Sound Familiar? The Romans Chose Autocracy To Gain Safety And Security

Summary

The video script delves into the historical transition of Rome from a republic to an empire, exploring the reasons behind this shift and the implications it had on stability and power. It draws parallels between Roman history and modern political dynamics, such as the potential dangers of misinformation campaigns and the rise of autocratic tendencies in governance. The discussion also touches on the role of the Praetorian Guard in Roman politics and speculates on the unseen forces that might influence contemporary political decisions, suggesting a comparison between historical patterns and current events.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Roman Republic transitioned to an Empire due to a desire for stability after a period of civil war, with Julius Caesar and later Augustus playing pivotal roles in this shift.
• 👑 Augustus established the Roman Empire by filling a power vacuum and being seen as a stabilizing figure, eventually being given the title of 'emperator', from which 'emperor' is derived.
• 🗝️ The Roman Empire initially prospered, but internal strife and the rise of powerful autocrats eventually led to its downfall, with the third century crisis being a key period of instability.
• 💰 Economic issues, particularly the devaluation of currency, contributed to the weakening of the Roman Empire, as trust in the monetary system eroded and trade became difficult.
• 🗡️ The Praetorian Guard evolved from protectors of the emperor to a significant political force, often deciding the fate of emperors and contributing to the instability of the empire.
• 🌐 The script draws parallels between historical events and modern political dynamics, suggesting that while methods change, the underlying human nature and power struggles remain consistent.
• 🕊️ The debate over the merits of autocratic versus democratic systems is highlighted, with the script suggesting that while autocracy can lead to swift decision-making, it also carries significant risks.
• 📉 The script implies that unchecked power and the suppression of opposition can lead to a loss of legitimacy and trust, which can ultimately destabilize a government or empire.
• 🛑 The comparison of historical tactics of oppression, such as assassination and censorship, to modern methods like online misinformation campaigns and character assassination is made.
• 🌐 The rapid pace of modern communication and technology is noted as a factor that could potentially accelerate the patterns seen in historical empires, with implications for current political systems.
• 🤔 The script encourages the study of history to understand the cyclical nature of power, suggesting that while specifics may vary, the broader patterns of rise and fall are instructive for contemporary society.

Q & A

Why did Rome transition from a republic to an empire?

Rome transitioned from a republic to an empire due to a period of civil unrest and the desire for stability. After the assassination of Julius Caesar, Octavian (later known as Augustus) established a new form of government that was more autocratic, which the people accepted in exchange for peace and stability.

What is the significance of the term 'emperator'?

The term 'emperator' is significant as it is the origin of the word 'emperor'. Augustus was given this title after he consolidated power, signifying his supreme authority and leadership over the Roman Empire.

How did Augustus secure his position as the first emperor?

Augustus secured his position by strategically removing political opposition, filling the power vacuum left by the civil war, and presenting himself as the bringer of peace and stability that the people desired.

What was the Roman Civil War period?

The Roman Civil War period, from 133 to 31 BC, was a time of great upheaval and instability in Rome, marked by a series of civil conflicts and power struggles that ultimately led to the establishment of the Roman Empire under Augustus.

How did the Roman Empire's prosperity change over time?

The Roman Empire experienced significant prosperity in its early years under Augustus, but began to decline after 117 AD due to poor financial management, corruption, and the rise of the so-called 'barrack emperors' in the third century.

What was the role of the Praetorian Guard in the Roman Empire?

The Praetorian Guard was an elite military unit responsible for protecting the emperor. Over time, they gained significant power and influence, often deciding the fate of emperors and contributing to the instability and decline of the empire.

Why did the Roman Empire's currency lose its value?

The Roman Empire's currency lost its value due to economic mismanagement and the rampant production of debased coins, particularly during the third century when the silver coin was actually made of bronze, leading to a loss of trust in the currency.

How did the Roman Empire's political system compare to modern autocratic governments?

