The Roman Republic lasted 300 years without a single act of political violence until desperation over wealth inequality shattered that peace forever.
Edward J. Watts, author of The Romans: A 2000 Year History, traces the Republic from its radical founding principle that no one has an inherent right to rule to the massacres of the Gracchi brothers that introduced murder as a tool of statecraft. Watts draws a striking contrast with modern America, noting that Rome’s centuries of civic peace make our own era look violent by comparison.
It’s a story of how republics thrive when citizens feel like stakeholders, and how quickly they fracture when that sense of shared ownership breaks down.
Watch the full conversation above, or listen to an audio version below:
LINKS:
The Romans: A 2000 Year History by Edward Watts on Amazon
The John Batchelor Show on Apple Podcasts:
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