Tacitus

author Tacitus addressed the extreme oppression imposed by the Roman empire by writing about the actions of his father-in-law, Agricola. Tacitus even used the enemies of the empire to address the growing immorality that went hand in hand with imperial rule. Tacitus used his writing as a medium of criticism towards the empire by talking about the moral values of a specific few to be contrasted against the empire as a whole. The difference between how the public viewed the empire and what Tacitus…

Tacitus View on The German Character The author of Germany, more specifically, The German Character, was the Roman orator, Tacitus, also known as Publius Cornelius Tacitus, or Gaius Cornelius Tacitus. This great historian and prose stylist was born in ad 56 and died in c.120. Germany was written as a descriptive piece to explain the Germanic tribes on the Roman frontier of the Rhine. Tacitus uses this writing to historically introduce the Germans, and to show appreciation for the German…

while his great city burned. Some contradictory sources such as Tacitus, however, have reasoned that Nero did not torch Rome, a judgement which is shared by several significant modern scholars. Regardless of his role in the fire of Rome, Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus was undoubtedly a ruthless historical figure, with his years ascending to the Emperor being almost as tumultuous and deceptive as those in office. Nero was born of…

and Tacitus’ Views on an Emperor Tiberius, the heir to the empire of August, was among the first Emperors of Rome was the focus of the first several book in the Annals. As a staunch supporter of the old Republican government it is logical to assume that Tacitus was not fond of the ushers of the imperial era would be an understatement, however it Tiberius was particularly distasteful to his pallet. To Tacitus the rule of Tiberius was the rule of a tyrant and poor example of a Roman. Tacitus saw…

the First Coalition, as the Vendee and Federalist Revolts were suppressed, and the horrors of the representatives-on-mission carried out became known. In his paper “Le Vieux Cordelier” (the Old Cordeliers), Camille Desmoulins used a translation of Tacitus to mock and criticise the Terror, while calling for clemency and the release of suspects.…

The authors of “A History of Rome” write about Nero in a rather concise and conservative view. The authors paint a different picture of Nero than Tacitus and Suetonius. Tacitus begins the story of Nero’s reign with the murder of Junius Silanus by his mother Agrippina the younger, projecting how Nero’s reign mirrors its malicious beginnings. Suetonius gives a detailed account of Nero’s ancestors, writing anecdotes of their horrid deeds, and describing them as irresolute, arrogant, cruel,…

philosophers dissect how politics create the environment in which people experience the world. These Ancients believe that the polis should be a symbiotic relationship; one that positively benefits both the individual and the city. Ancient philosophers Tacitus, Sallust, Cicero, Aristotle, Livy, and Aurelius believe that the regime or polis makes collective meaning, order, justice possible by…

In Germania, there are many references to women of this time and their roles in society. Tacitus writes about the lives of barbarians, which revolved around agriculture and pillaging cities, but portrayed the barbarians as having an ultimate devotion to battle and all aspects of war. In the text by Tacitus it is written that when two barbarians married, the wife brought the husband arms for battle and was aware that she herself would journey with her husband wherever they went to war. Although…

army away from the city. Many followed. However those that stayed were mainly those too old or those that had an attachment to the city who also suffered the same fate. The final battle In Boudicca’s war was waged in a narrow field. According to Tacitus, Suetonius chose a position where he could not be ambushed or attacked without notice. And although Boudicca’s army outnumbered them the romans were ready for a fight. Boudicca’s army was positive that they would win this battle, the men…

event. After reading the letter it gives a clear perspective of how the eruption surprises the people during that time. This letter was written by Pliny the Younger, an equestrian orator and writer, who wrote the letter to the prominent historian Tacitus. In the letter Pliny the Younger depicts how is Uncle Pliny the Elder, a commander of a roman fleet, approaches the eruption and is killed by the toxic fumes. Pliny the Elders intention for approaching the eruption might have been because…