The Roman Empire's political system, especially under the emperors, shares similarities with modern autocratic governments in terms of centralized decision-making and the potential for rapid economic growth. However, it also illustrates the pitfalls of unchecked power, such as corruption and instability.

What is the 'barrack emperors' phenomenon in the Roman Empire?

The 'barrack emperors' phenomenon refers to the period in the third century when the Roman Empire was plagued by numerous claimants to the throne, often military leaders who could pay their armies more, leading to a rapid turnover of emperors and further destabilizing the empire.

How does the script relate the Roman Empire's history to modern political dynamics?

The script draws parallels between the Roman Empire's history and modern political dynamics, such as the concentration of power, the influence of military or financial backing on political outcomes, and the potential dangers of unchecked autocratic power.

What is the significance of the Praetorian Prefect in the context of the script?

The Praetorian Prefect is significant as the script suggests a modern equivalent might be someone with considerable behind-the-scenes power, drawing a parallel to the influence the Praetorian Prefect had over the Roman emperors.

Outlines

00:00

🏛 Transition from Roman Republic to Empire

This paragraph discusses the historical transition of Rome from a republic to an empire, focusing on the reasons and the aftermath. It highlights the Roman Civil War period, Julius Caesar's assassination, and Octavian's rise to power as Augustus. The speaker reflects on the desire for stability during this time, the psychological tactics Augustus used to secure his position, and the comparison of these ancient events to modern political strategies, including the suppression of dissenting voices.

05:01

🗡 The Downfall of the Roman Empire and Modern Parallels

The second paragraph delves into the decline of the Roman Empire, examining the consequences of autocratic rule and the eventual power struggles that led to its collapse. It draws parallels between the Roman Empire's problems and current political issues, such as the use of technology for character assassination and misinformation campaigns. The speaker also contrasts the efficiency of autocratic decision-making with the potential pitfalls of unchecked power, using examples from both historical and contemporary contexts.

10:02

🕊️ The Impact of Autocracy and the Role of Technology in Power Struggles

This paragraph explores the implications of autocratic governance, suggesting that while it may lead to rapid decision-making and prosperity, it can also result in power struggles and the eventual destabilization of a nation. The speaker discusses the role of the military and technology in maintaining power, drawing a comparison between the tactics used in the Roman Empire and modern political maneuvers. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the potential 'dark forces' influencing current political events and the historical precedent set by the Praetorian Guard in Rome.

Keywords

💡Roman Republic

The Roman Republic was the era of ancient Roman civilization that began with the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom and lasted until the establishment of the Roman Empire. It is characterized by a system of government where power was held by elected representatives. In the script, the transition from the Republic to the Empire is discussed, highlighting how the Republic's collapse led to the rise of Augustus as the first Roman Emperor.

💡Roman Empire

The Roman Empire refers to the post-republican period of ancient Rome, characterized by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings around the Mediterranean. The script discusses the establishment of the Empire under Augustus, the peace it brought after years of civil war, and the eventual problems that arose, such as corruption and instability in leadership.

💡Augustus

Augustus, originally known as Octavian, was the founder of the Roman Empire and its first Emperor, ruling from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. The script explains how Augustus consolidated power after Julius Caesar's assassination and how he cleverly established himself as a ruler by creating a power vacuum that the people wanted him to fill, marking the end of the Roman Republic.

💡Civil War

The Roman Civil War refers to a series of conflicts that occurred during the last century of the Roman Republic, leading to its downfall and the rise of the Roman Empire. The script specifically mentions the civil wars from 133 to 31 BC, which were a period of great upheaval, ultimately paving the way for Augustus to seize power.

💡Praetorian Guard

The Praetorian Guard was an elite unit of the Imperial Roman army whose members served as personal bodyguards to the Roman Emperors. In the script, the Praetorian Guard is discussed in the context of their growing power and influence, eventually leading to them playing a role similar to a 'deep state,' influencing and even deciding who would become Emperor.

