Research Case: Why Did the Plebeians Need Access Not Only to the Consulship but Also to the Dictatorship and Censorship?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 7 1. Question In Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book VII, plebeians finally gained access to the consulship. Lucius Sextius became consul, and one of the highest magistracies of the Roman Republic was no longer reserved only for patricians. However, plebeian political expansion … Read more

Research Case: Why was Camillus able to integrate Rome’s military, religion, and politics in the conquest of Veii?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 5 1. Question Why was Camillus able to integrate Rome’s military, religion, and politics in the conquest of Veii? This question is not only about whether Camillus was a great general.In Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book 5, the Veii War was a … Read more

Research Case: Why Did the Roman Republic Keep Adding New Institutions such as Censors, Military Tribunes with Consular Power, and Dictators, While Still Fearing the Concentration and Long Duration of Power?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 4 1. Question Why did the Roman Republic keep adding new institutions such as censors, military tribunes with consular power, and dictators, while still fearing the concentration and long duration of power? In Book 4 of Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Rome has … Read more

Research Case: Why Did External Threats Unite Rome and Also Intensify Internal Political Conflict?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 4 1. Question Why did external threats become both a force that united Rome and a device that intensified internal political conflict? In Book 4 of Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, external threats appear again and again. Veii, Fidenae, the Volsci, the Aequi, … Read more

Research Case: Why Was Rome Described as Suffering from a Disease That Could Not Be Treated by Ordinary Remedies?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 3 1. Question Why was Rome described as suffering from a disease that could not be treated by ordinary remedies? This expression is not a simple metaphor. At this time, Rome faced several problems at the same time. The patricians and the plebeians were in … Read more

Research Case: How Did the Plebeians View the Appointment of Quinctius as Dictator?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 3 1. Question How did the plebeians view the appointment of Quinctius as dictator? The dictator was an emergency authority in the Roman Republic. When Rome faced an external enemy or a military emergency, the normal republican operating system could be too slow. In such … Read more

Research Case: Why Did People Obey Cincinnatus When He Was Appointed Dictator?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 3 1. Question Why did people obey Cincinnatus when he was appointed dictator? The dictator was an emergency authority in the Roman Republic. Under the normal republican operating system, several institutions limited and balanced power. These included the consuls, the Senate, the tribunes, the assemblies, … Read more

Research Case: Why Was Emergency Power Necessary in a National Crisis Even Though It Could Threaten Liberty?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 3 1. Research Question Why was emergency power necessary in a national crisis, even though it could threaten liberty? This question examines emergency authority in Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book 3. It focuses on the dictator, emergency control based on an oath, … Read more