Popular culture in recent years has shown an increased interest in ancient history, especially ancient Rome. While this interest is welcome, we need to get our facts straight. This six-session course will focus on the crucial period in Roman history when the state transitioned from a power-sharing republic to an autocracy under Augustus Caesar. This period, from about 133 BCE to CE 14, is of perennial interest, particularly in the United States, whose Founding Fathers were inspired by the ideals of the Roman Republic.

The instructor will explain the structure and functioning of the Roman Republic and examine the causes of its breakdown in its final decades. Topics include the Gracchi brothers, Marius and Sulla, and Pompey and Caesar, with attention to the political, military and social factors that contributed to the decline. The course concludes with Augustus’ rise to power and the establishment of a new political order that brought stability after years of civil war.