💡Autocracy

Autocracy is a system of government in which a single person holds absolute power. The script compares the efficiency of autocratic rule in the Roman Empire and modern examples like China, highlighting the trade-offs between stability and the potential for abuse of power. The discussion reflects on how the Roman Empire benefited from quick decision-making under a strong leader but also suffered from the concentration of power.

💡Currency Devaluation

Currency devaluation in the Roman Empire occurred during the third century when the silver content of coins was reduced, leading to inflation and economic instability. The script mentions how the devaluation of the Roman currency, especially during the crisis of the third century, contributed to the Empire's decline by undermining economic confidence and trade.

💡Military Power

Military power in the context of the Roman Empire refers to the control and influence the army had over the political landscape, particularly during the Empire's decline. The script discusses how Roman Emperors were often determined by who could command the loyalty of the most powerful military forces, leading to frequent changes in leadership and contributing to the instability that weakened the Empire.

💡Deep State

The concept of a 'deep state' refers to a body within the government that operates independently of elected officials, often exerting control behind the scenes. The script draws a parallel between the Roman Empire's Praetorian Guard and the modern idea of a deep state, suggesting that hidden forces or influential groups can significantly shape political outcomes without public scrutiny.

💡Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was a pivotal figure in Roman history whose actions led to the end of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. The script references Caesar's role in the transition, his assassination, and how his death created a power vacuum that Augustus eventually filled, marking the beginning of the Empire.

Highlights

Rome transitioned from a republic to an Empire due to a desire for stability and peace after a prolonged period of civil war.

Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC led to a power vacuum filled by Octavius, who would later become Augustus, the first Roman Emperor.

Augustus utilized psychological tactics to convince the public of his indispensability, leading to his acceptance as the first citizen and later Emperor.

The Roman Empire's early prosperity was partly due to the efficient removal of political opposition and the support of the Senate by Augustus.

The Roman Empire's currency devaluation and economic instability in the third century contributed to its decline.

The Roman Empire's shift to autocratic rule provided rapid decision-making and efficiency, contrasting with the perceived bureaucracy of a republic.

The comparison between the Roman Empire's rise and fall with modern political systems, particularly the efficiency of autocratic governance.

The role of the Praetorian Guard in the Roman Empire, evolving from protectors to a power behind the throne with the ability to influence or remove emperors.

Modern parallels to the Roman Empire's political machinations, such as misinformation campaigns and the silencing of opposition.

The potential dangers of technology in modern times, with the ability to 'cancel' individuals online and control public opinion.

The importance of studying history to understand the rhyme of human nature and the patterns of political power throughout time.

The debate over the merits of autocratic versus democratic systems, and the potential for rapid prosperity under autocracy.

The potential for a single powerful autocrat to lead to a period of stability and growth, as seen in the early Roman Empire.

The downfall of the Roman Empire due to internal strife and the rise of multiple power-hungry autocrats in the third century.

The modern equivalents of the Roman Empire's military power, such as technological control and influence over information.

The unseen forces that may influence modern political outcomes, drawing parallels to the power dynamics of the Roman Empire.

