The movie The Purge depicts a fictitious world where one night a year there's a war of all against all

If you look back in history you'll find a time when something similar actually happened

Except it wasn't a case of everyone against everyone.

It was a case of everyone against a few.

And for those who were the victims of this, it was truly terrifying.

Learn more about proscription lists and why you never wanted to be on one on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Before I get started I should note that I'm talking about proscriptions not

perscriptions like you get from a doctor. While they sound similar they have

almost opposite meanings.

To prescribe is to set down something as a rule or law.

To proscribe is to condemn, ban, or forbid.

As you will see, this episode is all about proscribing.

The story gets started with the first Roman Civil War.

The Civil War will be the subject of its own future episode,

but to briefly summarize, there were two opposing forces led by the

Roman generals and consuls, Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla. The faction

led by Marius was called the Popularies. They had the support of the common people and advocated reform of the Roman system.

Sullus faction were the optimates, who had the support of the elites and opposed reform.

Rome had been experiencing social and opposed reform.

Rome had been experiencing social and economic strife and Marius sought to institute reforms

to change the Roman system.

I previously did an episode on the reforms which Marius brought to the Roman military, which had the long-term effect of shifting

the loyalties of soldiers from the republic to individual generals.

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