#443 – Gregory Aldrete: The Roman Empire – Rise and Fall of Ancient Rome

Gregory Aldrete draws parallels and contrasts between ancient Roman society and the modern world, delving into demographic differences, shared human nature, and cultural influences.

Ancient Roman society had starkly different demographic realities compared to the modern world

Childhood mortality was much higher in the ancient world, with 30-40% of children dying before puberty

A striking difference noted by Aldrete is the rate of childhood mortality in ancient times where 30 to 40% of children died before reaching puberty; a reality that had a profound emotional impact on parents who often buried several of their children.

The vast majority of the population in the ancient world were small family farmers, in contrast to the diversity of professions today

In ancient Rome, about 90% of the population were small family farmers who lived their whole lives within 20 miles of their birthplace. Aldrete describes how these small family farmers worked the soil, raised families, and rarely participated in historical events, a far cry from today's diversity of professions.

Romans had a deep reverence for and connection to their ancestral past, which is largely lacking in modern societies

Aldrete illustrates the Romans' deep reverence for ancestry, where Roman houses commonly displayed death masks of ancestors, and children could recite their lineage back centuries, something not seen in modern societies where people might only know a few generations of their family history.

There are fundamental similarities in human nature across time

Despite technological and cultural differences, core human emotions and motivations like fear, greed, love, and ambition have persisted throughout history

Across time, Aldrete and Fridman see constant human nature, with fundamental emotions and motivations such as fear, greed, love, and ambition remaining the same. For example, the Roman fascination with gladiator games mirrors modern fascination with violent entertainment, suggesting a continuity of human nature.

Moments of sympathy and disconnection with the ancient world reveal both its similarities and differences to the present day

Aldrete finds that understanding Roman society can evoke moments of both sympathy and disconnection, indicating a complex relationship between past and present. For instance, the status of Roman gladiators as both slaves and celebrities reveals a societal behavior towards fame that echoes in today's celebrity culture.

Through Aldrete's work, we learn that many of our current actions, cultures, and what we perceive as unique to human nature may have roots in the Roman past. This includes government, education, intellectual pursuits, art, architecture, language, ...

Gregory Aldrete provides a comprehensive discussion on the evolution of Rome from a Republic that achieved immense success through conquest, to an Empire under Augustus following the fall of the Republic marked by civil strife and the rise of autocratic leaders.

The Roman Republic expanded rapidly through military conquest and incorporation of conquered peoples

Rome, initially a Republic, experienced a period of extraordinary expansion from roughly 500 BC to 31 or 27 BC, conquering all of Italy in the first 250 years. In the following 250 years, Rome's influence extended to control the entire Mediterranean basin. This early phase of conquest involved the integration of other Italian cities and territories, as culturally and linguistically similar entities, as either half citizens and allies.

Aldrete notes that following the conquest of Greece, the Romans, heavily influenced by Greek culture which they considered superior, adopted Greek customs and knowledge. Greeks' art and philosophy saw Romans engage in public competitiveness to enhance their status by, for instance, learning Greek and quoting Homer.

The Republic's success created resentment among various social groups, contributing to its eventual downfall

Despite its success, Aldrete highlights that the Roman Republic's rapid expansion led to widespread resentment across different social strata. Lack of proper compensation for the common farmers and veterans, exclusivity of high-status roles for a select few aristocrats, and the denial of full citizenship rights to half-citizens and allies were contributing factors. Slaves toiling on the plantations also harbored obvious discontent.

Ambitious individuals like Marius, Sulla, Pompey, and Caesar undermined the Republic's institutions in pursuit of personal power

The period was further destabilized by figures like Marius, Sulla, Pompey, and Julius Caesar, who each pushed the boundaries of the Republic, neglecting its institutions and prioritizing personal power over the collective interests of the state. The gradual erosion of republican structures and institutions due to these actions paved the way for the Republic's downfall, indicated particularly by the reign of Caesar, who became dictator for life and was later assassinated, leaving a power vacuum.

Augustus established the Roman Empire by consolidating power as the first emperor

Upon the assassination of Caesar and following a tumultuous period of civil war, Octavian, also known as Augustus, an heir of Caesar, emerged victorious among multiple factions vying for power. As the first emperor, Augustus crafted a careful image of modesty, starkly contrasting with Julius Caesar's ...

The ancient Romans left a lasting legacy in their development of law and concepts of citizenship. Roman civilization is also remembered for its social hierarchy, which had profound implications on individuals' rights and social mobility. Experts like Lex Fridman and Gregory Aldrete provide insights into these foundational aspects of Roman society.

The development of Roman law, from the 12 Tables to the Justinian Code, was a key Roman legacy

Roman law embodied principles of equality before the law and citizenship rights, though it was biased towards elites

Lex Fridman hails the Roman Republic’s legal system as one of the most influential developments, grounded in the 12 Tables from 451 BC. These tables were the first codification of Roman Laws and included agriculture-centric laws. As Rome grew, its laws evolved into a complex system, ultimately coalesced by Justinian in the 6th century AD into the Justinian Code. Gregory Aldrete underlines the bias of Roman law towards the wealthy, noting that it became intertwined with politics. Prosperous politicians would often use high-profile legal cases to boost their reputations, as demonstrated by Cicero's rise in political ranks through successful litigation.

