Democricide

"There once was a dream that was Rome." That's what Gladiator keeps telling us. But, after 482 years, the dream, the republic, was murdered. In the season 2 finale, it's time to investigate, hold a trial, and determine a verdict: Who killed the Roman Republic?

Julius Caesar is dead. Who will replace him? Allies turn into rivals as Rome descends once more into civil war. This time, the winner plots a final end to the ancient republic. Sources:  Augustus: First Emperor of Rome, Adrian Goldsworthy History of Rome podcast, Mike Duncan

Caesar has defeated Pompey and become the most powerful Roman in the republic. Will he use that power to reform and save the republic, or make himself a king? Sources:  Caesar: Life of a Colossus, Adrian Goldsworthy Augustus: First Emperor of Rome, Adrian Goldsworthy History of Rome podcast, Mike Duncan

After Sulla "saved the republic," (his words, not ours), a new generation of Roman leaders rose who thought, hey, if Sulla could become dictator for life, why not me? Before long, they were all killing each other and pushing the republic toward the brink. Sources:  Caesar: Life of a Colossus, Adrian Goldsworthy History of Rome podcast, Mike Duncan

Best friends become best frenemies as Marius and Sulla come to blows and a whole lot of Romans get caught in the middle. Can the republic survive? Sources:  Storm Before the Storm, Mike Duncan Caesar: Life of a Colossus, Adrian Goldsworthy History of Rome podcast, Mike Duncan

The Gracchi are dead and the Roman senate has reasserted its power, which is to say, everything is for sale and bribery is rampant. When a Numidian prince exposes the rot within the system, an unlikely pair rise to oppose him, and accumulate unprecedented power in the process. Sources:  Storm Before the Storm, Mike Duncan History of Rome podcast, Mike Duncan

What if I told you the collapse of the Roman Republic began with a housing crisis, 2nd century BC style? Expansion will bring economic pain for the poor, and the Gracchi brothers will try to help them, or die trying. Sources:  Storm Before the Storm, Mike Duncan History of Rome podcast, Mike Duncan

The founders of Rome were raised by wolves. Or were they survivors of Troy? Or 7 tyrant kings? Whatever the mythical origins, they eventually founded a Democratic Republic of checks, balances, and traditions designed to prevent any one man from ever accumulating too much power. Rome would never be ruled by a King again. Sources:  The Constitution of the Roman Republic: A Political Economy Perspect...

Kenny Austin here - Season 2 of Democricide is still in production, but I do have something to share with you this holiday season, the fourth annual Friendsgiving Podcast Spectacular. Folks who have listened to my Abridged Presidential History podcast will be familiar to this tradition. For everyone else, It'll be something new! Four compelling podcast hosts sit down for a round table where each h...

For 20 years, Athens and Sparta fought, each unable to land a killing blow. But as the democratically elected Athenian leaders focused on the Spartans outside their walls, they lost track of the enemies within their own city. Treason brewed as oligarchs dreamed of murder. Sources:  The Peloponnesian War, by Donald Kagan Lords of the Sea, by John R. Hale

After defeating the Persian empire, Athens and its democratic system were on top of the world. But prize fighters always attract challengers. And just down the road from Athens, another Greek city state thought it should be calling the shots. Envy turned to jealousy. And jealousy turned to murder. Sources:  The Peloponnesian War, by Donald Kagan Lords of the Sea, by John R. Hale

Athenian Democracy was established, but who cared? Compared to the mighty Persian empire, the Greek city states were a bunch of backwaters. And that's how history may have remembered them, if not for one suicidally ambitious Greek, and one desperately crafty athenian who saved his city from destruction. Sources:  The Peloponnesian War, by Donald Kagan Lords of the Sea, by John R. Hale

Athens wasn't always a democracy, but when a tyrant overplayed his hand and a revolutionary proposed something better to the masses, it launched a new form of government that changed the Greek world. Sources:  The Peloponnesian War, by Donald Kagan Lords of the Sea, by John R. Hale