Cicero and the Fall of the Roman Republic (free audio book)

LibriVox ^ | 2026-03-08 | James Leigh Strachan-Davidson

[ProgressingAmerica]

"The purpose of this volume is to tell the story of Cicero's life, and at the same time to set forth from his writings a presentation of the concluding age of the Roman Republic, and to record the disastrous but not inglorious failure of the last Free State of the ancient world. So far as may be, I propose to let Cicero himself to speak to my readers."

[ProgressingAmerica]

I know there are a lot of Europhiles around here who would probably appreciate listening to this -

-or else reading the text in case you might not have known/remembered that this book existed.

[Ge0ffrey]

Thank you.

[Nateman]

Politicians are not born; they are excreted," is frequently attributed to the Roman statesman and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Our founders were well aware of Roman history. They wanted to devise a nation without the errors that led to the eventual Fall Of Rome. In the end taxes were so bad some citizens volunteered to become slaves rather than deal with the tax men.

[Adder]

Oooooo

Thanks!

[Mariner]

The high minded, brilliant and eloquent Cicero was cursed to live in the same era of Caesar, who dwarfed him.

[MotorCityBuck]

Julius Caesar's impact on Western civilization was profound, marked by his transformation of the Roman Republic into an empire, expansion of Roman culture across Europe, and the implementation of the Julian calendar. His conquest of Gaul (modern-day France/Belgium) integrated Western Europe into the Roman world, while his political reforms laid the groundwork for centralized, autocratic rule (Caesarism) that influenced European leadership for centuries.

Both men had huge impacts. Key elements of Julius Caesar's legacy include:
Expansion of Roman Territory: Caesar expanded Roman rule to the Atlantic and English Channel through the Gallic Wars, laying the foundation for Roman influence in France, Belgium, and Britain.
Demise of the Roman Republic: By seizing power as “dictator for life,” Caesar destroyed the remnants of the Roman Republic, paving the way for his heir, Augustus, to become the first Emperor, shifting Rome from a republic to an empire.
The Julian Calendar: In 46 BCE, he introduced the 365-day, 12-month calendar (designed by Greek astronomer Sosigenes) that corrected the Roman lunar system and formed the basis for the Gregorian calendar used today.
Roman Culture and Infrastructure: Caesar promoted the spread of Latin, Roman law, and infrastructure, such as building projects, which standardized city layouts and engineering methods across European provinces.
Political Precedent (Caesarism): His autocratic model and direct appeal to the people served as a precedent for the title of “Caesar,” influencing modern terms like “Kaiser” and “czar”.
Public Reforms and Populism: Caesar implemented popular reforms, including debt relief, land grants for veterans, and social restructuring, making him a model for future populist leaders.

Caesar's actions were foundational to the development of European legal, social, and political systems, though he also ruthlessly destroyed the democratic elements of the Roman Senate.

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you.