Transcripts

why do you think Rome decided to

transition from a republic to an Empire

and and and if the Empire is when things

were at its greatest what what's wrong

with the

Empire um well I guess the the Germans

wouldn't like the Empire very much I

think that's I have to how you have to

consider is how they conduct themselves

abroad and there's good things and

there's bad things about that right like

as because I'm somebody that likes Rome

a lot but if you want to look at why it

got to where it got to the last 100

years so 133 to 31 is what's known as

the Roman Civil War it's upheaval for

like 150 years so Julius Caesar is kind

of the last person to step in and then

he's assassinated in 44 BC and in his

will they read his will and he actually

would adopts this guy named Octavius to

be his son which is something Romans

could do after you died you could

actually adopt somebody and give them

your name and your titles and all those

things like that after death so then

Augustus is actually the guy that estab

Octavian who will become Augustus is

actually the guy establishes the new

thing so people have been through Civil

War for 100 years they're just looking

for peace and that's what Augustus

brings them so after pursuing the

Assassins of Julius Caesar after taking

out um another political enemy that we

we know as Mark Anthony Caesar Augustus

Caesar says I'm gonna retire and I think

he does this because he's a brilliant

psychologist in this because people then

demand no Augustus you can't leave us

you have to stay in power and they give

him the title of first citizen um later

on they're going to give him the title

of emperator which is where Emperor

comes from so he gets that position

because he fills a power vacuum and

people demand he stay and then he

decides what is going to be kind of the

the lineage after me and the thing that

helps him is he lives into his 70s he

takes over power in his early 30s and

lives into his 70s so by the time he's

dead there's not many people living that

remember what it's like to live in a

republic they just remember what it's

like to live under Augustus so he then

establishes how are we going to find the

next person isn't that crazy that that's

human nature that's crazy I mean this is

what we saw during the covid pandemic

for example I mean anything to keep us

safe we'll do anything just give us

peace give us stability give us safety

we'll give up everything we'll give up

everything we've ever known I would

imagine during that time when they were

basically crowning Augustus Emperor uh

which is kind of like a new King right

you're just putting a shiny different

name on it I I would imagine there was

probably some dissent there there was

probably people saying no no no no no no

this is not the way we want to remain a

republic or we want more freedoms we

don't want to live under Kings we don't

want to live under but that of course

was was squashed and the majority went

out or the powerful went out and decided

that no we're going to go in this we're

going to give up these freedoms or give

up I mean I don't know how free Roman

the Romans were under the republic or

you know how we could but it sounds like

it was better than the EMP the empire

being under an emperor sounds like

there's a little bit more say yes and no

like I guess people do have a lot more

say during the Republic but there's a

lot more money in the early Empire it's

after like 117 when they start going

crazy what they're doing with their

money that things get bad but if you

want to look at it like one of the early

things well first of all when Caesar

when Julius Caesar takes over power he

replaces most of the Senate with people

that actually support him so people that

would have had a problem with this have

already been removed um his main enemies

leave Italy pompy the great is going to

be killed by killed in Egypt not by

Caesar but by the to king um his two

biggest enemies actually commit suicide

because they don't want to face Caesar

um so you have this kind of the people

that would have had something to say

about it are for the most part gone you

assume some enemies that are left like

uh the most famous oror Marcus tus

Cicero um that Augustus is going to have

him killed so after after really taking

power Augustus starts slowly removing

the people that have something to say

against him so a lot of the opposition

has been removed early on but he starts

removing that oppos later on the people

want stability which they're getting so

it it's not hard to see like how you can

easily get there yeah and now I mean

nowadays I don't think you can easily

take people out like actually murder

them but what we are seeing I mean it

happens they tried I think with Donald

Trump right they certainly got a shot in

cards it seems like a lot more of that

happens right yeah but but now what

we're dealing with what we're seeing

which is kind of similar would be like

the misinformation campaigns online like

oh we got to silence and censor people

we can't let their views and their

opinions get out there anything we don't

agree with we're just not going to let

people see that seems to be the tactic

now in order to oppress any sort of

opposition to whatever it is that the

establishment wants to to do just

silence it

online I that's one of the tactics

