Ursus

I must be missing something.

Caesar became dictator for life and ... passed a few moderate reforms. Perhaps he would have done more legislation had he not been unkindly assassinated, but it is a moot point. The person who actually laid down the social, political, military and religious framework of the Empire that would last for the next 300 years was Augustus. Caesar helped take a sledgehammer to the Republic, but it was Octavian (and his two ministers) that actually built something enduring from the rubble.

Ok, after the past two weeks at work that I had, there will be some sampling of beer this Saturday. And then when I get up Sunday I should be in an excellent mood to judge the contest entries. I wish all of you good times for the holiday. Slainte!

As a general notice, UNRV does accept book reviews and articles on the cultures discussed here at the Forum Peregrini. If someone has a tome on the Ancient Greeks, ancient Celts and Germans, etc, that they would like to review, please submit it to the site for consideration. Thanks. PS. Yes, the Etruscans count as "non-Roman Italians." I can't imagine another culture more relevant to Roman history. I would love to see more discussions on them.

Thanks for the much needed lucidity. The thing of it is ... the barbarians swept through Continental Western Europe, and Roman culture per se was still steeply embedded, to the extant that those people now speak languages descended from Latin. Britain cannot make the same claim. A few Anglo-Saxon hordes and Romanatis disappears. Even before the barbarian incursions, evidence shows Romanization was not extremely deep, exceptions like Bath notwithstanding. Few native born Brits found their way into the higher ruling classes, for instance. I did leave citations to two books whose views I summarized. I encourage people to read Colin Wells at the very least.

I believe inflation might have played a factor, but remember the rise of Persia as a superpower threat meant the Roman army increased, by conservative estimates, 33%. More taxes simply had to be collected to pay for the increased army. The whole system of smaller and more numerous provinces was designed to ensure better collection of revenue. If I remember correctly the decuriones simply tried applying to the provincial and central governments as that is where all the power lay under the Dominate. The local governments under the Dominate had no real power and thus there was no incentive to remain in them.

The "people" were a part of the system, but it was a system qualified by socio-political class, with different classes having different rights and duties (at least initially). "Democracy" doesn't describe Rome at all to me. In the famous phrase of "The Senate and the People of Rome" the Senate was clearly first. In the Assembly of Centuries, which elected the highest magistrates, the wealthiest classes were in a definite majority. This is not too different from Solon's moderate democracy, with four socio-economic classes and their varying levels of rights and duties. But the kind of radical democracy that developed after Solon was clearly a different breed from either Solon's constitution or the Roman Republic.

"How many ages hence shall this our lofty scene be acted o'er, in states unborn and accents yet unknown?" Cassius. Julius Caesar Happy Birthday.

Agreed.

And not to sidetrack this discussion, but that is exactly my own take on things. I believe the biggest influence on the cult of the Virgin/Theotokos was the cult of Isis. Isis was herself a deity heavily syncretized with other Mediterranean goddesses. Are you assuming every founder in the church was sincerely interested in "guiding people to the True Light?" Perhaps some of the footsoldiers. But as I read history, the imperial administration was more interested in lip service and conformity than sincere belief - the new Christian establishment behaved much as the old Pagan establishment in that regard! What mattered was not whether something was true, but whether it worked. The same was true at the opposite end of the spectrum. Many people prayed to deity X because they thought Deity X gave them a good harvest or healed their illness or whatever. Shrines to Saints were often built right over shrines to pagan gods. If the locals were persuaded that the saint in question held the same efficacy in bestowing supernatural rewards as the previous local pagan god, to many it wouldn't matter. Six of one and half a dozen of another. As long as there was a supernatural force to aid in the burdens of life. I think we have to be honest about why a lot of people at both the top and the bottom go into religion - they are not looking for pure truth so much as they are looking for (what they perceive as) working solutions to their problems. Dostoevsky said it best when he said "men seek not so much God as they seek miracles."

In Rome itself the election of the junior magistries was transferred from the assemblies to the Senate. The higher magistries came at the recommendation of the Princeps. In the provinces, the local offices (the class known as decuriones, who were based on certain property qualifications) were elected by the local popular assemblies (indeed, the only real job of the local popular assemblies was to elect the town councilors). Under the Principate the decuriones worked in partnership with the central government to collect tax revenue and administer local territories. The position was thus highly sought after. However, under the Dominate power shifted from the towns to the new system of provinces. As such the position of town councilor was more burden than reward - they had little real power, but were expected to contribute their own finances to the State. Increasingly few decuriones ran for election. The Dominate had to find ways to keep decuriones tied to the towns. The electoral process was nullified. Membership in the decurion class became hereditary, and the actual offices were granted by nomination from the central authorities.

I would like to compare my own leadership style to Augustus. I do not however like hiding my authority, and suspect I come across more as a Diocletian.

What exactly are the modern parallels that are allegedly conveyed through the movie? George Bush is the Great King? Iraqis are the freedom loving Greeks? Car bomb manufacturing militias are the Spartan 300? On second thought, don't answer that. If there is any hidden message I really don't want to know. Not in the mood for another rousing thread on modern geopolitics that will have to be moved to the Arena.

Oh glorious day! After work, my sweetheart and I took a walk around the community college next to our office building. First time in ages I didn't have to wear a jacket.

Consuls come and go, but the Mysteries are forever.

I don't have much sympathy for Spartan society, but I think we can nonetheless admire the heroism of people who fought and died in a hopeless battle for their country (or, rather, their city). To delay a much larger army for three days is no small feat.

You suspect they are Evil Twins? Roman soulmates in a past life.

Interesting how PP and Viggen's birthdays are so close.

Hail, Princeps!

I've pretty much decided at this point, from the opinions of people whose views I trust, that I shall not be buying the second season DVD (though I won't throw it away if a relative gives it to me as an XMass present). It's really a shame, as the first season held so much promise.

Weren't they ancient football teams?

Your attention to proper English is greatly appreciated!

Thank you all for your suggestions. I took none to heart, but the thought was nonetheless greatly appreciated. I have one book review in queue, and I believe that shall be it for awhile. The weather is becoming nicer and I believe it is time to enjoy the fresh air with my new favorite playmate. ... That is, unless Viggen returns and posts some fascinating new books available in March for reasonable prices.

I remember reading Stephen Lawhead's "Pendragon" cycle of the Arthurian legend when I was 12 or 13. The first book of the trilogy is set in the latter days of Roman Britain, though with fantasy elements. I doubt you personally would like it, Cato, but there are others on here who may enjoy it.

Very informative. Thank you all. Nephele, your post in particular was informative. Thank you. However, you say the author believes the Romans ate pumpkins? I believe pumpkins are native to the Western Hemisphere and were not introduced to Europe before American colonization.