this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2023
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I know this is a joke/meme, but I sincerely think of the Roman Empire a surprising amount of times. I find myself obsessing over how Roman citizens were living just as complex lives as we are today, or about Marcus Aurelius' life and philosophy, or about how the Republic fell and became a totalitarian state.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Sometimes. I don't get why people idolize it and mourn its fall though, the whole thing seems like it was defined by slavery and murder and domination and is honestly horrifying.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

like, once a year at the most? Why on earth should I think more about the Roman Empire? What have they ever done for us?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system, and public health ?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Alright, but apart from sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system, and public health; what have the Romans ever done for us?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I'm currently in a course about the Roman Republic in college, so pretty much every other day.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I think about the TV show Rome but never about the actual Roman empire.

13!!!!!!

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Only when its mentioned

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Every day. But I collect ancient Roman coins as a hobby, so it figures.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Circa once a week.
Also, I've lost The Game.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Everyday, memento mori, remember thou art mortal.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

As someone that lives in a country that is proud of both being conquered by the Roman Empire and winning some battles with the Roman Empire, I dont really think about the Roman Empire often. I think about latin frequently

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

In the last week, seemingly every 11 seconds lol

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just the classical period of empire (Augustus to Marcus Aurelius)? Once in a while.

Any period of the Roman state including republic principate, dominate, eastern empire until 1453? Almost every day. I'm a history nerd living surrounded by traces of Rome. Speaking a Romance language. It would be hard not to.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Most complicated way to say you're Italian

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

More often than I think.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Not often. I imagine they are just like us, but much more brutal. I am as intrigued by the earlier civilization on the other side of the world. e.g. the approach to war stratrgy/methodology by Sun Tzu to train concubines to march like soldiers. I wonder what's the acceptable way of doing it today.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Well firstly, Rome did not become "totalitarian". The word implies there is heavy censorship and control over the minutiae of the daily lives every single citizen. There was no secret police in Rome to police thoughts. Totalitarianism is different to authoritarianism. Rome transitioned to "authoritarianism" because the power of the senate became diluted and transferred much of the power to the caesar or emperor. But the caesar still allow huge degree of freedom and still held sessions with the senate to discuss matters. There is a reason why the Roman empire with an emperor, as its ruler, still lasted for centuries. Many people in the past identified as Romans even long after the Western part fell.

To answer your question, I don't think much about the Roman empire. I think they're overrated. They have been the model of many European powers (and the United States) to justify imperialism and colonisation. Rome is being presented as the the force that "civilised" much of Europe from dirty barbarians. That's not so different from the Western idea of civilising mission and manifest destiny to subjugate dirty indigenous folks in the colonies.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Multiple times every single day.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Couple of times per day. However, that is probably because I am consuming any information and data I come across about Hannibal Barca since early august.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Empire? Rarely

Republic? All the time

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Empire was the most powerful nation to ever exist. The Republic was merely a bunch of rich people who thought they were great.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The empire was also a bunch of rich guys who thought they were great

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Ah, but they were actually great this time.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

It’s not a joke or a meme , but based on some actual research out last week

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Probably a few times a week average, and I'm not much into history but into the aesthetics and cultural legacy. After all... Most RPGs reference it somehow, so it's not that hard to find triggers for thought.

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