The Crisis of Catiline - (Reacting to the Past(tm)) by Bret Mulligan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The Crisis of Catiline situates students in Rome in 63 BCE during a time of urban and rural tumult, economic instability, sensational trials, and electoral misconduct. Lucius Sergius Catilina (or "Catiline"), a charismatic and scandal-plagued noble, has proposed radical reforms that are favored by the urban and rural poor. But he is despised and feared by the senatorial elites who have placed their hopes in the hands of an immigrant to Rome, the brilliant orator Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Assuming the roles of Roman senators who are either for, against, or undecided about Catiline's and Cicero's viewpoints, students must confront the social and political crises of the day by choosing the fates of Rome and its historical characters. Can they lead Rome out of crisis? Or will the political and economic climate lead to Rome's collapse?

Review Quotes

"I highly recommend The Crisis of Catiline to any instructor thinking about trying [Reacting to the Past]. Its high level of versatility makes it suitable to a wide variety of undergraduate programs. . . . With any luck it may also spark bigger questions in the classroom about how we construct and deconstruct different modes of knowledge production. I look forward to playing it again."--Classical Outlook

"A valuable sourcebook about ancient Rome and its political situation at that pivotal moment. . . . [T]his book is a valuable contribution to making ancient Rome accessible, in a way that helps readers to understand both how much and how little has changed."--NYMAS Review