Augustus's reforms sought to re-establish Roman government as a monarchy in all but name. How successful were his reforms in stabilizing Roman government? Was Augustus an ideal political leader or a tyrant? After defeating Mark Anthony and Cleopatra in 31 B.C., Octavian was the only individual capable of stabilizing the Roman Republic back to how it had been prior to Caesars death. Although to the public it appeared that he had given back power to the senators, he was still in control how the Republic operated.
Jade Purdin HIST2013-A Dr. Humphrey October 8 The Accomplishments of Augustus Caesar Augustus was an emperor of a once great empire that revolutionized the government, the army, secured borders, rebuilt the city from sewers to aqueducts, to also establishing firefighters and policemen. He was a revolutionary that changed this world. We today use his methods to control our own civilization from security to defensive structures. Augustus could have very well changed how humanity survives now but how much do you think we are able to change now? Augustus was smart about having a government to utilize in the laws for Rome.
He also used the quote, “ L’Etat, c’est moi”, which translates to “ I am the state”. There is no doubt Louis XIV want absolute political power, but he also believed he was, in a sense, better then everyone else. Louis XIV believed that it was very important that he maintain absolute control over all French military forces. This would help him to prevent a civil war that could happen as a result of nobles constantly struggling for power, as confirmed in the Fronde. King Louis XIV identified himself with Apollo, the Greek God of the sun.
On the other hand, Maecenas took the role of making Augustus the sole figure as a leader to Rome with his inhibited propaganda as patron for some of the prominent writers of the time based on creating a perception of Augustus as a way ‘for the people’, rather than self ambition. The importance of Agrippa rose indistinguishably as being responsible for most of Octavian’s military triumphs. His role emerged during the ‘Sicilian conflict’ against Sextus Lepidus in 36 BC where after Octavian’s naval failure Agrippa engaged and destroyed the rebels fleet where Suetonius notes he “forced the enemy ships to sheer off “. Octavian’s opposition however, was marked most strongly by Mark Antony where coincidently it was again Agrippa whose military experience and instinct towered above Augustus, whom blockaded the ships of Antony and Cleopatra with a fleet under Octavian’s title. After the inauguration of Augustus of the first settlement, Agrippa’s militaristic conquests became
Machiavelli yearns to create a republic comprised of citizens who are politically active creatures who in the formation of collective policy transform their own selfish and egoistic needs, interests and concerns into a common good; a common good that is not indicative of a genera will of a flock of sheep but is instead a manifestation of a republican state populated by individual autonomous citizens. A state that could take strong and cohesive political action in response to the threats of outside forces. Machievelli’s other well known work, The Discourses on Rome is a study of how republics arise, develop, sustain and, if necessary, re-invent themselves. This book, The Prince is a treatise on the acts and duties of a class of men, Princes or sovereign powers from which the person responsible for ultimately founding a republic will emerge. For me, the key place to start in attempting to make sense of Machievelli, of thinking through how a participatory politics can possibly coexist with appeals to treachery and violence is with the following quote: “Fortune is a woman and if she is to be submissive it is necessary to beat and coerce her.
CLA 203 9/11/13 Homework-( Handout #1) 10. How/why did Rome change from a monarchy to a republic and what changed in the organization of the city? Rome changed from a monarchy to a republic because after many years of harsh rule by kings and of how terrible Tarquinius and his son Sextus did, the people wanted more of a role in government. The last king Lucius Tarquinius Priscus ruled as a tyrant something that was be opposed by many Romans. The organization of the city was changed from having kings to elected officials.
In fact, he carefully pieced together a patchwork of powers that allowed him to be an absolute ruler and yet avoid the hatred Caesar aroused as dictator. In Latin, the name Augustus implies both political authority and religious respect. The Romans had for some time called Octavian imperator, a title once awarded to victorious generals that soon became associated with the ruler and thus led to the English word emperor. In 27 BC he was first called princeps (leading man of the state), which later became the official title of the Roman emperors. His imperium, or military authority, extended throughout the empire and was greater than the power of any other governor or
Augustus seems to rule with his wealth and influence over the people, and those in government positions. In my opinion he is more focused on keeping the Aristocracy happy, for as according to Crone in her examination of pre-industrial societies, the holders of wealth are the key to maintaining leadership and order. Michael Haukaas made an excellent statement as well saying “Himself being wealthy is not enough, as evidence by the war following the death of his father at the hands of Brutus et all”. This statement shows how Augustus also had control over the soldiers as well as the power of his wealth. Just like the podcasts mentioned, Augustus was a powerful man due to his financial stability and the fact that he had made a lot of loyal and close friends with the men of elite
A) What is ironic is that Jefferson, one of the men who was most apposed of the Alien and Sedition Acts, looked down on immigration. He believed that immigrants will bring in ideas from their previous government, and will cause the United States to slowly become an anarchy or a monarchy. (Doc. B) This leads in to another underlying concern with the Alien and Sedition Acts: the fear that the newly formed United States democracy would cave into a monarchy. The Sedition Act made it illegal to insult the federal government verbally or published in writing.
But people still need to recognise we have an institutional responsibility to do oversight on the President” Garry Bass, Congress. This quote supports my view on the Congress being a watchdog. If the Congress is a lapdog, the President can have a free ride on running the country how he wishes and not represent the people’s view. However that is not the case as the President cannot do everything which pleases him. However, looking at the statistics such as Bill Clintons presidency, in the first 2 years which was a united government, Congress exercised limited oversight, and when needed to, asked softball questions, however , when Republicans took over Congress, things got much harder as they seek to hold the President to account, and after a while, impeach.