About this episode

The episode discusses the historical significance of 389 BCE in Rome's transition to a new Republic and the differing accounts of Livy and Diodorus.

As we emerge, bleary-eyed and slightly peckish from the Gallic Sack of Rome, we find ourselves in a new era – a new Republic, one might say! It is 389 BCE and Rome is in its rebuilding era. A Turning Point? Livy would like us to see 389 BCE as a turning point. He has more sources, better sources than ever before, just you wait! Historians are less confident than he is about how reliable his material is, but there is no doubt that this century is going to see Rome enter a new phase in its history. In spite of the many battles we covered so far on the pod, it is really in this century that Rome’s territorial control will start to expand in a meaningful way. This journey will lead to other exciting political, social and military developments along the way, and we might find Rome starting to look more recognisable by the end of the 300s BCE. The Clash of Historians It depends on whether you believe Diodorus or Livy as to what unfolded in 389 BCE. The dating is still shaky, in spite of Livy’s grand promises. However, we certainly get a sense that Rome suffered a crushing blow at around this time, and their neighbours, including their allies, tried to take advantage of that. It would…

People in this episode

Host: The Partial Historians

Topics covered

• Roman history
• Livy
• Diodorus
• territorial expansion
• political developments
• military history

Keywords

• Rome
• 389 BCE
• Livy
• Diodorus
• Camillus
• territorial control
• historical sources

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Objective Historians

Places: Rome, Syracuse, Rhegian

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