Mortal Republic: How Rome Fell into Tyranny

Watts (The Final Pagan Generation) outlines the end of the Roman republic to show “how republics built on Rome’s model might respond to particular stresses,” in this quick and clear, if at times dry, primer. Watts begins by depicting Rome’s journey to the status equivalent of a modern world power, by defeating Greek king Pyrrhus in 280 BCE, taking on Carthage in the Punic Wars, and achieving a final victory over Hannibal’s Carthage in 202 BCE. The book moves briskly through the evolution of the republic’s democracy in subsequent decades, including an early example of demagogic populism in the election and reign of Tiberius. The book ends with a deep analysis of Caesar’s ascent to autocratic power, his murder, and the rise of Emperor Augustus in 27 BCE. Readers will find many parallels to today’s fraught political environment: the powerful influence of money in politics, a “delegitimized establishment,” and “the emergence of a personality-driven, populist politicking.” Watts ably and accessibly—if in a somewhat formal, scholarly style—covers a lot of ground in a manner accessible to all readers, including those with little knowledge of Roman history. This well-crafted analysis makes clear the subject matter’s relevance to contemporary political conversations. [em](Nov.) [/em]