I'm working on Roman Era campaign

[Matt Holck]

what sort of atrocities were committed by the Roman Empire?

all I know
they crucified 6000 slaves along their main Highway

[bigbywolfe]

what sort of atrocities were committed by the Roman Empire?

I all know
they crucified 6000 slaves along their main Highway

Does "I all know" mean you already know them all? Or are you looking for other suggestions?

[Blue Jogger]

Here's a quick list, although it just has a body count, nothing spectacular from a RPG standpoint.
http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/romestat.htm

“The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic.” -Joseph Stalin

[Blue Jogger]

The death of Sejanus' daughter was one famous atrocity. Because there was no precedence for killing a minor by capital punishment. They found a legal loophole (forced her to be with a man), while she had the rope around her neck and then hung her as an adult.

[Black Ops]

Of course population density was then much thinner then nowadays.

[Lawnmower Boy]

Blue Jogger's link makes for a good one stop shop. It wouldn't meet a classical historian's test of accuracy, but, and forgive me for jumping to conclusions, you don't seem to be a classicist, Matt.
Have you looked at this? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_empire) If you want more details, you should be able to get this (http://www.amazon.ca/History-Rome-Down-Reign-Constantine/dp/0312383959/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270993563&sr=8-6) for cheap in any bookstore near a college campus. In fact, if you live in a college neighborhood, look for it left on the curbside at semester end. If anything, you will find that these books are too kind on the Romans. (Or so it (http://www.amazon.ca/History-Roman-Britain-Peter-Salway/dp/0192801384/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270993824&sr=1-1) has been argued.)
If you don't want the details, bear in mind that the Roman Empire lasted 5 centuries and covered a great deal of territory. You'd be safe to assume that practically anything in the way of enslavement, torture, massacre, mass murder and political murder that you needed for your campaign, happened in the Roman Empire. About the only thing you're missing is cannibalism and human sacrifice, and in my opinion, the latter happened (http://www.amazon.ca/Roman-Triumph-Mary-Beard/dp/0674032187/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270993792&sr=1-1) and just wasn't talked about.
By the way, you seem to be referencing the Spartacus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartacus) Rebellion. That actually occurred under the Republic, not that you would have any difficulties finding parallels under the Empire.

[Killer Shrike]

It's not facts, but for flavor you should watch the ROME miniseries by HBO. Good entertainment, and also provides a wealth of ideas for a an RPG in that general era.

[Shadowsoul]

I can't give you any dates but, supposedly, the word 'decimation' comes from an extreme punishment sometimes inflicted on units of Roman soldiers. One man in ten would be chosen by lots to be executed and the other nine would have to beat him to death with stones or fists. This was a punishment for cowardice or mutiny.

[tkdguy]

One event is the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem, c. 80 AD. The looting of the Temple is commemorated in the Arch of Titus. My history teacher said that Orthodox Jews to this day will not walk under the arch, as it would acknowledge submission to Rome.

[Matt Holck]

I can't give you any dates but, supposedly, the word 'decimation' comes from an extreme punishment sometimes inflicted on units of Roman soldiers. One man in ten would be chosen by lots to be executed and the other nine would have to beat him to death with stones or fists. This was a punishment for cowardice or mutiny.

I heard the actual practice was rare but the threat kept soldiers to their ranks.

Lawnmower Boy (http://www.herogames.com/member.php/7307-Lawnmower-Boy) I have been reading through wiki until my brain turned to mush
I may well get back their after some rest

[Curufea]

It's not facts, but for flavor you should watch the ROME miniseries by HBO. Good entertainment, and also provides a wealth of ideas for a an RPG in that general era.

It is actually full of facts - there are many suppositions as well, but to date it is more factually correct than any movie of television series based on the Romans.

[Curufea]

If you don't want the details, bear in mind that the Roman Empire lasted 5 centuries and covered a great deal of territory.
Also bear in mind that the Roman Republic that preceded it also lasted 5 centuries. The Romans dominated a large portion of the world (not as big as the Mongols, but a nice try atworld domination nevertheles) for over a thousand years. Coming in 16th for largest empires of all time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_empires) :)

[Matt Holck]

the sun never sets over the British Empire

[Curufea]

the sun never sets over the British Empire

It didn't - when there was one. Many years ago.

