Gladiator

[Civilizer]

What do you think would happen after the end of Gladiator? (the movie) It ends with an apparent POD, an early death for emperor Commodus, and the ruling class is willing to reinstate the Republic.

[Flocculencio]

I'd say a power struggle of some sort in the Senate. Meanwhile, various generals hear about the chaotic situation at the centre and ponder marching on Rome.

[FirstCitizen1]

It'd be a much better POD if Maximus arose from his wounds, alive, to take control of the Empire. I wonder if an Emperor like the Gladiator could have made any serious changes in the TL.

[Flocculencio]

Originally Posted by FirstCitizen1

It'd be a much better POD if Maximus arose from his wounds, alive, to take control of the Empire. I wonder if an Emperor like the Gladiator could have made any serious changes in the TL.

He'd probably be an effecitve, strong ruler like the other ex-general Emperors. Also, he was wildly popular with the people of Rome which always helps. Plus I'm sure a lot of his old troops would support him giving him a power base in the army.

[hexicus]

Originally Posted by FirstCitizen1

I wonder if an Emperor like the Gladiator could have made any serious changes in the TL.

I'd think he would be like Vespasian. But since his family was killed, he wouldn't have any heirs, which means his effect would be short lived (unless he adopted Lucius, had more kids or actually did turn control over to the Senate of course).

[Flocculencio]

Originally Posted by hexicus

I'd think he would be like Vespasian. But since his family was killed, he wouldn't have any heirs, which means his effect would be short lived (unless he adopted Lucius, had more kids or actually did turn control over to the Senate of course).

I doubt he would turn control over to the Senate. He seems to have been a man driven by duty- during his time as a gladiator it was his duty to avenge his family. Now, he'd probably realise that the only way to avoid civil war would be to place himself on the Imperial throne even though he'd just prefer to die really.

Well- the best dictators are always the ones who don't really want the job.

[Faeelin]

You know, it's kind of implied that this rome is richer than the OTL one; it conquers bohemia, it has a printing press, based on the flyers in Rome...

[Paul Spring]

Originally Posted by Faeelin

You know, it's kind of implied that this rome is richer than the OTL one; it conquers bohemia, it has a printing press, based on the flyers in Rome...

I think that the "flyers" were supposed to be stencilled, not printed. I don't know if they actually did anything like that, though - It would have been a fairly slow and labor-intensive process to waste on hand-outs.

[Ivan Druzhkov]

Originally Posted by Paul Spring

I think that the "flyers" were supposed to be stencilled, not printed. I don't know if they actually did anything like that, though - It would have been a fairly slow and labor-intensive process to waste on hand-outs.

That's what you have slaves for, silly. The work goes much faster when you have the people you own do it for you. If there were enough artists with slaves I could see flyers existing. However, you'd probably only be able to make them in the big cities, where there's tons of papyrus (or whatever) pouring in to be used.