Tacitus Essay

(Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus was a Roman historian and senator who wrote several historical documents, including some discussing ancient Britain. In approximately 98 CE, Tacitus wrote a particular document called, “Galgacus: On Roman Imperialism,” which focused on a speech supposedly delivered by Galgacus, a Briton military leader. If Tacitus in fact did write this speech celebrating the Britons and calling them to fight for freedom, why would he use Galgacus’s name? Firstly, Tacitus was a Roman senator

Introduction Tacitus is a historian who described life of the Roman Empire and the many different types of people who lived within Rome itself or alongside its borders. Agricola and Germania were amongst his earlier writings, however these two stories described the relationship between the Roman Empire and the surrounding regions of Northern Europe. Agricola is a testimonial towards Tacitus’s father in law which was commended for his many achievements for the Roman influence on Britain. In Germania

Tacitus notes, “These and the like sentiments suited the people, who craved amusement, and feared, always their chief anxiety, scarcity of corn, should he be absent” (Annals, 15.36). Just as many of Trimalchio’s guests are dependent on his food, many laypeople

The Agricola and Germani is a novel that serves two purposes: The Agricola is a eulogy praising Tacitus's father-in-law, and commander of Britian, Agricola. The Germania is an ethnography on German people. Both stories are told through the eyes of Tacitus as he indirectly criticizes Roman politics and society. His reason for snaking in these criticisms in such a crafty manner had been due to his friendship with high ranking Roman officials whom he did not want to upset. His criticisms were derived

have attempted to expose flaws in their society through writing. Rome, as a growing republic, and later as a sprawling empire, was consistently rife with corruption, abuse of power, and the degradation of morals. Writers like Sallust, Juvenal, and Tacitus saw these social flaws as opportunities, whether to drive social or political change, or to increase their influence, or just to make a statement to the government and the Roman people. However, these three writers each took a different approach to

the Roman historian Tacitus, the Agricola chronicles the life of his father-in-law Gnaeus Julian Agricola while also covering the ethnography and history of ancient Britain and Rome. After the assassination of Domitian in 96 AD, Tacitus used his freedom to publish his work. Tacitus describes the character of his father-in-law, by showing how he grew up in a household that encouraged the study of philosophy and attended to matters of state with honesty and competence. Tacitus explores different

An issue which has been debated by scholars for centuries, the identity of the Satyricon’s author can be seen to be resolved through Tacitus’ obituary of one Petronius, an adviser to the Emperor Nero on taste and luxury. Petronius, according to various sources, was celebrated at Rome for his refined taste which attracted the attention of the Emperor Nero; however his high position in Roman elite society was eventually taken away because of Tigellinus’ conspiracies and machinations. The Satyricon

“the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another,” (Dictionary.com). Through this definition, Emperor Nero, like many emperors before and after him, can be seen as a murderer. In, The Annals of Imperial Rome, written by Cornelius Tacitus, the story of Nero is documented. This story includes the tale of his premeditated murder of his mother, Agrippina the Younger. Nero, though many recall him being ill of mind or in many ways even crazy, had, in his mind, many reasons why this was

Tacitus wrote Agricola and Germania by Tacitus as a historical account for the Roman Empire and its affairs around 98 AD. The first part of the book is a personal tribute to his father-in-law Agricola whom he so dearly honored. Based on the first sentences of his book, he is compelled to tell the story of a man who is worthy to be written about and remembered. He mentions in the first part of his book that a personal that “men even felt that to tell their own life’s story showed self-confidence rather

There are many ways in which an individual can study history, but for most reading a textbook describing events and dates does not give them a clear picture of what life was like for the people of the time. Although, textbook reading can allow an individual to know a lot of facts about historical events, which can be helpful, it lacks the ability to touch the readers emotions and allow them to relate to the people of the time. However, these emotions and comparisons can be elicited through the reading