[Manic Typist]

the sun never sets over the British Empire

That's cause God doesn't trust a bunch of Brits in the dark. ;)

[DusterBoy]

And woe betide any soldier who fell asleep on sentry duty. He would have been beaten to death by his comrades.

[Matt Holck]

Also bear in mind that the Roman Republic that preceded it also lasted 5 centuries. The Romans dominated a large portion of the world (not as big as the Mongols, but a nice try atworld domination nevertheles) for over a thousand years. Coming in 16th for largest empires of all time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_empires) :)

I've been thinking about both the Senate first sold out the support of the people (plebs)
that left them in a vulnerable position when the Octavius came around



returning warriors
saw the senate decline
people were cynical
on who held the reigns
Senators were shoved
shoved-shoved-shoved
Senators were shoved

offered protection
by Octavius.
who killed dissenters
while out in the sticks.
rewrote their laws
laws - laws-laws
their power lost

you know Antony lost it
while loving in Egypt
('Cause Rome was fascist baby!)
you know that's the cost of
that su-icide romance

[Curufea]

Well, yeah - the Roman Empire and the Republic were both fascist - the word comes from the fasces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasces) - the whole point of which was to symbolise that the society was more important than the individual. That many sticks together are harder to break than those same sticks by themselves. Although it was mostly used for legal reasons, it does show the general Roman attitude as well - of self sacrifice for the good of something larger than themselves (family, country, ideal, etc.).

[Black Ops]

Oh right since you mention fasces.
These Guys are pretty good on Roman History : http://www.livius.org/ ( and general Ancient Stuff)

[Matt Holck]

Thanks for the link


Well, yeah - the Roman Empire and the Republic were both fascist - the word comes from the fasces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasces) - the whole point of which was to symbolise that the society was more important than the individual. That many sticks together are harder to break than those same sticks by themselves. Although it was mostly used for legal reasons, it does show the general Roman attitude as well - of self sacrifice for the good of something larger than themselves (family, country, ideal, etc.).

I thought also of using the word "racist" or "nationalist"

anyway
when Octavius publicly read Antony's will,
The people heard Antony was leaving his fortune to his Egyptian heirs.
They felt he was no longer a true Roman and therefor fair game to declare war on.

[Shadowsoul]

Fasces? That's a load of crap.

Actually it sounds like a good way to demonstrate Roman values to the players and to remind them just how harsh those values could be. A more visceral way would be to have them watch as slaves from a newly conquered tribe are dragged into the city and executed or forced to fight in the imperial games, all for the pleasure of the people of course.

[Curufea]

As to e if crap :)

I wouldn't say the Romans were racist - if you were a citizen, all power too you :)

[Matt Holck]

Fasces? That's a load of crap.

Actually it sounds like a good way to demonstrate Roman values to the players and to remind them just how harsh those values could be. A more visceral way would be to have them watch as slaves from a newly conquered tribe are dragged into the city and executed or forced to fight in the imperial games, all for the pleasure of the people of course.


I want your vote in exchange for this bread
I'll join the Senate and soon will be head
I want your lot
lot lot lot
cast me your lot

judge our slave warriors with the thumb of your hand
watch fools get eaten by vicious lions
divert your thoughts
oh oh oh
forget your lot


vent your frustration in the coliseum
leave the power to the other men
I give you panem et circenses.
you and me could write on Bad Romans

you know that they had slaves
one third of the people
you know that they had ways
to keep them in shackles
I write on Bad, Bad Romans

grizzled scarecrows all along road (Whoa-0h---oh oh oh)
from Roma down to Capua
so the slave were shown the terrible toll (Whoa ho ho ho ho- oh oh oh)
if they disobeyed the ruler

[Michael Hopcroft]

One positive thing about the Empire was that most of the time it was one of the most diversity-tolerant societies on Earth. As long as you paid respect to Caesar, people like the Greeks and Egyptians got to keep their gods. Only when religion became political did the Romans crack down -- but when they did, they cracked down hard.

All that came to an end when Constantine declared Christianity the new state religion in the fourth century. The full force of the Roman state was put into stamping out the pagans. But the religion also spread beyond Rome's borders; most of the "barbarians" who overran Rome in the fourth and fifth centuries were also Christian.

[Matt Holck]

Christianity wasn't just popular in Rome



In the years of the Early Empire,
Emperors seems obsessed with creating family lines of succession
to the point of political marriages and adoptions
The favored successor often wound up dead.

