Libertus et Servitium

Libertas vs. Servitium is a debated pair that came to define Roman politics, especially during the Late Republic and Early Empire. Among authors such as Cicero, Tacitus, and Seneca, the interpretation of the pair often reflects not only their perspective on Roman politics but also their eras.

It is a commonly acknowledged idea that we live in a political turning point similar to that of Rome during the late Republic. From the divided parties to overseas foreign negotiations, our world stands at a dangerous proximity to suffering the same fate of despotism as Rome. Though the political struggles today are complicated and intertwined, there are lessons and insights from the history and authors of Rome that can illuminate today's events. Therefore, the goal of this website is to conduct and present research that bridges the gap between contemporary and Roman politics with a specific emphasis on the dichotomy of Libertas vs. Servitium. The results will include papers, videos, blogs, and other form of presentation devices.

Papers

Below is a list of papers on the theme of Libertas vs. Servitium.

Paper Author Key Terms Short Description
Cicero’s Libertas and Tacitus’s Servitium Gary Gao Cicero, Re De Publica, Tacitus, Agricola, Polarization Cicero’s Libertas and Tacitus’s Servitium: What a classical dichotomy could tell us about the modern world.
Rhetoric and Reality Gary Gao Cicero, Polarization, Caesar, Marius, Civil War Rhetoric and Reality: How Political Leaders use Key Terms to Craft Illusions of Democracy from Rome's Republic to Modern Echoes.