Leah
Religion Major

On Jan. 6, we spent the first part of the day at Ostia Antica, an old Roman fishing-port town. It was neat to see the village and just realize how big the town probably was. A few of us were talking about how when we think of ancient cities, we think of really small cities like the size of Washtucna. We tend to forget that just because they were ancient, it doesn't mean that cities were small. It is kind of like what C.S. Lewis would call, "Chronicle Snobbery." We think we are better because we are more advanced. Much of this trip I have been so impressed with buildings. It just amazes me because they didn't have the technology and the machinery that we have today, so it is more amazing that they accomplished their architecture. I forget that just because they didn't have the technology of today, it doesn't mean they didn't have a different sort of technology. Yesterday I also spent a little time down at the Mediterranean Sea, which was cool because now I can say that I have been to it. My friends and I spent the afternoon walking around, from the Pantheon to the Trevi Fountain, to Victor Emmanuel, to the Spanish Steps. It was interesting to see all the people out and about for Epiphany.

Amber
International Business, Marketing Major

A response to what is the meaning of "De nobis fabula narrator" in Reid's article "The Making of an Empire":

De nobis fabula narrator means what happened in the past is happening now, or the past is being relived, or their story is our story. Since the exact translation of de nobis fabula narrator is unknown to me, I am blindly left to assume that he is coining the phrase correctly. From Reid's perspective, there is a parallel situation, though very loose due to cultural change, between the past and the present. Nevertheless, his connection between past and present, in my opinion, is still valid.

During the Ancient Roman empire, there was a rich property owner by the name of Marcus Crassus who lived in Rome. Being rich, however, was simply not enough. Crassus sought power- political power. In short, Crassus was the financial sponsor of Julius Caesar and paid for his own army.

This purchasing of power by Crassus is reflected in modern-day politics by way of businesses and/or a person donating large sums of money to support politicians with the same political ideologies. And even though the businesses are not the ones with political power like Crassus and his army, they still have some control over the politicians’ decisions through the donations and promises of monetary gifts.

In conclusion, the concept between Crassus and today's politics is still the same -- one entity/person pays another entity/person to carry out their own personal ideals for their own greater benefit, albeit for money, power, revenge, etc.

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