How Far Do You Agree That Sulla’s Dictatorship Was a Critical Turning Point in the Undermining of the Roman Republic in the Years 133 to 44bc (25 Marks)

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Sulla’s dictatorship was no critical turning point in the undermining of the roman republic in the years 133 to 44bc. Despite Sulla’s significant impact on the roman republic it was by no means the turning point as other individuals, especially Julius Caesar’s actions including the crossing of the Rubicon River were a far greater turning point in the undermining of the republic. The modern historian, Tom Holland strongly agrees with this view and suggests that the crossing of the Rubicon was the key turning point in the undermining of the roman republic. The historian Scullard suggests that Sulla did not wish to undermine the roman republic and that he was trying to support it which can be largely backed up by the fact that Sulla retired his position and increased the size of the senate. On the other hand, some historians such as Worthington suggest that Sulla’s dictatorship was a critical turning point in the undermining of the roman republic based on the evidence that Sulla led a militaristic dictatorship and the significant fact that he was the first individual to march on Rome twice. Sulla’s dictatorship came to a more unexpected end. Whilst it seemed that he was aiming for monarchy which was implied through printing his face on the coin Sulla ended his term through retiring and reinstating the senate. This suggests to many historians that Sulla was trying to put the senate back in power and reinforce the senate. His actions beforehand strongly suggests this also as he increased the number of senators from three hundred to six hundred and restored many of their abilities as the senate. The historian Scullard have observed this as evidence that Sulla’s dictatorship was not a critical turning point and his militaristic rule was all for helping the senate get back on their feet. Scullard writes that “Sulla had felt that he had done enough and retired” thus

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