“Give the people bread and circuses…” – Juvenal
“Do not worry…seek first the Kingdom of God, and all you need, including bread and shelter, will be given to you by God” – Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34
The ancient Roman saying “give the people bread and circuses,” or panem et circenses in Latin, captures the essence of a political strategy used by Roman leaders to appease people and maintain power during the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.
This phrase was famously coined by the Roman poet Juvenal (AD 55 -AD 128) in his Satires (X.81), where he criticized the Roman populace for their willingness to surrender their civic duties in exchange for superficial pleasures.
The People have abdicated our duties, for we once handed out military command, high civil office, and legions through our votes, now stolen from us. But all concern is now forgotten, and people anxiously hope for just two things: bread and circuses.
In 2024, in a declining America, “bread and circuses” are “subsidies and sports.”
It Works … for a Season
Distractions and comforts in life aren’t bad – unless they keep you from doing the hard things to save a nation.
As the Roman Empire began decaying through debt and a weakened military, the ruling class became acutely aware of the potential for social unrest among the citizens, particularly in the densely populated city of Rome.
The economic divide between the upper ruling classes and the lower working classes was vast. The average Roman citizen often struggled to survive in a harsh urban environment. Rising costs through the devaluation of the Roman silver denarii (inflation) and rising crime created a bubbling discontent in Rome.
To prevent uprisings and maintain control, Roman authorities adopted the strategy of providing free grain (bread) and lavish public entertainment (circuses) to distract and placate the population.
The circuses referred to the large-scale public games, most notably the gladiatorial contests held in the Colosseum, chariot races in the Circus Maximus, and other spectacles.
These events were not merely for entertainment; they conveyed the power and generosity of the emperor and the state.
The rulers ensured the people remained loyal and less likely to challenge their authority by subsidizing these sporting events. The bread aspect was equally important, as grain distribution helped to stave off hunger, which could easily turn into anger against the state.
The “bread and circuses” strategy reflects a deep understanding of human nature, particularly the ease with which individuals can be swayed by immediate gratification.
Sports are good, but they never should be preeminent in a nation.
In a secular, irreligious nation, people are primarily driven by basic needs and desires rather than by higher ideals such as justice, liberty, honesty, and civic duty.
In The Republic, the Greek philosopher Plato (427-348 BC) warned about the dangers of leaders who appeal to the populace’s basest instincts rather than promoting virtue and wisdom.
Machiavelli (AD 1469-1527), writing much later in The Prince, also emphasized the importance of maintaining control over the populace, even if it meant manipulating their perceptions and desires.
“Bread and circuses” or “subsidies and sports” are a form of social control.
It represents a deliberate tactic to distract the public from more pressing issues, such as corruption, inequality, and the erosion of civic rights. The ruling class can effectively neutralize potential threats to their power by keeping the population focused on entertainment and basic sustenance.
Next time you hear about the government “forgiving college loans,” “subsidizing college sports,” “building massive sports stadiums,” or “handing out money through direct stimulus checks, government subsidies, or welfare,” remember Rome.
If people’s immediate needs and desires are satisfied, citizens are less likely to question the status quo or demand meaningful change to a crumbling nation.
All Roads Lead to Rome – an illustrative map of all Roman roads in the first century AD.
–
A Warning
Augustine finished “The City of God” in his study in Rome as the Visigoths sacked the city.
Rome fell to the Visigoths, a German tribe of vandals, in AD 410.
A pastor and theologian, Augustine, lived in Rome at the time.
As the foreigners attacked the city of Rome, Augustine was putting the finishing touches on his classic work, The City of God (Latin: De Civitate Dei)
Augustine’s monumental work is divided into 22 books. It contrasts the City of God, representing the eternal and divine order of a life lived according to God’s will, with the City of Man, symbolizing societies driven by self-love, pride, distractions, and comforts.
Augustine argues that while earthly cities and empires may rise and fall, the City of God is eternal and offers the ultimate hope and salvation.
Like everyone else, I love football, nice meals, entertainment, and money.
But I won’t depend on them for my happiness, and I’ll not allow these things to replace the more important duties of serving the Kingdom and having Christ central.
One day, America may feel what Rome felt in AD 410.
Let’s all place our trust in the City of God, not in the City of Man.
“History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.” – Sydney J. Harris
If you do not subscribe to Wade Burleson at Istoria Ministries, you sign up below.
Thank you for your support of Istoria Ministries
Wade, great article!
Rex,
Thank you! My wife and I were talking about you and Judy today! We miss seeing you, and always appreciate your encouragement. Remember, you can follow me at https://wadeburleson.substack.com
Amen, Brother!