this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2023
256 points (91.8% liked)

Asklemmy

43995 readers
1459 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy πŸ”

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_[email protected]~

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I know this is a joke/meme, but I sincerely think of the Roman Empire a surprising amount of times. I find myself obsessing over how Roman citizens were living just as complex lives as we are today, or about Marcus Aurelius' life and philosophy, or about how the Republic fell and became a totalitarian state.

(page 2) 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Sometimes. I don't get why people idolize it and mourn its fall though, the whole thing seems like it was defined by slavery and murder and domination and is honestly horrifying.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Only when its mentioned

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Often because of how much I read. Me and a friend were debating the other day over whether the European Union is simply a Neo-Roman-Empire or if it's its own separate thing. She argues if the Romans never fell, they would've reformed into the European Union anyways because their style of governing is simply today's style.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Barely at all before this whole "How often do you think a out the Roman Empire" thing popped up

But there is some context that I more often think about that is related.

First: You are now aware of the position of your togue in your mouth.

Diagonies is one that comes up at least once every couple weeks at work, this usually leads to Rome.

Second: You are now manually breathing.

Basically ancient philosophers is a topic that comes up a lot with some of my friends, so Rome comes up in relation to it.

Third: Don't think of a pink elephant

But in general I'd say before this whole thing it was basically at most once a month.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think about the TV show Rome but never about the actual Roman empire.

13!!!!!!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pullo and Vorenus were great characters!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I could have watched another few seasons just about those two guys having adventures.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

like, once a year at the most? Why on earth should I think more about the Roman Empire? What have they ever done for us?

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Every day. But I collect ancient Roman coins as a hobby, so it figures.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm currently watching the 2005 series "Rome", so it happens quite frequently.

[–] 1bluepixel 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Amazing show. Paved the way for the better parts of Game of Thrones.

[–] LUHG_HANI 2 points 1 year ago

Paved the way they did.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah. First I was like "I never realised 2005 looked this old and the acting doesn't seem too polished either", but now I'm om episode 6 and I'm hooked. I especially like how they betray "Roman life", eventhough they do only show the upperclasses.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Circa once a week.
Also, I've lost The Game.

[–] realz 3 points 1 year ago

More often than I think.

[–] doublejay1999 3 points 1 year ago

It’s not a joke or a meme , but based on some actual research out last week

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

In the last week, seemingly every 11 seconds lol

[–] ohlaph 3 points 1 year ago
[–] STUPIDVIPGUY 3 points 1 year ago

at least twice a month. it's just fun to fantasize about

makes me think back to my middle school latin teacher who would get super into everyday life & culture and just talk on and on about that stuff. she was pretty mean actually but her passion about rome was infectious

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Not often. I imagine they are just like us, but much more brutal. I am as intrigued by the earlier civilization on the other side of the world. e.g. the approach to war stratrgy/methodology by Sun Tzu to train concubines to march like soldiers. I wonder what's the acceptable way of doing it today.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

As someone that lives in a country that is proud of both being conquered by the Roman Empire and winning some battles with the Roman Empire, I dont really think about the Roman Empire often. I think about latin frequently

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just the classical period of empire (Augustus to Marcus Aurelius)? Once in a while.

Any period of the Roman state including republic principate, dominate, eastern empire until 1453? Almost every day. I'm a history nerd living surrounded by traces of Rome. Speaking a Romance language. It would be hard not to.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Most complicated way to say you're Italian

[–] AWistfulNihilist 3 points 1 year ago

Everyday, memento mori, remember thou art mortal.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Well firstly, Rome did not become "totalitarian". The word implies there is heavy censorship and control over the minutiae of the daily lives every single citizen. There was no secret police in Rome to police thoughts. Totalitarianism is different to authoritarianism. Rome transitioned to "authoritarianism" because the power of the senate became diluted and transferred much of the power to the caesar or emperor. But the caesar still allow huge degree of freedom and still held sessions with the senate to discuss matters. There is a reason why the Roman empire with an emperor, as its ruler, still lasted for centuries. Many people in the past identified as Romans even long after the Western part fell.

To answer your question, I don't think much about the Roman empire. I think they're overrated. They have been the model of many European powers (and the United States) to justify imperialism and colonisation. Rome is being presented as the the force that "civilised" much of Europe from dirty barbarians. That's not so different from the Western idea of civilising mission and manifest destiny to subjugate dirty indigenous folks in the colonies.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Probably a few times a week average, and I'm not much into history but into the aesthetics and cultural legacy. After all... Most RPGs reference it somehow, so it's not that hard to find triggers for thought.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Once or twice a week, but only really because I do a lot of worldbuilding and part of that is taking inspiration from IRL civilisations.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Empire? Rarely

Republic? All the time

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Couple of times per day. However, that is probably because I am consuming any information and data I come across about Hannibal Barca since early august.

[–] Darc 2 points 1 year ago

Guy. Several times a week. Legit.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Multiple times every single day.

[–] waterbogan 2 points 1 year ago

Once every few weeks or so, usually when something comes up online or on TV set in Rome or round the time period involved. Rarely pops up in my mind unprompted.

load more comments
view more: β€Ή prev next β€Ί