How Roman Propaganda Built an Empire (Without Social Media) — Episode 1: Crafting Power

[ClashicalHistory]

Hi all — I’ve recently launched a documentary series exploring how ancient Rome built its empire through propaganda, long before the age of social media. The first episode, Crafting Power, focuses on the reign of Augustus and the symbolic tools he used to shape public perception — from architecture and sculpture to ritual and myth.

🎥 Watch Episode 1: Crafting Power
(How Roman Propaganda Built an Empire — Without Social Media)

I’d love to hear your thoughts, especially on how these ancient strategies compare to modern political messaging.
Also curious: what do you make of the Ara Pacis as a piece of public persuasion? Was it more ceremonial, or deeply strategic?

If you enjoy Episode 1, you might also be interested in Episode 2, which explores how astrology was used to legitimize authority in Rome:

🔮 Watch Episode 2: SIgns of the TImes
(How Roman Propaganda Built an Empire — Without Social Media — Episode 2)

Episode 3 is coming next week and will dive into the role of spectacle and public performance in shaping Roman identity. Stay tuned!

You can find them on my YouTube channel called Clashical History YouTube Channel

Thanks for watching — and for keeping Roman history alive through such rich discussion.

[guy]

Thank you for sharing your work. Very interesting.

I think your work is fantastic, but it's even better when you avoid making references to the modern era. Let the listeners see the parallels themselves.

Edited August 11, 2025 by guy

[ClashicalHistory]

Thanks so much for watching and for the thoughtful feedback. I really appreciate your perspective. I’ve been experimenting with how much to guide the viewer versus letting the story speak for itself. Your comment gives me a lot to think about—especially as I shape future content on my channel.

[caesar novus]

5 hours ago, ClashicalHistory said:

ancient strategies compare to modern political messaging

I had a chat(gpt5) with colleagues who compared and contrasted Rome with messages of a century ago; result: 

"Fascists — especially Mussolini, but also the Nazis to some extent — consciously borrowed from ancient Roman propaganda, both in style and symbolism, but updated it for the 20th century’s mass media. Here are the main techniques they took:

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1. Leader Cult & Godlike Imagery

Roman origin:

• Emperors were shown as semi-divine figures blessed by the gods (Augustus with the laurel wreath, divine parentage claims, halo-like radiance in art).

• Portraits, statues, and inscriptions elevated them above ordinary citizens.

Fascist adaptation:

• Mussolini styled himself as the Duce, often photographed from low angles to appear towering, like Roman statues.

• Nazi Germany used similar heroic imagery for Hitler — calm, visionary poses recalling imperial busts.

• Both adopted the idea that the leader was the embodiment of the state (l’État, c’est moi updated for the 20th century).

---

2. Monumental Architecture & Public Spectacle

Roman origin:

• Triumphal arches, victory columns, grand forums, massive amphitheaters — physical proof of power and permanence.

• Triumph processions celebrating military victories.

Fascist adaptation:

• Fascist Italy revived Roman-style architecture: the EUR district in Rome, the Via dell’Impero lined with imperial statues.

• Nazi Germany planned (and partially built) enormous classical-style structures (Speer’s plans for Berlin as Germania).

• Military parades and stadium rallies echoed Roman triumphs, with controlled choreography to create awe.

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3. Symbols & Slogans

Roman origin:

• The fasces (bundle of rods with an axe) as a symbol of magisterial authority and unity through discipline.

• SPQR (Senatus Populusque Romanus) branding on monuments, coins, and banners.

Fascist adaptation:

• Mussolini directly adopted the fasces as the emblem of Fascism.

• Stylized eagles and laurel wreaths appeared in both Italian and Nazi iconography.

• Uniforms and standards (flags with emblems) deliberately echoed Roman military insignia.

---

4. Myth-Making & Historical Destiny

Roman origin:

• Rome presented itself as the eternal city destined to rule, with a civilizing mission (imperium sine fine — empire without end).

• Myths (Romulus & Remus, Aeneas) reinforced divine destiny.

Fascist adaptation:

• Mussolini claimed a “Second Roman Empire,” casting Italy’s expansion in North Africa and the Balkans as a continuation of Roman greatness.