that's the interesting part about it Kim

is I think it's good and it's bad

because I think if you look at like

later on when the empire fell I think if

people had the ability to speak like

they could now at least in some as

aspects that maybe they could have done

something about it but I think also you

look at how controlled most of our

information is they don't do

assassinations in public anymore I know

though we did have an an attempt on on

Trump not too long ago it's done through

the court of public opinion whether it

be with law cases whether it be with um

what you've had to say they they kind of

unperson you in a lot of ways and

Technology I think is very scary in that

way whereas you know hundreds of years

ago somebody would have raised a

military force now it's more of they're

just going to cancel you online and it's

all over yeah yeah they just remove you

from every platform they call you a

conspiracy theorist you know they slap

these labels on people to make it so

that they're delegitimized and people

don't listen to them and they're oh

you're part of the crazy Camp if you

listen to that person and so they've

kind of figured out ways to do character

assassinations right and uh and censor

people online which sounds it's a very

similar tactic I mean what's really

frightening about all of this is what we

see which is why we should study history

right it's why we should have these

conversations is because we see that

human nature doesn't actually change we

just kind of we shift with the times

what resources we use to basically do

the same exact thing so yeah the Romans

didn't have the internet so they weren't

doing things the way we do them now but

you know history uh I think I heard you

say when I was listening to some of your

shows history doesn't repeat itself it

what is it that you Rhymes What's the

phrase it Rhymes yeah so it's not going

to be exact it's just going to be

extremely similar and that's that's what

we're seeing and and maybe things are

even sped up right now with the US

Empire because of the internet how fast

the world moves now you know we're

moving at such a faster Pace than the

Romans could possibly I mean we could

fly you know and we have Internet so

things are a lot are a lot

different um so but what is the problem

with the Roman Empire then I mean what

is it that what is so I mean obviously I

think people would rather live in a time

when they can have more voting and so

I'm going to pose a question that sounds

like I'm almost for dictatorships and

I'm not but this has been one of the

debates that's been going on in today's

era and that debate is you know you look

at China and China doesn't have the same

bureaucracy that the United States has

and because of that lack of bureaucracy

because of their ability to just make

decisions almost like the Roman Empire

they're ex they're it sounds like doing

something very similar to what the Roman

Empire did when they switched over to

the Empire right which is they started

to they're rapidly becoming prosperous

and they're not dealing with bureaucracy

they're not having a lot of infighting

it's one person kind of making all of

these big decisions and that seems to be

really working for them uh it sounds

like it also really worked for the Roman

Empire I'm not saying that I want to go

into a world of you know dictatorship or

um autocrats or anything like that but

there clearly is I mean I think that we

can't have serious convers ations about

democracy about preserving democracy or

a republic if we're not willing to at

least understand the benefits that do

come from sort of an autocratic style

government which is things get done a

lot faster more efficiently and if

you've got the right autocrat I guess uh

you might end up with a you might end up

prosperous you might end up with some

benefit

there I guess you have to look at it I

guess from the perspective of like

number one might doesn't always make

right you know like it it to actually

like take people's ability to to to to

live and create I think can be hard but

I think also it's understanding where

these things go eventually and I I I

guess it takes hundreds of years to get

there but you you eventually have you're

going to have more than one powerful

autocrat that wants to be in power and

that's what happens in the third century

and that's what actually kills the

Empire because what would happen is um

after the death of kdus he's the son of

Marcus aurelus people were really not

happy with kdus because he was often

fighting in the in the gladiatorial

games and things like that rather than

actually ruling his Empire so he's a

assassinated by the petorian guard um

which is a whole another conversation of

the the petorian guard behind Emperors

and you know how scared you should be

for your life but what would happen is

it became who could raise the most

powerful Army and I think that's the

problem of where this eventually leads

you so you would you have What's called

the baric Emperors in the third Century

Barracks comes from the word military

barracks and the what would happen is

the guy that paid their army more would

be the next Emperor so in the third

Century you have around 47 different

guys claim to be Emperor I know there's

some people say it's more some that say

it's less but you have around 47

different Emperor claimants the problem

