Ancient Rome: How It Affects You Today

Uncle Eric #5

by Richard J. Maybury

"Ancient Rome" discusses what happens when higher law principles and a free market economy are ignored. Mr. Maybury uses historical events to explain current events, including the wars in the former Soviet Empire, and the legal and economic problems of America today. Is your government making the same choices that led to the fall of Ancient Rome? Will history repeat?

To improve the student's learning experience, also purchase the student study guide for "Ancient Rome: How It Affects You Today" titled "A Bluestocking Guide: Ancient Rome" also available through Amazon.com.

Can be used for courses in Ancient Rome, U.S. History, Government, and Economics.

Table of Contents for Ancient Rome
Uncle Eric's Model of How the World Works
Study Guide Available
About the Cover Illustration
Author's Disclosure
Maps
Timeline

1. History Repeats
2. The Roman Disease that Stalks the Markets
3. The Roman Model
4. Hitler and Mussolini
5. The Roman Lust for Blood
6. Logic vs. Interests
7. Listen to the Music
8. The Return of Feudalism
9. Straight Lines
10. The Byzantine Empire
11. Summary

Bibliography
Glossary
About Richard J. Maybury (Uncle Eric)
Index

Suggested for Further Reading
Richard Maybury uses several examples from Ancient Rome to explain economic principles in his book "Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?" also available through Amazon.com

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Economics, Education, Government, Politics, Ancient History

111 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Richard Maybury, also known as Uncle Eric, is the publisher of U.S. & World Early Warning Report for Investors. He has written several entry level books on United States economics, law, and history from a libertarian perspective. He writes the books in epistolary form, usually as an uncle writing to his nephew, answering questions.

Maybury was a high school economics teacher. After failing to find a book which would give a clear explanation on his view of economics he wrote one himself. Some of his books include Uncle Eric Talks About Personal, Career & Financial Security, Higher Law, Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? and Whatever Happened to Justice? .

Reviews

[John Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Maybury makes an incredibly powerful comparison between ancient Rome and the United States, and discusses how the Roman belief structure has persisted in Europe and more recently invaded the United States. to the detriment of us all.

In my capacity as a father, I have found the Uncle Eric series to be of superb value to me as I work to help my children understand honest economic and legal principles. As an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, I wish I could use the series to teach the doctors I train how to understand the strange medical economy, and how to help overcome its flaws, but as has been long suspected, I find that the academic system actively pushes aside the founding fathers' principles. We are more immersed in 1984 than most realize. Mr. Maybury has created a series of books that helps strengthen the innocent minds against the statist mentality of the nation, and does so with simple truths, by pointing out what become eminently obvious failings in the statist systems. Don't expect anything to change the views of the committed statists. But you can help your children to defend against the overwhelming statist viewpoints of the schools and the media by providing them this very easy-to-read series. It will empower their ability to question authority by arming them with facts that others will not provide.

I think all private schools that have a desire to teach true principles should review the series and see if it can become part of their curriculum. Sadly, the forces at work within the government schools are not likely to be convincible, but, bit by bit, truth will win. Uncle Eric's books present a wonderful opportunity to help the truth win sooner rather than later.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, another MUST READ from the Uncle Eric series. Explains how many of the WORLD problems going on today stretch as far back as the Roman Empire, and how the "Roman Disease" continues to warp American, European, African, and Asian thinking to this day. Not as chock full of data and evidence as Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?, but still outstanding.
My liberal friends will have their eyes opened to the problems of trying to fix the world, ala Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Clinton, and to the results of bread and circuses.
My conservative friends will have their eyes opened to the problems of trying to fix the world, ala Bush I and II, and to how America has behaved much like an Empire since the early 20th century.

[julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I just read a huge secret that no one else knows about. I can't even summerize the amazing points that are brought out in this book. If you want to understand how history being repeated might pose a problem, this is the book for you. Just like with Whatever Happened to Penny Candy, I would supplement any history lesson with this book! Once again, I feel liked I have been forwarned about things to come, with great detail.

