#ancientrome #romanempire #romanemperors #romanhistory #antiquity

In follow up to a suggestion by Dr. Kaldellis as to future podcast episodes, I reached toDr. Nat Katz at Arizona to discuss how the Roman state handled transitions of power. During our discussion, we delve into general types of imperial transitions and the risks associated with such events. This includes detailing risks to those who chose the ultimate losing side in a power struggle, risks to those outside the walls of power and whether the Roman bureaucracy continued to function when a power vacuum opened up. It turns out the state generally functioned smoothly even during power disputes. We also cover how emperors portrayed themselves as deserving of power given the lack of formal rules regarding who could be emperor.

Dr. Katz also provides us with examples of what we could consider "good", or generally smooth, transitions as well as ones that just didn't go that well. We also make some solid references to Dennis Reynolds from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia which I know you all will appreciate.

Your reading assignment isKill Caesar!: Assassination in the Early Roman Empire by Mary Sheldon.

The theme music is from Brent Arehart. Please call the pod (540-632-0160), leave a message and you’ll get in an episode. Let me know what you think about what we think in the comments.

And never forget that The Classical Antiquity Sidequest is a podcast without end.