• Nazi ideology similarly framed the Reich as heir to past “glorious empires” (Rome and the Holy Roman Empire), though filtered through Germanic myth.

---

5. Visual Control of the Enemy

Roman origin:

• Depicting enemies as barbaric, chaotic, and effeminate in art, contrasting them with Rome’s order and virtue.

• Monument reliefs (like Trajan’s Column) showing disciplined legions vs. disorganized foes.

Fascist adaptation:

• Nazi films, posters, and newsreels used similar “us vs. chaos” contrasts — disciplined German soldiers against degenerate or chaotic enemies.

• Fascist Italy used posters showing colonial troops as “savages” in need of Roman-style civilization.

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6. Integration of Propaganda into Daily Life

Roman origin:

• Coins carried the emperor’s face into every transaction.

• Inscriptions on aqueducts, baths, and roads reminded citizens who provided these public works.

Fascist adaptation:

• Stamps, currency, schoolbooks, and civic buildings bore the leader’s face or motto.

• Everyday objects (radios in Germany, posters in Italy) were constant carriers of the regime’s message — like “modern coins.”

---

If you want, I can break down exactly how Mussolini consciously modeled his speeches and rallies on Julius Caesar and Augustus — the parallels are almost one-to-one in some cases."

 

Edited August 11, 2025 by caesar novus

[ClashicalHistory]

That sounds intriguing—especially the idea of Mussolini consciously modeling his speeches on Caesar and Augustus. I’m not planning to focus heavily on fascist-era material in my current series (currently working on Episode 3), but I’d be interested in seeing a breakdown of those parallels. Symbolic mimicry across time is something I’m always thinking about, and the performative aspects of leadership—how gesture, tone, and ritual echo through history—never cease to fascinate me.

It always amazes me how the human race moves through cycles believing what we’re experiencing is new—often even calling it “progressive”—without realizing that so much of what we contend with has played out many times before. Surely at some point we’ll wake up and break from the cycle (though I’m not sure how). Maybe it’s just human nature to keep driving at recurring habits, rituals, and societal structures. Maybe it’s simply how the human brain makes sense of the world.

[caesar novus]

2 hours ago, ClashicalHistory said:

That sounds intriguing—especially the idea of Mussolini consciously modeling his speeches on Caesar and Augustus.

That was chatgpt offering followup. I wasn't too pleased with both followups I tried; maybe you can paste in the request with better luck. Actually I was trying to dig up info on how Goebbels' approach was different from Rome and maybe more effective. Goebbels had a PhD and was a wildly eccentric and cunning character once you scratch under the surface, but chatgpt5 stuck with familiar general narratives.

[ClashicalHistory]

I know what you mean. With Chat GPT if you ask it a question and the answer is vague just ask it to elaborate on the facts. Sometimes that points you in the right direction.

[guidoLaMoto]

Beware of unabashedly biased "AI" editorialized summaries of info entered in the internet.

Note that in the treatment above, none of the things attributed to the Romans were original to them, the Sumerians having beat them to the punch by 4000 yrs (and who knows where they got them from)......and later usage of those concepts is by no means limited to Fascists. All govts mint coins honoring important people, build monuments and large public buildings, etc etc. All kings have traditionally derived legitimacy by invoking the support of the devine.

[caesar novus]

I ran a similar query past grok.com which is the other new generation ai release (from x vs google). It gave very similar results, with just the order flipped a bit! That seems to indicate they both found pre-existing summaries and stopped at a shallow depth rather than deeper primary stuff. I had heard that with this latest ai generation you had to refine/engineer the queries less, but apparently still do. Chatgpt seems to condescend as if talking to a 15 year old simpleton. Grok talks like to a 20 something peer.

Just doing a conventional search brings up much for Mussolini following the Roman prop. Not much for Goebbels, maybe due to his counterintuitive proclivity. Oddly both characters were far left before becoming far right, maybe using similar practices:

P.S. I found I can only access older grok3 rather than 4.