[james · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting read. It is very biased and wears it's political ideals on it's sleeve, but the author made that clear in the intro. So I don't hold that against it. The book reads less like a historically educational text and more like a political rant one might hear at Thanksgiving. But again, that is a stylistic choice, so I don't hold it against the book. I rate it lowly because it simply is not what I am looking for. It is statement after statement declaring various conclusions about Rome and it's legacy in modern politics, but it does not support those claims. It again feels like an uncle (again, deliberately so) laying out his conclusions after reading the hypothetical book I would have preferred--one which goes more in depth on roman legacy. An interesting read whose ideas I will stick with me even if I never agree with them. I just would prefer something else. For what it is worth, it includes a bibliography (though the text proper never cited any of it's claims) which I will probably read through.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and easy to read.

[Erin]

A very informative and thought-provoking book. Even though I read this for school, I found it quite enjoyable.
I thought it was neat how this book was written like twenty years ago and so much of what Richard Maybury predicted happened (or is happening.) I mean, he should really write a book titled: "I Told You So."
This really makes you think about things that you wouldn't have otherwise given a thought to. For example, "straight lines."
I haven't read many of the Uncle Eric books, but all the ones I've read I've enjoyed and learned a ton from.
Mostly because pretty much everything Richard Maybury predicts came true, his "America is going to collapse" line of thought is really quite scary. Scary, but probably true. Anyway, this is easy-to-read, informative book.

[Celeste Batchelor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the other books by Richard J. Maybury, I found this book to be very thought provoking. This book shows how our current government and the governments of many other countries base their decisions on the principles of the Roman Empire. It is evident to me that this is true by how much Rome is glorified and depicted in our money and monuments.

A very interesting read, one that will most likely change your mind about how you view the Middle East and Europe.

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scary book, not because it is written in a scary manner but because it contains truth. Because if we don't begin to abide by the elements of common law, which are 1) Do all you have agreed to do, and 2) Do not encroach on other persons or their property, we will be overwhelmingly ruled by political law of whatever seems expedient, which is extremely unpredictable and has always led to the downfall of civilization.

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author contradicts himself. He says the Roman disease is bad, but then turns around and praises the Roman Republic. There were a lot of statements made that weren't backed up by anything. After reading Empires of Trust, this was a disappointment. This is the first book by this author that I have ever read--it makes me wary of the others.

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating introduction to how Roman Law has crept into our own system today while it continues to drive the world's economy and relations among nations.

Used as a supplement to our study of the Roman Empire, my 14 year old was as fascinated as I was. A bit weighty for my 11 year old.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This in The Little Book That Roared. This book, with good logic, tells you how we got into the governmental, social and economical mess that we're in but also where it might be going.

A MUST READ, then judge for yourself.

[American Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I don't agree with EVERYTHING the author writes, this was interesting to see how building an empire is not necessarily going to bring you the peace and prosperity you want. I guess I never really thought that's why countries build empires; I thought it was more to gain the natural resources of a land. So this showed me a different perspective. He said that because Rome was enjoying Peace (the Pax Romana) they were building their empire, which is why people think an empire will bring Peace. But what's interesting is that it wasn't the empire that brought peace; it was that they had been operating under Common Law during the Pax Romana, and they started abandoning the Common Law little by little while the empire was being built. So by the time the Roman Empire fell, there was no more common law left, thus contributing to the fall of Rome.

I learned and enjoyed while I was learning. As with all of the Uncle Eric books, I highly recommend this one.

[Michael Tildsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another in the series of Maybury’s educational books. This one focuses on the trajectory and ultimate fate of Ancient Rome, from Republic to Empire, finally falling and splitting.

Maybury’s conjecture is that this splitting spread the false beliefs about what made Rome great. He cites examples in the 20th century of several times where dictators tried to emulate Empirical Rome to their ultimate folly and downfall.

Maybury ultimately argues that the “Roman disease” continues to spread, but it is doomed to fail because it violates the Two Laws which must be followed in a successful and sustainable society.

