The Breakdown of Roman Unity

Author Bio: Sallust Born: October 1st, 86 BC in Rome (Ancient State), Amiternum Died: c. 35 BC Nationality: Roman Occupation: Historian "Sallust (86 BC-c. 35 BC)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit. Gale, 1998. Gale Biography in Context. Web. 11 Apr. 2011 http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/hell32414 Gaius Sallustius Crispus was a Roman Historian and Statesman. Although Sallust was a Historian, his participation in Roman politics shown through his election as tribune of the people from the Popular faction shows his education in politics. Sallust had a deep hatred for a murderer, Milo, and aimed to rouse public hatred for him. Furthermore, Sallust was a loyal friend and follower of Julius Ceasar showing his inclination to make an assumption concerning the evils of the factions of the government considering both Ceasar and Claudius- two good friends- were murdered for their political views. The document, "The Breakdown of Roman Unity," discusses how political parties and factions may have attributed to the fall of the Roman empire. Sallust references the times before the destruction of the Carthage and how there was no political strife- the people and senate governed coercively because they both shared a similar fear: fear of the enemy. However, when this fear vanished, so did the peace in the state. The upper class separated itself from the rest of the citizens and abused their power thus leading to a two party system and eventually the destruction of the state. Sallust references Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus who defied the corruption of the nobility and in turn slain thus showing the ability of the party in power to do whatever it takes to remain in power. Sallust concludes his document attributing the fall of the Roman empire to the creation of political parties. "It is the spirit which has commonly ruined great nations, when one party desires to triumph over another by any and every means and to avenge itself on the vanquished with excessive cruelty."