Is America collapsing like Ancient Rome?

2024-10-28

What can ancient Rome teach us about American democracy?The Roman Republic fell for a lot of reasons: The state became too big and chaotic; the influence of money and private interests corrupted public institutions; and social and economic inequalities became so large that citizens lost faith in the system altogether and gradually fell into the arms of tyrants and demagogues. It sounds a lot like the problems America is facing today.This week's guest, historian Edward Watts, tells us what we can learn about...

What can ancient Rome teach us about American democracy?

The Roman Republic fell for a lot of reasons: The state became too big and chaotic; the influence of money and private interests corrupted public institutions; and social and economic inequalities became so large that citizens lost faith in the system altogether and gradually fell into the arms of tyrants and demagogues. It sounds a lot like the problems America is facing today.

This week's guest, historian Edward Watts, tells us what we can learn about America's future by studying Rome's past.

Host: Sean Illing, (@SeanIlling), host, The Gray Area

Guest: Edward Watts, author, Mortal Republic: How Rome Fell into Tyranny and The Eternal Decline and Fall of Rome.

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