Edited August 13, 2025 by caesar novus

[ClashicalHistory]

Yeah, I agree with both of you. "the right direction" was the wrong conversational turn of phrase for me to use. When it points you in a direction, you then do your own research to try and corroborate the info. Ai should be an aid rather then a replacement for individual thought. That's the same for any learning you may undertake in life. I've found most teaching is bias for one reason or another. At the end of the day Ai is programmed and trained by humans - humans are flawed.

If you like a subject(s), at some point you have to make your own decisions and run with them. Otherwise you never get out of the starting blocks with any project. Thanks to both of you for your inputs. I will continue to evolve and do my best to improve my content. Thanks again.

[caesar novus]

15 hours ago, guidoLaMoto said:

Beware of unabashedly biased "AI" editorialized summaries of info entered in the internet.

I thot we all assumed that caveat; it's like quoting wikipedia must be for the issues raised rather than it's biased answers. This forum is so empty of discussion that  I just threw up ai blabber to fan embers of nearly dead fire. Also supposedly ai took a leap forward in the last week or two and it seemed interesting to check altho the new grok magic seems behind a paywall.

Again I am pretty weak on Rome propaganda knowledge other than Trajan's column but I have had intriguing glimpses of not only German but North Korean propaganda approaches.  N. Korean posters are wildly amusing, including what they say. Grok3 comparison follows from here:

------------------------------->>>

Propaganda in ancient Rome and North Korea serves similar purposes—control, legitimacy, and loyalty—but differs in methods, scale, and context due to their respective eras and technologies. Below is a comparison across key dimensions:

1. Purpose and Goals

• Ancient Rome: Propaganda reinforced the authority of emperors, the Senate, or military leaders, often portraying them as divinely sanctioned or heroic. It aimed to unify a vast, diverse empire, legitimize power transitions (e.g., Augustus as "first citizen"), and promote Roman values like virtus (valor) and pietas (duty). Examples include Augustus’ Res Gestae, a self-aggrandizing record of his deeds, inscribed on temples.
• North Korea: Propaganda centers on glorifying the Kim dynasty, fostering a cult of personality, and maintaining total state control. It emphasizes the Kims as infallible, quasi-divine leaders, while promoting Juche (self-reliance) ideology to unify the population against external threats (e.g., the U.S.). It’s a tool for regime survival in a tightly controlled, isolated state.

Similarity: Both use propaganda to deify leaders and suppress dissent. Difference: Rome’s propaganda often targeted elites and a diverse empire, while North Korea’s is pervasive, targeting all citizens in a totalitarian system.

2. Methods and Media

• Ancient Rome:
  • Monuments and Architecture: Triumphal arches, statues, and temples (e.g., the Arch of Titus) celebrated victories and divine favor.
  • Literature and Coinage: Poets like Virgil (Aeneid) linked Rome’s destiny to divine will. Coins bore emperors’ images and slogans, spreading messages across the empire.
  • Public Spectacles: Gladiatorial games and triumphs showcased power and distracted the masses.
  • Oratory and Inscriptions: Speeches and public inscriptions (e.g., on the Pantheon) reinforced imperial narratives.
• North Korea:
  • Mass Media: State-controlled TV, radio, and newspapers (e.g., Rodong Sinmun) broadcast Kim family achievements and anti-imperialist rhetoric.
  • Visual Propaganda: Posters, murals, and statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il dominate public spaces. The Arirang Mass Games combine spectacle with ideological messaging.
  • Education and Indoctrination: Schools teach loyalty to the Kims from childhood, with mandatory study of Juche and fabricated histories (e.g., Kim Il-sung’s guerrilla exploits).
  • Digital Control: Limited internet access and state-run platforms like Kwangmyong ensure narrative control.

Similarity: Both leverage public displays (monuments, spectacles) to project power. Difference: Rome relied on physical and oral media due to technological limits; North Korea uses modern media for total narrative control, with no room for competing voices.

