3.    Caesar increased his power by being a man of the people. His reforms are impressive and show self-less leadership and intelligence that you want in a leader.

Caesar’s Death:

Caesar did not remain in power long enough to complete his reforms. He had intended to codify the laws, improve money coinage, make a census of Rome, and reform the calendar. He only achieved the last major change.

Many Senators feared that if Caesar’s power continued, the republican government would never be restored and Caesar would hand down his leadership to an heir. Sixty Senators plotted to kill him. He was warned of the conspiracy, but Caesar chose to ignore it. On March 15, the Ides of March, in 44 B.C., he entered the Senate unarmed. He was surrounded by conspirators and stabbed 23 times.

After the death of Caesar, Rome again fell into chaos.

Stop here and discuss:
1.	Why do you think Caesar ignored the warning about the conspiracy?
2.	Was the death of Caesar good or bad for Rome? Why?

1.    I think he ignored the conspiracy because of his arrogance. He thought that he was doing well by everyone but did not realize the greedy rich of the senate were extremely angry. Enough to kill. 2.    I think it was bad for Rome. All of Caesars reforms seemed very positive for Rome. Maybe a little too much because the wealthy need to be cared about as well as the poor. But, overall he fixed the problems that had been neglected for years.

Connecting History

How does the theme, “The importance of history is realizing its presence” connect to people and/or events in this module? Provide examples.        I think Rome is a great example of looking back at history and learning from it. It was an empire for a long time and had many different types of government systems and many civil and foreign wars. During the decline of the Roman Republic there was so much turmoil. This one seizing and ruling that one seizing and ruling; The Senate taking power, then the equestrians being granted jury in the tribune, the dictators, the consuls, the magistrates. A lot was going on; socially, economically, and politically. This shows us that we should look back through history for how to solve our economic times. Look what they tried and how it worked. Their failed attempts rather than ours.

How does the theme, “The same conditions always produce the same results” connect to people and/or events in this module? Provide examples.        If you have the same type of dictator with the same ousted senate and same government the same thing time and time again is going to happen. Just like Sulla and Caesar, assassination by the senate in inevitable. If you keep the same variables but change the person in charge of dealing with those things, the only thing changes is the name on the tombstone.

How does the theme “The only thing new in the world is the history you didn’t know” connect to people and/or themes in this module? Provide examples.         This applies to running an empire in general. People respond the same way to certain kind of governmental decisions. Colonies don’t respond to being unfairly treated and throughout the history of time have rebelled against unjust rule. Rome experienced many revolutions throughout the history of the empire. The Spanish revolt of the slaves was a valiant effort but met no success due to the powerful Roman military.