Professor Catherine Steel on BBC Radio 4's In Our Time
Published: 1 February 2018
The University of Glasgow’s Professor Catherine Steel is one of the guests on Melvyn Bragg’s In Our Time on BBC Radio 4, discussing Cicero.
The University of Glasgow’s Professor Catherine Steel was one of the guests on Melvyn Bragg’s In Our Timeon BBC Radio 4, discussing Cicero on Thursday 25 January 2018.
Melvyn Bragg and his guests including the School of Humanities | Sgoil nan Daonnachdan’s Professor of Classics, discussed the ideas developed by Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43BC) to support and reinvigorate the Roman Republic.
But as it transpired, it was in its final years, threatened by civil wars, the rule of Julius Caesar and the triumvirates that followed.
As Consul, Cicero suppressed a revolt by Catiline, putting the conspirators to death summarily as he believed the Republic was in danger and that this danger trumped the right to a fair trial, a decision that rebounded on him.
While in exile he began works on duty, laws, the orator and the republic. Although left out of the conspiracy to kill Caesar, he later defended that murder in the interests of the Republic, only to be murdered himself soon after.
This is Professor Steel’s third appearance on In Our Time. If you missed the live programme, it is now available on BBC iPlayer.
First published: 1 February 2018
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