Josiah Osgood on Cicero and the Fall of Rome | Store This Up Inside You

May 11, 2022

Josiah Osgood, a Professor of Classics at Georgetown University and expert on Roman history, brings Cicero's world to life. He dives into the political rivalry between Cicero and Catiline, revealing the complexities of ancient Roman politics. Josiah discusses Cicero's moral dilemmas and how his ambitions shaped his legacy. The guest emphasizes the connections between the decline of Rome and modern political challenges, highlighting the dangers of mob mentality and the importance of safeguarding democracy. His insights resonate with today's political landscape.

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ANECDOTE

Cicero's Ego

Cicero's large ego and constant self-promotion led to a backlash and skepticism about his motives.
This is evident in Plutarch’s observation of Cicero's "unpleasing habit" of self-praise.

INSIGHT

Wasted Effort?

Cicero's focus on the Catiline Conspiracy may have depleted his political capital, hindering his later response to Caesar's rise.
Though flawed, Cicero ultimately showed courage by opposing Caesar, costing him his life.

INSIGHT

A Century of Instability

The Catiline Conspiracy wasn't an isolated incident but part of a larger trend of political violence in Rome.
This context helps understand Caesar's later rise as part of a longer decline, not a sudden rupture.

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Ryan reads today’s daily meditation and talks to Josiah Osgood about his new book “How to Stop a Conspiracy: An Ancient Guide to Saving a Republic,” the complicated life of Cicero, what we can learn from the decline of the Roman Empire, and more.

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Josiah Osgood is Professor of Classics at Georgetown University. His teaching and research cover many areas of Roman history and Latin literature, with a special focus on the fall of the Roman Republic. Josiah’s interest in the fall of the Roman empire began in high school Latin class, where he read Cicero’s speeches against Catiline. He found Cicero’s rhetoric so powerful that he became enthralled by Roman politics and has been studying the subject compulsively for twenty years since. He is the author of several books, including a translated edition of Suetonius, entitled How To Be A Bad Emperor, which looks at some of the worst Roman Emperors, and his most recent translation of Sallust’s The War with Catiline―a brief, powerful book that has influenced how generations of readers, including America’s founders, have thought about coups and political conspiracies.

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