is this destroys the currency and I

think that's the thing you have to worry

about is when you don't have a currency

it's very hard to have a country anymore

and by the time you get to the 270s um

Emperor Ran's um silver coin is actually

bronze there's no silver in it and you

just have money that can't buy anything

people don't trust the money anymore you

have a black market that pops up because

they don't want to use actual money

they'd rather trade but then you also

have people stop trusting the currency

so that's going to hurt you for not just

trade within your country but trade

outside of your country so as much as

sure it might be good for a little bit

eventually you're going to see other

powerful autocrats try and use force in

order to raise themselves and you have

to pay the people that are are behind

you or they're not going to be behind

you very long that's how you destroy a

country right and maybe in today's era

it wouldn't be necessarily raising an

army I mean I do think that obviously if

you've got the military behind you

you're going to remain in power uh if

you lose the military you're not going

to be in power I think that's even I

think that holds true even in our

current governmental system we just

haven't really seen that in action uh

but it's certainly true the technology

side of it is scary as well because we

we have technology like the Romans never

could have imagined so I think we are

headed into something while history does

rhyme in a lot of ways we're headed into

something they could never imagine yeah

that's true so maybe instead of even an

army you don't need to the actual

military but you can have the tech guys

the tech the tech uh well and that's how

we're we're even fighting Wars now in

this way with surveillance and and Ai

and drones and you know we're kind of

going in that direction so um you know

no I I understand that there would be as

when you've got an autocratic situation

then people you're going to have

multiple people rise up and say well I

want to be the autocrat so I'm going to

do what it takes and in this era it

would maybe be getting the billionaires

behind you you don't necessarily need

the the the military but if you get the

billionaires behind you and they're the

ones pushing forward for you to be the

person I mean we're kind of watching

this happen within the Democratic party

right now I where was the vote where was

the Democracy where Kamala was just

crowned I mean that's what

was they they CED Joe Biden they got him

out of there and they crowned kamla even

though the public didn't want her they

said they didn't want her back in 2020

when she was running for in the

Democratic primary continued to not want

her as she was vice president of the

United States her ratings were very low

lower than Joe Biden's which was very

difficult to do and then they still but

they crowned her anyway so it's whoever

was behind her and that didn't take the

military right there wasn't any military

I think that was like uh surrounding KLA

Harrison saying this is the person that

we wanted to power but it was some other

force that we're dealing with so I think

it's very similar you know during the

Roman Empire maybe it was the military

and if if you had the military's backing

then you could be the next Emperor but

today we got to figure out who that who

is that dark force is so powerful that

they're able to just Crown

Kamala you know the billionaires or is

it the tech is it the Deep State like

who is it you know I think a big part of

this is is so the petorian guard comes

comes around under the first Emperor

Augustus and they're responsible early

on for protecting the emperor that's

their main purpose they're this Elite

military unit that all they do is

protect the emperor they could carry

weapons inside the walls of Rome which

no one else could do so they have this

very particular role and particular

things they can do the third emperor

Caligula they make a big move and they

actually kill him after a four-year

Reign and what ends up happening then is

the petorian guard doesn't just become a

group that protects the emperor they

start to establish themselves almost

like a like a Roman deep state in a lot

of ways and the most powerful man in

Rome isn't typically the emperor it's

What's called the petorian prefect the

guy who's actually in control of the

petorian guard and they decide you know

if they don't like somebody that's in

power they're going to take him out and

it happens many times throughout history

there's many many uh that are slain and

if you want to look at it even I've made

this comparison on on X you could see

Obama is almost your modern petorian

prefect like maybe he might not be in

power obsessively but he's pulling a lot

of the strings behind the scenes of what

happens he was the last one to endorse

Kamala so it's almost like he was

waiting till make sure this is who he

wants in and if this is even who he

wants in after the DNC I don't know so I

think we really are seeing very similar

actions hey guys this was just a clip of

a longer show catch the full show by

going to Kim Iverson show.com it is free

it airs Monday through Friday 5:00 p.m.

Pacific 8:00 p.m. Eastern you could go

back now and watch this full interview I

highly recommend it again go to Kim

Iverson show.com thank you so much for

watching