Mortal Republic

With Edward J. Watts's award-winning history of the Roman Republic, you'll learn how the most successful republic of the ancient world met its end — and how it might have survived. In Mortal Republic, you will discover why Rome traded freedom for authoritarianism. The civilization's governance structures, legislative procedures, and political practices promoted dialogue and compromise for centuries, even as it rose into the Mediterranean's preeminent military and political force. However, by 130 BC, Rome's rulers were increasingly employing these same tactics to shamelessly pursue personal wealth and block their opponents. As the city deteriorated and dysfunction increased, political squabbles gave birth to street-level violence. The stage was set for bloody civil wars and, eventually, Augustus' imperial reign.