59- To the Tiber with Tiberius: The History of Rome

Tiberius's final years were consumed with treason trials and private licentiousness. After he died in 37 AD, the infamous Caligula ascended to the throne.

59- To the Tiber with Tiberius

Comments

[James]

have you decided not to accept sponsorship anymore? i didn't hear anything about a sponsor during this episode! an oversight, perhaps?

[gregorian]

I just noticed on iTunes that there's a new pop singer calling herself "Little Boots". It'd be interesting to know whether she's picked the name simply because it sounds cute or if she understands the darker side to it.

[Anthony Lado]

Great episode, as usual. I find myself eagerly anticipating each one, and then listening to them over and over. You have a gift, Mike. I hope and pray that your "career" grows and grows...I think it will.

[Nick Lytton]

Great series, love them all. However is there corruption of the file? Seems to jump just after Caligula gets ill and all Rome is praying. Tried downloading several times but the jump is always in the same place. Thanks for a fabulous series!

[Detlef]

Mike,

Any chance of continuing into the Byzantine Empire? Just asking because 12 byzantine rulers only handled small pinpricks (essentially) of history, whilst you seem you have broad, but detailed strokes in your storytelling.

Amd any plans for a new podcast after this one is finished. On the old blogspot site I read you were planning to do one about the US presidents of the 20th century.

[Marc-Andre]

Hi, I am completely addicted.

There is an issue that I just realized I was very curious about but that somehow just got ignored during Augustus' reign. At what point was the title "Imperator" or "Emperor" picked, and for what reason? At one point, it seems we just stop using one title and start using another one. Wasn't "Pinceps" good enough? Thanks,

[Richard Bailey]

I see you have a lot of well deserved praise here Mike. I find that your podcast is very well produced and the content is excellent. One problem I have recently added the RSS feed to a new setup here and I find that the first few episodes have fallen off of the feed. Any chance this might be fixed?

Thanks
Richard KB5JBV
Resonant Frequency Podcast
Linux in the HAM Shack Podcast

[Terry Reilly]

Hi Mike
A great series very informative and a pleasure to listen to. I look forward to each weeks episode. Great Stuff well done

[Mike in Phoenix]

Great episode Mike! A follow up to Marc Andre's question above, Did Augustus or any of the Ceasars actually use the title 'Imperator'? I always thought that was a title used by later rulers and applied across the board by historians. I know the title goes back to, I believe Scipio Africanus, whose troops hailed him as imperator. Also, what were the early years of Caligula's life like? Robert Graves portrayed him as a 'demon child', is there anything to that? I hope in the next few episodes we can back track a bit like you did with Julius Ceasar and deal in detail with the early life of Claudius and his relationships with Tieberius, Caligula the rest of his family and those around the imperial family like Sejanus and Herod Agrippa.

[Jonathan]

I wanted to write and say thank you. I recently discovered your podcast and over a brief vacation caught up and currently anticipate each new episode. Very cool.

Jon

[Oisín McDonagh]

Mike (I can call you Mike can't I?),

I've been wondering about the nature of Roman purges from the Late Republic onwards. Were they an empire-wide phenomenon or did they purely effect the citizens of Rome? If Marcus so-and-so was fingered out for execution could he flee to the farthest provinces and therefore escape an untimely death? Or would agents of whoever signed his death warrant track him down and finish the job?

[Bruce White]

I don't usually write fan letters but this is a superb podcast. (I donated you $10 too Mike which probably means more). I did Latin for two years at high school many years and pretty much lost interest at "The fields of the Carthaginians should have been laid waste by the Romans" - apart from I Claudius - but you have truly brought it alive. Great humorous asides too. Don't ever stop!

[Frits Onland]

Hello sir,

I recently was apprised of your audioblog via the Europa Barbarorum TW mod forum.... I just took three days to catch up with everything, and I think it's really good... Though I'm a little sceptical about some historical analogies (like compairing the early republic to the founding of the US) But that's probably just my history degree ascerting itsself. Eagerly awaiting the next episode....

[Mike in Phoenix]

Hey Mike, a few episodes ago you mentioned in closing the cruxifiction of Jesus Christ. I'm wondering what state is Roman religious life at now? Where is the common citizen? Where is Caligula at in this aspect and what effects are the eastern cults (i.e. the cult of Isis Caligula is supposed to have been involved in) playing in Roman life. How does Roman society see the migration of eastern religions (including the Jews) into the Italian homeland?

[Anders]

Hi,
I have been listening for a long time now, and it's way overdue to join in on the praise for this podcast. It even inspired me to take up a university course on the classical world, which makes me enjoy the material even more. Thank you, Mike!

As others have mentioned, I would also appreciate more theme based episodes, like the Christmas one. For instance on Roman religion, which seems to me a rather complex issue. Or more on military tactics. Or on sponsorship of the arts under the emperors... (Yes, I'm addicted, too).

[Grandpa D]

Mike: thanks for the Father's Day in the USA wishes. Amazingly enough, I am caught up on episodes and heard this one on June 22, which is close enough for government work.

In case you were all wondering: Mike and his fantasy baseball team, The Hurms, showed absolutely no mercy in walloping his father's team, Grandpa D, in the Western Amateur T-Ball League. He beat us head-to-head about 9-3.

[This post should have enough American-isms and idioms to drive all of you loyal international listeners right up the wall. Sorry about that. We're just that way.]

[Areg]

Here is what I do not understand about Tiberius. On one hand he mercilessly persecuted all those whom he saw as a threat to his power. On the other hand, according to your characterization, he hated his own position as an emperor. These two do not add up.

[Ivory]

Mike,

This is great stuff. I look forward to each new episode. I minored in the classics and could have used this podcast back when I was in college. Can't wait until the late anquity era is covered.

Mike from Pittsburgh

ps. Drink more Argicola