Cato: Patriot or Tyrant
Marcius Portius Cato, commonly referred to as Cato the Elder or Cato the Sensor was definitely a significant figure in Roman History during the 2nd and 1st Centuries B.C. However, his role remains ambiguous; was he a man of the people, a power hungry tyrant or just a stubborn politician who liked to antagonize people more powerful than he was. He is usually remembered for being very forward, pushy and blunt in his political dealings. History judges him by his unforgiving policy he pushed through the Senate regarding Carthage and it's people, which ultimately led to the brutal third Punic War. However his is actions throughout his political career do more to support a man who was greatly concerned for the overall well-being of Ancient Rome. THE CAREER OF MARCUS PORTIUS CATO IN A NUTSHELL Marcus Portius Cato was born a Roman Citizen in 234 B.C. to a moderately wealthy family. He did not descend from the Aristocracy, and therefore he was considered a "novus homo" or a new man. At age seventeen he enlisted in the Roman Army to help fight in the 2nd of the Punic Wars with Carthage and it's genius General, Hannibal who was laying waste to the Armies of the Roman Republic. W
hile he served in the Army he moved up in the ranks quite quickly. In 214 B.C. he was promoted to military tribune under the command of such leaders as Fabius Maximus and Marcellus. He continued to serve under Claudius Nero thereafter. He was not a genius characterized by Hannibal but he was an effective military leader. This gave him a basis to work from in his aspirations for political power. For example, he sponsored a decree to use state funds in order to buy grains for the public to ease their hunger. Of course, this action benefited all that were involved because Cato along with the polis gained popularity and the people were appeased, so his action here could have been a superficial gesture. However, Cato did not stop here for he sponsored and made many rulings that hurt the pockets of himself and his own class of people in Rome. Although he did not go out of his way to help the peasantry and farmers, his actions ultimately benefited these two classes the most in certain instances. One good example of this is, while serving as Governor of Sardinia, he expelled all usurers (money lenders) from his province declaring them threats to the people. [expand on money lenders] In general Cato was very conservative politician. He wished for the Republic to return back to the Rome conducted u
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Approximate Word count = 885
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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