I gained a whole new understanding of the fasces, a bundle of sticks bound and holding the axe head. I find it disturbing we used this iconography on our coinage up until WWII. It can be seen on the Mercury Dime.

[Danniel Acosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very insightful. It gave a perspective on the Roman Empire that I never had before.

With his knowledge of Roman history, I can see how current America is similar to Rome by the fourth century AD: inflation, endless regulation, and immense spending. Also, the federal government is too big and exerts too much power- which could lead to its downfall.

Unfortunately he didn’t give a cure to the Roman disease. But, there is hope. Javier Miles of Argentina May have found it. Who’ll find it for the United States? With all our wealth, resources and military might, and balanced foundation for right government, there is no reason why the US should have the Roman disease.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Maybury offered a perspective on ancient Rome that you do not often hear. I really appreciated his perspective, and it made a lot of sense. The edition I read was published in 1995, just a couple of years after the dissolution of the USSR, so most of his parallels were drawn in relation to that event based on his current perspective. I would be interested to know how many of his predictions came true. Mr. Maybury does a terrific job of looking at the big picture and not getting caught up in the details. We need more books that overview rather than analyze.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating look at how the principles that brought about the fall of the Roman Republic have influenced western civilization for the past 2000 years and how it continues to affect us today. It's a rather bleak outlook on America's fate, but I think there's many valid points made in this book.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, easy to read, description of how the turning from common law led to the destruction of Rome. Discussion of how the pattern has repeated throughout the world since was helpful. This book (at least my copy) is a little outdated and I have much I want to research to discover how the patterns have continued since its 1994 publication.

[Laraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you homeschool this is an insightful commentary with a workbook to process it further. Every American young or old should read this book. We need to educate ourselves with world history and how America arrived to where it’s at and this work will help you engage in that. It’s a thinking book not a perusal.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the information that is found in these books, and I think that Maybury has a lot of good wisdom/insight into political results of historical happenings, but the "letter" format is so annoying. :-p

[Jennifer Parent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read that does a great job explaining some of the differences between the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. It compares the fall of the Roman Empire to the demise of the U.S.S.R. Fascinating comparisons.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is part of a series written by a conservative right leaning author. This particular book outlines how nations, particularly the US, imitate the Roman Empire, not realising that the Empire was weakened by high taxes, welfare and a powerful central government. The author explains that the greatness of Rome came from the Republic period, which believed in a common law, that there is a law higher than the government. The author makes lots of assumptions in his books, one of which is that powerful central governments are tyrannical and lead to the fall of the nation, which is then followed by a chaotic ‘dark ages’. This is his prediction for the US. Some interesting ideas, but I would want to hear from others on the topic before forming an opinion.

[Concetta Kellough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can be read as a standalone but this is in a series of 11. I am on the last book of the series and have learned a lot. I don't know much about Rome so this book was great for an introduction to Rome.

[Daniel Shaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and interesting read. Richard Maybury tries to prove that the "Roman model is the American model." He also shows that history repeats itself because they "cling to the Roman model and endlessly repeat Roman blunders, both in the economy and in foreign policy."

[Curt W · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic and brief review of what happened to the Roman empire. Great comparisons to the sad state of our government today.
I thought I would re-read this, since everyone seems to be thinking and talking about the Roman empire as a recent trend.

[Danielle Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic points as usual. Maybury drew excellent connections. These books are so packed with crucial information and in such an easy to understand format that one would wonder why they are not required reading.

[K L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is by no means perfect, and I think some of the author's theories went a little too far on more than one occasion...but overall, it's interesting and has quite a few valid points.

[Kassandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for all students.

[Zeke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a good book for wanting to learn about Rome and its relation to now, and for learning some basic economics.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. All about the Roman disease in politics that plaques us today. Sobering. Must read, like all his books.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of the epistolary style of writing. Each chapter is a "letter" to a nephew and it's quite annoying.