2 edits
Originally posted by zeeblebotNero was chosen by Claudius over his own children. Claudius had to make the case that marrying Nero's mother was a good idea to the Senate. In effect the Senate had veto power.
nero's ascension was based on merit?
So yes, Nero was chosen based on merit - the merit of the approval of the representatives of the people.
In any case, the people in question were not the emporers themselves but rather the people the emporer appointed.
Originally posted by zeeblebotYeah, I had to stretch to get that argument for Nero being chosen on merit.
? rome didn't fall before christianity therefore roman leaders must have been chosen on merit prior, to christianity?
? from nero's wiki article, he was adopted by claudius after his mother's marriage to claudius, also he was 17 +/- 1 when claudius died and claudius' own son was 13 +/- 1 then.
Originally posted by AThousandYoungNero was named the successor to Claudius, due to the fact that his mother was a minipulative woman, she convinced Claudius to name him his successor not so much for nero's glory but for her own. More than any thing else Nero wanted to be an actor not a ruler. His mother wanted him to be emperor so she could have fame and power thru him so she married the king got her son to the thrown then tried to rule with him. He eventually got sick of this and the final straw came after she had coins minted with his and "her" faces on them. After this he had her taken out of the country and killed by his guards which back fired and got a lot of people in the city to spread rumors about him and dislike and distrust him. The most famous of such rumors is that he himself started a fire in Rome which destroyed about two thirds of the city all of which he confiscated to make an enormous palace of all kinds of pleasures and debotchery. The Coloseum now sits on the foundation of this palace. It was filled with hot baths and springs, with colorful mosacs and treasures, which greatly indebted the city.
Nero was chosen by Claudius over his own children. Claudius had to make the case that marrying Nero's mother was a good idea to the Senate. In effect the Senate had veto power.
So yes, Nero was chosen based on merit - the merit of the approval of the representatives of the people.
In any case, the people in question were not the emporers themselves but rather the people the emporer appointed.
After they killed him the palace that was open to the public was closed and bulldosed.
And you really did not need the senates aproval for anything because you could merely kill them if they disobeyed. Back then diplomacy took to long so they had methods of speeding it up thru fear.
Originally posted by kmax87I mean the basic idea behind religion and the lot is for a relatively small
I'm interested, not just for the sake of an argument, but what exactly do you consider that 'basic idea' to be.
group to control the dumb masses, thereby gaining power and luxurious
standards of living while the poor suckers at the bottom of the pyramid
struggle with their most basic needs. There can be no other explanation
as to why a small group would need to exercise control over a larger
group of people. Salvation, promise of a brighter future, self-sacrifice for
the good of the many is all just propaganda and mouth crap meant to
spell bound the followers into blind faith and adoration. Bah! If you stand
against it you're either shunned or deemed a failure in every respect. If
you understand what's going on and are ready to play the game you
might be accepted as part of the elite yourself, but first you must follow
blindly the lead of those in charge at the moment.
Can't believe people still fall for these things. Buy now, and you'll also
get this electric toothbrush (that we couldn't sell on it's own) as a free
bonus. Can you see how much we care for your happiness? We're here to
make you happy, and if you just do as we say, it shall be so. Sometime.
In the future. Possibly after death, but hang in there and you'll get it.
Originally posted by AThousandYoungThe Roman Empire didn't fall apart; the Vandals and a whole bunch of other tribes ripped it into little Roman pieces.
Rome grew to great power as polytheists, with special reverence for Jupiter and Mars. They took over Europe and North Africa. Then they adopted Christianity and it all fell apart.
Discuss.
Originally posted by PinkFloydOr Mars got his juevos cut off.
Possibly, Or the barbarians finally figured out how to fight them effectively after 800 years.
Of course there are various possibilities. I've been arguing in favor of Rome weakening. Are you taking the position that the barbarians became better at some point in time? Why did they? How do you know they did?
Originally posted by AThousandYoungI agree with you--Rome certainly weakened. Over a 1400 year stretch, they had nowhere to go but down. As for your question, I don't know that the barbs got better. It just seems logical to me. If you're asking for statistics or scholarly writings, I can't help you. There are a few people in the forums who seem to require these, and/or believe that one MUST have them in order to form an opinion. I am not so limited.
Or Mars got his juevos cut off.
Of course there are various possibilities. I've been arguing in favor of Rome weakening. Are you taking the position that the barbarians became better at some point in time? Why did they? How do you know they did?
Originally posted by PinkFloydYou have no opinion. You simply offer possibilities.
I agree with you--Rome certainly weakened. Over a 1400 year stretch, they had nowhere to go but down. As for your question, I don't know that the barbs got better. It just seems logical to me. If you're asking for statistics or scholarly writings, I can't help you. There are a few people in the forums who seem to require these, and/or believe that one MUST have them in order to form an opinion. I am not so limited.