[Lucius]

All that came to an end when Constantine declared Christianity the new state religion in the fourth century. The full force of the Roman state was put into stamping out the pagans. But the religion also spread beyond Rome's borders; most of the "barbarians" who overran Rome in the fourth and fifth centuries were also Christian.

Actually, the first thing the Christians did with the sword of the state, was turn it on each other.

But you're right about the "barbarians." I'm sure many members of the various hordes that sacked Rome were still practicing their traditional forms of worship and belief, but the leaders and therefore the tribes were at least nominally Christian.

Out of the many times Rome was sacked, only twice was it by non-Christians.

The very first time, in the 4th century BCE, was before there WERE any Christians.

And once in the 9th century CE, Moslems attacked Rome and looted the Basilicas of Peter and Paul.

Many times in between, and a couple of times after, Rome was sacked by Christians.

Lucius Alexander

Rome has never been sacked by palindromedaries, which is not to say that the palindromedaries have never considered it.

[Ragnarok]

Also, let's not forget the sack of Constantinople by the 4th Crusade.

That was brilliant...

[AnotherSkip]

Falls under "go team"

[Matt Holck]

Thank you everyonr for your support

Bad Romans
(song to the Tune of Bad Romance by Lady Gaga)

I wrote a parody to Bad Romance


Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh!
talk about bad romans
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh!
talk about bad romans

Et tu - , Brute
Carpe Diem
Adscriptus Glebae
O BAD ROMANS

Fluked Plumed Helmet!
hing banded armor!
Gla-adius !
the roman soldier

I want your vote in exchange for this bread
I'll join the Senate and soon will be head
I want your lot
lot lot lot
cast me your lot

judge our slave warriors with the thumb of your hand
watch fools get eaten by vicious lions
divert your thoughts
oh oh oh
forget your lot

(spoken)
you know that they had slaves
one third of the people
you know that they had ways
to keep them in shackles
I write on Bad, Bad Romans

vent your frustration in the coliseum
leave the power to the other men
I give you panem et circenses.
you and me could write on Bad Romans

grizzled scarecrows all along road (Whoa-0h---oh oh oh)
from Roma down to Capua
so the slave were shown the terrible toll (Whoa ho ho ho ho- oh oh oh)
if they disobeyed the ruler

Et tu - , Brute
Carpe Diem
veni, vidi, vici
O BAD ROMANS

returning warriors
saw the senate decline
people were cynical
on who held the reigns
Senators were shoved
shoved-shoved-shoved
Senators were shoved

offered protection
by Octavius.
who killed dissenters
while out in the sticks.
he wrote their laws
laws - laws-laws
their power lost

(spoken)
you know Antony lost it
while loving in Egypt
('Cause Rome was fascist baby!)
the cost for su-icide romance

He read Mark's will to the public forum
Antony's heirs weren't born Roman
Octavius used this as a means to an end
to preside over all Rome province

so control of Rome would now be honed (Whoa-0h---oh oh oh)
by one Emperor's hands
Octavius alone would own the shores (Whoa-0h---oh oh oh)
on the Mediterranean

Et tu - , Brute
Carpe Diem
veni, vidi, vici
O ROME LEGIONS

(spoken)
Wield, right, cohorts flank
reserves move up, fill the ranks
Hold center, as shields clank
shore the left with river banks
Walk, attack in formation
feeding off the conquered nations
Vercingetorix wrought starvation
Cross Liore, refresh the Legion
(That took Gaul! baby)


We attacked Carthage
We broke their shields
We enslaved their men
and we salted their fields

ave atque vale - (Hail and farewell!)
ad bellum Punicus - (to the Punic Wars)
Carthago delenda est - (Carthage must be destroyed)
so we salted their fields


Over a hundred ago, Rome defended her shores (Whoa-0h---oh oh oh)
from the Carthaginians
Rome had room to grow once they were gone (Whoa-0h---oh oh oh)
with colonial expansion


Empire Rulers (yelling)

the questions of (I want your love)
su-uccessions (and I want your revenge)
made Emperors paranoid men

issued death orders (I want your love)
on mothers and friends (and I want your revenge)
You and me could write a bad romans

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh!
Write about bad Romans
(lot of of bad romans)
lot of of bad romans

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh!
They were bad romans
(lot of of bad romans)

Et tu - , Brute
Carpe Diem
veni, vidi, vici
O BAD ROMANS