Gregory Aldrete

They sort of pick the best qualified guy, and they're all sound, competent, good emperors. And the second century AD from – Nerva to Marcus Aurelius is often regarded as the high point of the Roman Empire. And a lot of that comes from – you have political stability. You have a succession of decent guys being emperor who rule relatively wisely, promote good policies.

They sort of pick the best qualified guy, and they're all sound, competent, good emperors. And the second century AD from – Nerva to Marcus Aurelius is often regarded as the high point of the Roman Empire. And a lot of that comes from – you have political stability. You have a succession of decent guys being emperor who rule relatively wisely, promote good policies.

They sort of pick the best qualified guy, and they're all sound, competent, good emperors. And the second century AD from – Nerva to Marcus Aurelius is often regarded as the high point of the Roman Empire. And a lot of that comes from – you have political stability. You have a succession of decent guys being emperor who rule relatively wisely, promote good policies.

There's other things working to Rome's advantage, but that's good. And then where it falls apart is where the last guy – Marcus Aurelius looks around and says, hmm, who's the best qualified guy to succeed me? Ah, what a coincidence. It's my own dear son, who turns out to be a psycho. And then it all goes downhill.

There's other things working to Rome's advantage, but that's good. And then where it falls apart is where the last guy – Marcus Aurelius looks around and says, hmm, who's the best qualified guy to succeed me? Ah, what a coincidence. It's my own dear son, who turns out to be a psycho. And then it all goes downhill.

There's other things working to Rome's advantage, but that's good. And then where it falls apart is where the last guy – Marcus Aurelius looks around and says, hmm, who's the best qualified guy to succeed me? Ah, what a coincidence. It's my own dear son, who turns out to be a psycho. And then it all goes downhill.

Yeah. So 180 AD is one common date for an early date for the end of the Roman Empire when you Because from then on, it's a mixed bag of good and bad emperors.

Yeah. So 180 AD is one common date for an early date for the end of the Roman Empire when you Because from then on, it's a mixed bag of good and bad emperors.

Yeah. So 180 AD is one common date for an early date for the end of the Roman Empire when you Because from then on, it's a mixed bag of good and bad emperors.

Certainly geographically. I mean, at this point, stretches from Britain to Mesopotamia, from Egypt up to Germany. Like I said, probably about 50 million people within its boundaries. Within those boundaries, there's relative peace. So I mean sometimes people talk about the Pax Romana. I mean the Romans are fighting lots of people. But within the boundaries, you have relative peace.

Certainly geographically. I mean, at this point, stretches from Britain to Mesopotamia, from Egypt up to Germany. Like I said, probably about 50 million people within its boundaries. Within those boundaries, there's relative peace. So I mean sometimes people talk about the Pax Romana. I mean the Romans are fighting lots of people. But within the boundaries, you have relative peace.

Certainly geographically. I mean, at this point, stretches from Britain to Mesopotamia, from Egypt up to Germany. Like I said, probably about 50 million people within its boundaries. Within those boundaries, there's relative peace. So I mean sometimes people talk about the Pax Romana. I mean the Romans are fighting lots of people. But within the boundaries, you have relative peace.

There's relative economic prosperity. I mean nothing in the ancient world is that prosperous. It's just a different sort of economy. but it's pretty stable. There's no huge disasters happening yet. Some plagues start in Marcus Aurelius' reign. But yeah, this is pretty much seen as the high point of the Roman Empire, and I think it is. I think that there's truth to that.

There's relative economic prosperity. I mean nothing in the ancient world is that prosperous. It's just a different sort of economy. but it's pretty stable. There's no huge disasters happening yet. Some plagues start in Marcus Aurelius' reign. But yeah, this is pretty much seen as the high point of the Roman Empire, and I think it is. I think that there's truth to that.

There's relative economic prosperity. I mean nothing in the ancient world is that prosperous. It's just a different sort of economy. but it's pretty stable. There's no huge disasters happening yet. Some plagues start in Marcus Aurelius' reign. But yeah, this is pretty much seen as the high point of the Roman Empire, and I think it is. I think that there's truth to that.

The greatest emperor? Well, I tell you what, I'll tell you my favorite Roman who wasn't an emperor, and that's Marcus Agrippa, who was Augustus's right-hand man. So Agrippa is this interesting guy who is extremely talented. He's a terrific general. He's a terrific admiral. He's a great builder. He is kind of like the troubleshooter for Augustus.

The greatest emperor? Well, I tell you what, I'll tell you my favorite Roman who wasn't an emperor, and that's Marcus Agrippa, who was Augustus's right-hand man. So Agrippa is this interesting guy who is extremely talented. He's a terrific general. He's a terrific admiral. He's a great builder. He is kind of like the troubleshooter for Augustus.

The greatest emperor? Well, I tell you what, I'll tell you my favorite Roman who wasn't an emperor, and that's Marcus Agrippa, who was Augustus's right-hand man. So Agrippa is this interesting guy who is extremely talented. He's a terrific general. He's a terrific admiral. He's a great builder. He is kind of like the troubleshooter for Augustus.

He's the guy who wins the Battle of Actium for Augustus. So literally, Augustus would not have become the first emperor without Agrippa. When Augustus rebuilds the city of Rome, it's Agrippa that he gives the job to. Agrippa rebuilds the campus marshes. He builds the first version of the Pantheon. He personally goes through the sewers to clean them out.

He's the guy who wins the Battle of Actium for Augustus. So literally, Augustus would not have become the first emperor without Agrippa. When Augustus rebuilds the city of Rome, it's Agrippa that he gives the job to. Agrippa rebuilds the campus marshes. He builds the first version of the Pantheon. He personally goes through the sewers to clean them out.