Roman Republic

Research Case: Why could Rome, although militarily inferior, draw peace from Porsenna through will to resist, personal courage, and diplomatic faith?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why could Rome, although militarily inferior, draw peace from Porsenna through will to resist, personal courage, and diplomatic faith? In Livy’s History of Rome from Its Foundation, Book 2, Rome had just expelled the kings and created the early Republic. Soon after … Read more

Research Case: Why can an assembly formed by excluding a specific class reflect plebeian will in the short term, but weaken its authority to represent the whole state in the long term?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why can an assembly formed by excluding a specific class reflect plebeian will in the short term, but weaken its authority to represent the whole state in the long term? In Livy’s History of Rome from Its Foundation, Book 2, the conflict … Read more

Research Case: Why did the tribunate, created to protect the plebeians, become both a check on the ruling class and a risk of political stagnation and abuse of power?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why did the tribunate, created to protect the plebeians, become both a check on the ruling class and a risk of political stagnation and abuse of power? In Livy’s History of Rome from Its Foundation, Book 2, the conflict between the patricians … Read more

Research Case: Why are politicians who call for plebeian relief easily suspected by the ruling class of seeking kingship or tyranny?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why are politicians who call for plebeian relief easily suspected by the ruling class of seeking kingship or tyranny? In Livy’s History of Rome from Its Foundation, Book 2, Rome does not become stable simply by expelling the kings. After the fall … Read more

Research Case: Why was the agrarian law not only a land distribution issue, but also a matter of military service, debt, livelihood, and the real meaning of citizenship for the plebeians?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why was the agrarian law not only a land distribution issue, but also a matter of military service, debt, livelihood, and the real meaning of citizenship for the plebeians? In Livy’s History of Rome from Its Foundation, Book 2, the early Roman … Read more

Research Case: Why Did the Institutionalized Rights of the Plebeians Become Political Vested Rights That the Ruling Class Could Not Easily Take Back?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why did the institutionalized rights of the plebeians become political vested rights that the ruling class could not easily take back? Livy’s History of Rome, Book II describes how the conflict between patricians and plebeians deepened in the early Roman Republic. The … Read more

Research Case: Why Was the Tribune of the Plebs Needed as a Device to Connect Plebeian Discontent to Institutional Negotiation Inside the State?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why was the Tribune of the Plebs needed as a device to connect plebeian discontent not to rebellion outside the state, but to institutional negotiation inside the state? Livy’s History of Rome, Book II describes how the conflict between patricians and plebeians … Read more

Research Case: Why Did the State Publicly Honor Personal Courage Shown by Horatius Cocles, Mucius, and Cloelia?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why did the state publicly honor personal courage shown by Horatius Cocles, Mucius Scaevola, and Cloelia? Livy’s History of Rome, Book II describes how Rome expelled the kings, established the Republic, and fought against external enemies and royal restoration forces in order … Read more

Research Case: Why Does the Public Distribution of Honor Shape Citizen Behavior Beyond Monetary Rewards?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why does the public distribution of honor have the power to shape citizen behavior beyond monetary rewards? Livy’s History of Rome, Book II describes how Rome expelled the kings, established the Republic, and fought against external enemies and royal restoration forces in … Read more

Research Case: Why Did Rome Reward a Slave Who Broke Private Loyalty and Reported Treason to the State?

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A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why did Rome reward a slave who broke private loyalty, reported treason to the state, and then received freedom and citizenship? Livy’s History of Rome, Book II describes a conspiracy soon after the expulsion of the kings. The former royal family of … Read more