Mass Oratory and Political Power in the Late Roman Republic

by Robert Morstein-Marx

Examining how public political discourse influenced the distribution of power between the Senate and people in the Late Roman Republic (133-42 BC), this work analyzes comprehensively the "ideology" of Republican mass oratory. Robert Morstein-Marx analyzes it within the institutional, historical and physical contexts of the public meetings in which these speeches were heard. Morstein-Marx emphasizes the perpetual negotiation and reproduction of power through communication.

Genres: History, Roman History, Politics, Classics

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Robert Morstein-Marx is a Professor of Classics at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Reviews

[Quiescent Stickler · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want an in-depth look at how to read Cicero's speeches, what it meant for Roman politicians to speak "from the rostra," and what the "Roman mob" was truly like, this is an excellent book. It explores how politicians and voters influenced each other, what ideals mattered to them, and how the Senate and People of Rome reconciled opposing forces into a...mostly functional government.

But what I found most striking, and illuminating, about the book was its exploration of hypocrisy. Morstein-Marx reveals stark divisions between how politicians like Cicero spoke to each other and how they addressed the public, between the values they claimed to fight for and the class hierarchy that they maintained. This book changed how I thought about Cicero, the Gracchi, Marius and Sulla.

This book is also a good companion to Morstein-Marx's more recent book, Julius Caesar and the Roman People, in which we get a close look at how Caesar in particular related to the masses and their role in his political power base. I read that one first, and it seems Morstein-Marx has come to see Caesar as less of a diehard populist than he sometimes appears in this book. But either way, I appreciate Morstein-Marx's thoroughness and thoughtful analysis.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

yooooo it's the first 5 star book of the year!! really great read. i came away from this with greater appreciation (and also revulsion) for Cicero, not the person Cicero, but Cicero the symbol of the deeply-entrenched, self-reinforcing inequalities between "Senate" and "People." lots of fascinating rhetorical analysis here, including a deep (DEEP) dive into Cicero's commitment to the bit that all suboptimal political outcomes (including violence and civil war) were not reflective of any systemic or institutional weaknesses but rather of individual moral failings. or when his duplicitous ass tries to No True Scotsman the contional audience into thinking that he's actually a popularis at heart, while immediately and emphatically talking shit about the unwashed masses as soon as he gets in front of the Senate. really a fascinating guy and i'm glad hella of his private letters survived LOL.

anyways this is the book for you if you're like "wow i would really love to read 300 pages about ethos appeals."

[Gonzalo Escribano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly excellent. I came to this book in search of new bibliographical references for a class on Cicero. I read some chapters and skimmed through the rest. It is an easy read, but very well informed and making a clear breaking point in the study of Roman History by arguing that oratory played a very significant part in Roman political life.