Roman legal thought produced an abundance of sophisticated, intricate, and often entertaining case law

Aldrete illustrates through examples that Roman law cases preserve daily life's nuances, including training scenarios that law students used. He describes incidents such as liability in an accidental death during a game or complexities arising from flooded property disputes. Roman law extended into personal matters like wills, requiring seven witnesses, among other stipulations. Late Republic cases often turned into public spectacles for entertainment as much as they were serious legal proceedings.

Roman citizenship was a highly meaningful status, granting both privileges and obligations

Aldrete notes that Roman citizenship, a concept emphasized in the 12 Tables, included rights and responsibilities like military service, voting, and protection under the law. Roman citizens—ideally—enjoyed equality before the law, though practice may have varied.

Non-citizens and slaves occupied a subordinate position in Roman society, though the boundaries between these groups were relatively fluid

Roman society's slavery did not discriminate by race, instead of focusing on economic status. A permeable boundary allowed fo ...

Experts discuss the might of Rome, attributing its expansion and endurance not only to military prowess but also to its unique approach to integrating conquered peoples, technological advancements, and evolving tactics in response to new threats.

Roman military success was driven by their ability to integrate conquered peoples into their empire

Fridman highlights the Roman civilization's capacity for absorbing ideas and culture from conquered peoples, a method that set it apart from empires that chose annihilation instead. Gregory Aldrete explains this unique strategy as Rome’s early ability to integrate non-Romans, which turned conquered cities into sources of troops rather than just tax revenue. This integration fostered resilience; Rome could continually raise new armies, compared to a hydra growing two heads for each cut off.

Aldrete puts emphasis on the Roman army being a machine that not only fought battles but also created Romans from the foreigners. Rome's system of granting varying degrees of citizenship and demanding manpower instead of taxes helped build a Romanized empire with diversity even amongst the emperors and senators.

The Roman army's flexibility, training, and manpower overwhelmed many of their opponents

The Roman legions, composed of disciplined citizen soldier farmers with a 25-year service, provided a standing force of experienced fighters, reflective of Rome’s generative army concept. To sustain and dominate, Romans drew manpower from legionaries and auxiliaries alike, allowing them to absorb significant losses, which was particularly evident in their encounters with Pyrrhus of Apea.

Warfare also fueled Rome's slave-based society through the enslavement of enemy populations, which contributed to a significant portion of the Roman economy.

Technological innovation, such as the development of concrete and the arch, gave the Romans key advantages in construction and siege warfare

The Roman’s technological ingenuity is exemplified by the construction of the Flavian Amphitheater, famously known as the Colosseum, with features like retractable awnings and sophisticated entry systems predating modern sports arenas. However, the transcript provided does not delve into other innovations such as concrete and the arch.

Roman military tactics and strategy evolved over time, often in response to new threats

Hannibal's innovative double-envelopment tactics at Cannae nearly undid the Roman Republic

Rome encountered Hannibal Barca, who brilliantly used double-envelopment at Cannae to almost dismantle the Roman Republic. This battle led to staggering Roman casualties and has become a paradigm studied and emulated throughout military history. Yet, despite this loss, Rome adapted by shadowing Hannibal to prevent further defeats without engaging him directly.

...

Discussion of the Roman Empire's decline is rich with varied perspectives and theories. Historians like Gregory Aldrete and contributors such as Lex Fridman delve into the multifaceted reasons behind the empire's eventual downfall.

The Western Roman Empire faced a prolonged crisis in the 3rd century, marked by civil war, barbarian invasions, and economic decline

During the 3rd century, the Roman Empire began to experience a decline as it transitioned from its golden era, with a historian of the time noting the kingdom descending from gold to iron and rust. There was a marked increase in rebellions, with Roman generals declaring themselves emperor, leading to civil war and multiple claims to the throne. These internal conflicts distracted the military, allowing barbarian invasions that plundered the empire. The economy also suffered, compromised by the civil wars and raids, thereby diminishing the tax base.

In an attempt to resolve financial difficulties, the Romans debased their coinage, leading to significant inflation which further worsened the economic crisis. Diocletian later stabilized the empire with reforms including issuing a solid gold coin, the solidus, and attempting to control inflation with a price edict that set maximum charges for goods and services. Although these measures did not fully resolve the problem, they gave the empire a new lease on life.

The entry of the Visigoths turned from a quest for asylum to conflict due to mistreatment by the Romans. Notably, Attila the Hun posed a significant threat to the Roman Empire, raiding various regions before his unexpected death halted his advances. The Vandals, after invading Spain and North Africa, important regions for Rome's food supply, contributed to a sharp population decline in Rome. The empire's capital moved from Rome to Ravenna, indicating a shift in the power and economic structures.

The causes of the ultimate collapse of the Western Roman Empire remain debated by historians

Factors like overexpansion, over-reliance on slave labor, environmental degradation, and over-centralization of power may have contributed to its downfall

Aldrete suggests factors such as the empire's overexpansion and slow communication, making it too large to manage effectively, likely contributing to its natural fragmentation. The Tetrarchy, an attempt to govern the empire more effectively by dividing it into four parts, ultimately transitioned to a more common east-west split, with starkly divergent histories of the Western and Eastern empires.

The method of selecting Roman emperors by heredity frequently resulted in unfit rulers such as Caligula or Nero. Civil wars and a mixed track record of good and bad emperors marked the governance system, with the end of Marcus A ...