Study Notes for Chapter 1 of "From Gracchi to Nero, A History of Rome 133 BC to AD 68" by: H.H. Scullard

Chapter 1: Rome at the Cross-Roads September 14, 2004 I)<Tab/>Introductory ~ * The two chief themes of this book: a)<Tab/>First the century in which the Republic failed to meet the challenge and in consequence crashed to its ruin amid civil war and military dictatorship. b)<Tab/>Then the following century when the war-weary world was given peace and a stable government though at the …

…were kept in their town houses and employed as secretaries, teachers and doctors. (i)<Tab/>these domestic slaves were often well treated and they had a good chance of saving up sufficient pocket-money (peculium) to buy their freedom before they were too old to enjoy it. * The standard of provincial administration was threatened by the selfishness of individual governors and by the growing pressure of Roman business interests in their provinces.