Rome Test part D. Essay 2.

Throughout Roman history it seems the only thing keeping great individuals from achieving there potential was the senate. While the rest of the Rome was celebrating the individual the Senate was bringing it down. Julius Caesar is the ultimate example for this. A truly great person who the Senate felt was becoming to powerful according to the senate. The idea of a new Roman Emperor terrified the senate, so they abolished the concept of so-called “democracy” and murdered Julius Caesar. That night outrage light the streets of Rome. The senate frantically tried to restore order, however the moment the first knife was plunged into Caesars back the Roman Republic started to die.

Rome was born upon a bed of glory. From its conception of Romulus defeating Remus, Rome’s fate largely depended on the individual striving above the rest. The Rape of the Sabine displays this with the most eloquence.  When the young roman men rose above the old and fragile Sabine to rape their women the Romans didn’t view it as a terrible act of lust and disgust. Their brutish violence was essential; anybody with potential should rise above the weak to take their place as a hero.

The people needed heroes in Rome. Similarly to our celebrity culture Romans would live vicariously through their lives. To many of the Plebeians Caesar was a great hero so when the senate killed him the balance of power was also destroyed. This lead to a huge confusion of the masses that then sparked extreme hatred for the senate. All of this chaos is create the Roman civil war.  Realizing that the people needed leader the two leaders of the conflict, Antony and Octavian fought it out in many physical and verbal conflicts. This split of power left the people hungry for more and Augustus ultimately realized that a Republic could no longer satisfy Rome’s desire for the individual and Rome became an empire again.

The intent of the murder of Julius Caesar was to prevent the fall of the republic. However Rome could never keep thee republic. It is simply unrealistic to expect a civilization based on the individual to be based on the decisions of many. A Roman Empire was inevitable, but the trust between the people and state crumbled when Julius Caesar’s body hit the floor.