Ancient Rome was a brutal period in history, fraught with violence, conflict, and warfare.

But there was a 200 year period of Roman History where chaos took a back seat to order.

Let's explore the most glorious time in Roman History. 🧵

The period in Roman History I am speaking of is the Pax Romana.

This phrase is Latin for "Roman Peace" and refers to a long period of peace and stability across the Roman Empire.

The Pax Romana was a 200 year period that began when Augustus became Rome's first Emperor in 27 BC.

Augustus' rise to power established a stable and centralized imperial rule, a marked change from the civil war and power struggles of the late Roman Republic.

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Michael McGill 🏛

@mcgillmd921

Nov 2

Throughout Roman History, pirates ruled the seas, wreaking havoc and terrorizing Roman citizens.

But in 75 BC, they picked the wrong Roman to mess with, and things turned out bad for them. Very bad.

Who did they kidnap and what grisly fate did they meet? 💀🧵

When we think of pirates, ancient Rome may not come to mind.

But pirates were a significant problem throughout Roman history.

Piracy ran rampant due to lack of a centralized naval force to combat them.

Piracy negatively impacted Rome in several ways.

Pirates threatened trade routes, blocking critical grain supplies from reaching Rome.

But they were not only a threat to Rome itself, they also terrorized Roman citizens.

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Michael McGill 🏛

@mcgillmd921

Oct 26

"Only one in ten will get this."

If you're one of the other nine, this thread is for you.

Let's explore the dark side of Roman History and do a deep dive into ancient Rome's most brutal form of discipline. 💀🧵

The practice I am referring to is Decimation.

It was extreme, it was viscous, it was savage. What was Decimation? When was it performed? Under what circumstances?

Read on, if you have the stomach for it.

Decimation was a severe form of military discipline used in the Roman army.

It was used as a form of severe punishment for units that displayed cowardice, mutiny, insubordination, or lack of discipline.

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Michael McGill 🏛

@mcgillmd921

Oct 19

Ancient Rome is beloved and revered by many.

But it had one shameful practice that left an indelible black mark on its reputation.

Let's explore the most vile and reprehensible act from ancient Rome. 💀🧵

The despicable act I am referring to is Proscription.

A brutal method of political purging used during the late Roman Republic to suppress political opposition while redistributing wealth and power to the ruling factions.

And when I say brutal, I mean brutal.

Proscription involved the official listing of of individuals who were considered to be enemies of the state.

The lists were comprised of wealthy individuals and was often used as a means of revenge by those compiling the list (more on this later).

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Michael McGill 🏛

@mcgillmd921

Oct 12

Cicero was one of ancient Rome's most complex figures.

Equally beloved and despised. At the height of his power he was considered the Father of Rome. But yet he met a grisly end.

Let's do a deep dive into one of ancient Rome's most revered and complex figures; Cicero 🧵

Who was Cicero?

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, orator, philosopher, and writer. He is one of ancient Rome's most well known people.

His rise to political prominence was a steep one as he started from the bottom and climbed his way up the political ladder.

The New Man

Cicero was born in 160 BC in Arpinium, a small town outside of Rome. He was born into a wealthy equestrian family, that was not part of the Roman elite.

He was considered a "New Man" (or novus homo) because he was the first member of his family to to enter the Roman Senate. He was considered an outsider by many, and this was used against him by his enemies during his career.

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