Unit 1: "The Breakdown of Roman Unity"

Author Bio: Sallust was a Roman politician. He was born a plebeian, yet became a governor in Africa. He was influenced mainly by the Greek historian Thucydides. He is the earliest known Roman historian, he has many very influential works such as Cataline's war, The Jugurthine War, and The Histories.

Date/Context: The background to this text, is after the Punic Wars, near the end of the Age of Peace, Rome has not had any serious threat for some time, and while keeping its borders strong, it has neglected to see that it's interior is changing, nobles are abusing their power, citizens are abusing their liberty, and the empire is becoming a nasty place to live. This is due to a lazy Rome and an ignorance of its citizens.

Summary: In this text, Sallust is addressing the Age of Peace after the end of the Punic Wars. He states that this peaceful time has led to the downfall of Rome. During this time, the nobles began to abuse their power over the common people, he uses examples of Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, and how they were murdered for questioning the power of the nobles. He also addresses how the threat of Carthage kept atoms in line and made it necessary for the people to have morals, and therefore when there were no worries, Rome became lazy and thus began its downfall and degradation.

Key Quotations: 
"There was no strife among the citizens for glory and power; fear of the enemy preserved the good morals of the state."
"Thus the peace [the people of Rome] had longed in time of adversity itself, after they gained it proved to be more cruel and bitter than adversity itself."
"For the nobles began to abuse their position, and the people their liberty, and every man for himself robbed, pillaged, and plundered."