3. Themes and Messaging

• Ancient Rome:
  • Divine Legitimacy: Emperors were portrayed as chosen by gods (e.g., Augustus as son of the divine Julius Caesar).
  • Military Triumph: Propaganda glorified conquests (e.g., Trajan’s Column depicting Dacian Wars).
  • Pax Romana: The empire was presented as a bringer of peace and civilization.
  • Moral Superiority: Roman values were exalted over "barbarian" cultures.
• North Korea:
  • Cult of Personality: The Kims are depicted as god-like saviors, with myths like Kim Jong-il’s birth on Mount Paektu accompanied by supernatural signs.
  • Anti-Imperialism: The U.S. and its allies are demonized as existential threats.
  • Self-Reliance: Juche emphasizes national independence, masking economic failures.
  • Victimhood and Unity: Propaganda portrays North Korea as a besieged nation requiring absolute loyalty to survive.

Similarity: Both emphasize leader worship and external threats to unify populations. Difference: Rome’s propaganda was less centralized, allowing some regional variation; North Korea’s is monolithic, with no tolerance for deviation.

4. Audience and Reach

• Ancient Rome: Propaganda targeted a stratified society—elites, soldiers, and the urban poor (plebs). Rural and frontier populations had less exposure due to limited literacy and communication. Messages were tailored to urban centers like Rome or provincial capitals.
• North Korea: Propaganda is universal, saturating every aspect of life. All citizens, from children to workers, are bombarded through schools, workplaces, and media. Dissent is impossible due to surveillance and punishment.

Similarity: Both focus on urban centers and key groups (soldiers in Rome, workers in North Korea). Difference: North Korea’s propaganda is inescapable due to modern surveillance and media; Rome’s was less pervasive, limited by technology and literacy.

5. Effectiveness and Control

• Ancient Rome: Propaganda was effective in legitimizing rulers like Augustus, but its impact varied across the empire. Rebellions (e.g., Boudicca’s revolt) and competing narratives from rivals (e.g., during the Year of the Four Emperors) show limits to control. Literacy and communication barriers restricted its reach.
• North Korea: Propaganda is highly effective due to total control over information. Dissent is rare, as citizens face imprisonment or execution for questioning the regime. However, smuggled foreign media (e.g., South Korean dramas) occasionally undermines the narrative.

Similarity: Both successfully shaped public perception to sustain power. Difference: North Korea’s total control creates a more airtight propaganda system than Rome’s, which allowed some pluralism.

6. Cultural and Historical Context

• Ancient Rome: Propaganda operated in a polytheistic, multi-ethnic empire with competing power centers (Senate, military, provinces). It was less about ideological purity and more about practical governance and loyalty to specific rulers.
• North Korea: Propaganda functions in a secular, totalitarian state with a single ideology (Juche). Isolation and modern surveillance allow unprecedented control, but economic hardship and external information leaks challenge its grip.

Similarity: Both adapted propaganda to their cultural and political needs. Difference: Rome’s propaganda was pragmatic, supporting a sprawling empire; North Korea’s is existential, sustaining a fragile regime.

Conclusion

Ancient Rome and North Korea both used propaganda to deify leaders, unify populations, and justify rule, but their methods reflect their technological and political contexts. Rome’s propaganda was decentralized, relying on physical symbols and elite support, while North Korea’s is all-encompassing, leveraging modern media and surveillance for total control. North Korea’s system is more invasive and uniform, while Rome’s allowed some flexibility due to its diverse empire and limited technology. If you’d like a deeper dive into specific examples (e.g., analyzing a Roman coin or North Korean poster), let me know!

   

Edited August 13, 2025 by caesar novus

[guidoLaMoto]

So true about activity (or rather, lack thereof) around here....

.The word "propaganda" is Latin for "things to be propagated." We usually use the term when we want to emphasize it's negative connotation.......Did we build the Boulder Dam because we wanted to gloify President Hoover, or was it built to conserve water and provide power to the SW states, and naming it Hoover Dam was an afterthought to honor the contributions of the president to the project?

I submit that most Roman building projects were accomplished for utilitarian purposes- with the possible exception of Caesar's bridge across the Rhine--and not to glorify the Romans or their leaders. The projects did have psychological effects on viewers, but how many ancients ever got to Rome to see them?....As I said, coins & statues are ubiquitous honorifics across all times & places. Etc etc.