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Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.

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Melvyn Bragg

Melissa Lane

Catherine Steel

Valentina Arena

Simon Tillotson

In Our Time: Cicero

Cicero

25/01/2018

BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, Cicero

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the political philosophy of Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Cicero's political ideas on laws, duty, tyrants and the republic, which he developed as the Roman Republic was threatened by Caesar and civil wars.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas developed by Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43BC) to support and reinvigorate the Roman Republic when, as it transpired, it was in its final years, threatened by civil wars, the rule of Julius Caesar and the triumvirates that followed. As Consul he had suppressed a revolt by Catiline, putting the conspirators to death summarily as he believed the Republic was in danger and that this danger trumped the right to a fair trial, a decision that rebounded on him. While in exile he began works on duty, laws, the orator and the republic. Although left out of the conspiracy to kill Caesar, he later defended that murder in the interests of the Republic, only to be murdered himself soon after.

With 

Melissa Lane
The Class of 1943 Professor of Politics at Princeton University
and 2018 Carlyle Lecturer at the University of Oxford

Catherine Steel
Professor of Classics at the University of Glasgow

And

Valentina Arena
Reader in Roman History at University College London

Producer: Simon Tillotson.

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