Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff Part One: Spartacus and the Thurii Commune: How a Slave Rebellion in Ancient Rome Reimagined Society
Dec 15, 2025
Join journalist Katy Stoll as she dives into the thrilling world of Spartacus and the Thurii commune—a leaderless society that nearly toppled Rome. Discover the revolt's surprising accomplishments and the intriguing concept of 'anarchia,' which means 'without leaders.' Stoll discusses how the Roman Republic's structure intertwined with issues of slavery and conquest, linking ancient struggles to modern movements against oppression. This insightful conversation sheds light on a pivotal moment in history that still resonates today.
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Drudgery Pyramid From Personal Experience
- Margaret recounts ghostwriting a romance novel while living cheaply in a punk house.
- She used that contrast to explain the 'drudgery pyramid' of complaint about work.
Spartacus Was Not The Sole Hero
- Spartacus was a lesser-known military leader among several, not a lone savior of the revolt.
- The rebellion created a large leaderless society that challenged Roman narratives about single 'great men'.
A Functioning Leaderless Commune
- The rebel commune operated without political authority, money, and sexual violence for a sustained period.
- Their society functioned as a practical model of anarchia, not mere chaos.
