Politicians of the Roman Republic employed techniques ranging from persuasive oratory through extravagant entertainment and bribery to lethal violence to get their way. Political rivalries were fought out on the streets of Rome and in the popular assemblies as much as in the Senate House. This book looks at the Roman political system of 200-50 BC: how it worked, the influence of the ordinary Romans, the voter and political persuasion. A central theme is the topography of the city of Rome - how did political rivalries transform the appearance of the city?

There is a wealth of recent and important scholarly research in these areas and this study aims to make the material and the debates to which it relates - especially discussions of Roman topography - more accessible to both sixth formers and undergraduates.