The Battle of Carrhae and the Limits of Roman Power

Описание: Marcus Licinius Crassus had a taste for gold - the wealthiest man in Rome had enjoyed a remarkably successful political career but like all roman aristocrats he was driven by an ambition for greater honors and glory. This led the triumvir to embark on a war of choice against the mighty kingdom of Parthia (located primarily in modern day Iran).

But Crassus' quest to become a new Alexander the Great ended suddenly at the Battle of Carrhae in 53 BCE. This comprehensive defeat for the legions illustrated the flaws in Roman arms and tactics while also highlighting the dangers of Roman hubris.

Using modern and ancient sources, this documentary break down the key factors that led to Rome’s defeat at Carrhae — from the role of heavy cavalry (cataphracts) and horse archers, to Crassus’s poor decisions and underestimation of Parthian capabilities. But more than examining the flaws of a single commander - this video explains how this defeat was the inevitable result of rome's ideology of conquest while also exploring how this battle shifted the balance of power in the ancient world and contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic.

00:00 - "An Example of Foolish Ambition"
03:33 - The Triumvirate's Road to Disaster
06:13 - Parthia's Triumph
10:59 - Drowned in Gold - the Death of Crassus
14:31 - The New Widow



Ancient Sources:
Life of Crassus - Plutarch
Roman History - Cassius Dio

Modern Sources:
Rome and Persia: The Seven Hundred Year Rivalry - Adrian Goldsworthy
Crassus: The First Tycoon - Peter Stothard
The Defeat of Rome - Crassus, Carrhae & the Invasion of the East
The Last Generation of the Roman Republic - Erich S. Gruen


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