Research Case: Why did the second Decemvirate move toward overusing and oppressing the plebeians?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 3 1. Question Why did the second Decemvirate move toward overusing and oppressing the plebeians? This question examines the despotization of the second Decemvirate in Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book 3, from the side of the plebeians. The second Decemvirate was originally … Read more

Research Case: Why could Appius not foresee that his tyranny would lead to a tragic end?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 3 1. Question Why could Appius not foresee that his tyranny would lead to a tragic end? This question examines the fall of Appius Claudius in Livy’s History of Rome from its Foundation, Book 3. It does not treat his fall simply as foolishness or … Read more

Research Case: Why Does a Gentle Leader Become an Object of Distrust among the Plebeians When He Avoids Institutional Decisions?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why does a gentle leader become an object of distrust among the plebeians when he avoids institutional decisions? In Livy’s History of Rome, Book 2, early Republican Rome faces serious problems over debt, military service, and the protection of the plebeians. In … Read more

Research Case: Why Is It More Stable to Bring Public Dissatisfaction Back into Order through Persuasion Concession and Institutionalization than through Forceful Suppression?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why is it more stable to bring public dissatisfaction back into order through persuasion, concession, and institutionalization than through forceful suppression? In Livy’s History of Rome, Book 2, the conflict between the patricians and the plebeians deepens in early Republican Rome. The … Read more

Research Case: Why Did Rome Return to Internal Conflict over Debt Military Service and Land after the External Enemy Disappeared?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why did Rome return to internal conflict over debt, military service, and land after the external enemy disappeared? In Livy’s History of Rome, Book 2, Rome expels the kings and forms the Republic. After that, Rome repeatedly faces external invasions and internal … Read more

Research Case: Why Did the Senate Maintain Trust through Life Support and Burden Adjustment Instead of Oppressing the Plebeians during an External Invasion?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 2 1. Question Why did the Senate maintain trust in the state through life support and burden adjustment instead of oppressing the plebeians during an external invasion? In Livy’s History of Rome, Book 2, Rome expels the kings and begins to form the Republic. Soon … Read more

Research Case: Why Is Rule by Fear Effective in the Short Term, but Destructive to the Legitimacy of the Regime in the Long Term?

A Three-Layer Analysis (TLA) of Livy, History of Rome, Book 1 1. Question Why is rule by fear effective in the short term, but destructive to the legitimacy of the regime in the long term? 2. Abstract Rule by fear is effective in the short term, but it destroys the legitimacy of the regime in … Read more