As a Historian-in-training, I came across something that struck me from an author in ancient Rome. The ancient writer was Polybius, who was a Greek that was taken to Rome and lived about 200 BC – 118 BC. It was during a great time of conflict between Rome and Carthage. Polybius saw a pattern emerge during his day as Rome allowed their constitution to be developed through trial and error. See if you notice a pattern…
Precivilization – people herd together, promoted by weakness and individuals; the strong and bravest one leads. Result: Despotism. As family ties and other social relations are established, concepts of duty and justice appear; they lead to…
1st form: Monarchy – King instead of a despot, after notions of goodness and justice have been formed. King has courage; he offers protection; acceptance of his rule is by reason; lives much like his subjects. corrupted to: Tyranny – Comes about when king’s descendants imagine themselves to be ‘superior persons’; indulge in violence; evoke opposition to their luxury, greed, arrogance.
changed to: 2nd form: Aristocracy – Those who revolt are accepted as leaders out of gratitude for deposing tyrants. They first have the common interest as their guide. After a few generations. corrupted to: Oligarchy – Aristocrats treat their powers and positions as rights; exploit them; avarice, debauchery…
changed to: 3rd form: Democracy – Those who have the public interest in mind take over and govern. But eventually, those who never experienced the oligarchy no longer value equality/freedom. corrupted to: Mob Rule – Unprincipled leaders use the mob, which has become accustomed to having its greed fed constantly; corruption and demagoguery rampant; violence is used. Now the despot returns to establish order.
Return to: Precivilization
Source: Breisach, Ernst (2007). Historiography: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern (3rd ed.). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press
Did anyone else see where we land on this particular cycle in our modern political climate? In my opinion, we are in the ‘corrupted to: Mob Rule‘ aspect with some of the things going on around the country today. I don’t want to get into a political debate, this would be more about the founding intentions and how the USA was about to establish a system that would prevent such a cycle. The Great Experiment as it is called.
In American, we always have hope that comes with the next election. The beauty of America is that people always have the power to decide their future. The voice of the people has been, is currently, and forever will be our nation’s strongest asset in charting our course of freedom and liberty.
I feel our constitution was and is one of the most incredible documents ever constructed. I think every schoolchild, at least once they get to high school, should have to read the Federalist papers. This would make people have a greater understanding of the country they live in and where we came from. You cannot know where you are going unless you know where you have been.
God Bless, and God Speed, USA
TTFN,
LRShive