From Marius, through Catiline and Cicero, to Julius Caesar many men sought to seize power in the late Republic. What motivated them? What strategies did they employ to try to gain and hold power? What laws did they pass to ensure their survival, and how successful were they? Are there any similarities to today's political challenges?

Also, consider the struggle between the populares and the optimates. Who were the Gracchi, and how did they fit into this debate and touch off a class-driven conflict that lasted until Caesar dissolved the Republic? How did the different classes appeal to Roman law to justify their differing positions.