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The Annals, written by Gaius Cornelius Tacitus (56c-120 CE), is regarded as one of the great literary works of history in the Roman world. Tacitus is considered by many to be the greatest of Roman historians, and The Annals is his’ outstanding achievement. Originally comprising 18 volumes...

Beginning at the end of Augustus' reign, Tacitus's Annals examines the rules of the Roman emperors from Tiberius to Nero (though Caligula's books are lost to us). Their dramas and scandals are brought fully under the spotlight, as Tacitus presents a catalog of their murders, atrocities, sexual improprieties, and other vices in no unsparing terms. Debauched, cruel, and paranoid, they are portrayed as being on the verge of madness. Their wars and battles, such as the war with the Parthians, are also described with the same scrutinizing intensity.

In the pantheon of ancient men of letters, none hold a more venerated position than the Roman historian, Tacitus, venerated alike for the accuracy of his chronicles as well as for the superiority of his style. He was a writer of unexcelled genius and consummate skill. But his work fell into oblivion not long after his death, and has come down to us based on the text of a single tattered manuscript from the Middle Ages.

This superbly written, highly listenable account of the tumult of A.D. 69 focuses on the four men who sought imperial power in the void left by Nero: an old man, a soldier, a playboy, and an extravagant debaucher. The empire-wide, year-long civil war that resulted is brought to life in this sustained narrative, which is rich in detail, intrigue, and insight, as well as the aristocratic biases of the author.

The Annals, Part 2 picks up in the year A.D. 32 with the increasingly menacing and tyrannical behavior of Tiberius. With hundreds murdered or driven to suicide and many more in exile, Tiberius descends steadily into growing lust and debauchery on his private estate on the isle of Capri. Overseas, Rome is victorious in her struggle with Parthia, and as Tiberius is being smothered to death in A.D. 37 by Macro, peace at last comes to the eastern frontier.

The Roman historian Tacitus was a successful politician who eventually became governor of the province of Asia. He is thought to have died around AD 120 and benefitted from the patronage of the Flavian emperors. The Histories, of which only just over four out of 14 books survive, covers the years following the assassination of the Emperor Nero: Rome was plunged into further civil war with the Year of the Four Emperors (AD 69), which culminated in the accession of Vespasian, the first of the Flavians.

In all of Roman history there was never a more turbulent year than A.D. 69, the ill-omened "Year of the Three Emperors". By some miracle, the greatest historian of the age, Tacitus, was able to chronicle those momentous events in a work he called The History. In its pages are some of the most memorable events of Roman history described in some of the most intensely passionate prose ever devised.

The exemplary life of a noble soldier/statesman, a description of ancient Germany, and a discussion of oratory are the subjects of three short masterpieces by the brilliant Roman historian, Tacitus.

Tacitus, who condemns the depravity of these rulers, which he saw as proof of the corrupting force of absolute power, writes caustically of the brutal and lecherous Tiberius, the weak and cuckolded Claudius, and "the artist" Nero. In particular, his account of the bloody reigns of Tiberius and Nero brims with plots, murder, poisoning, suicide, uprisings, death, and destruction. The Annals also provides a vivid account of the violent suppression of the revolt led by Boudicca in Britain, the great fire of Rome under Nero, and the subsequent bloody persecution of the Christians.

Dive into The Annals, the final literary masterpiece of Tacitus, as it vividly chronicles the tumultuous era that began with Augustus Caesars death in 14 AD. Though Tacitus envisioned a sweeping narrative spanning at least 16 books, much remains lost to time, including entire sections and parts of key volumes. The story reaches its climax with Tiberiuss death in book 6, while the subsequent books hint at the chaotic reigns of Caligula and Claudius. As the narrative progresses into Neros reign, we are left with tantalizing glimpses that may have concluded with his demise in June 68. ...

Immerse yourself in The Histories, a captivating historical work crafted between 110 and 100 B.C. This narrative unfolds the dramatic events of the Year of Four Emperors that followed Neros fall, chronicling the rise of Vespasian and the Flavian Dynasty through to Domitians death. Although only the first four books and 26 chapters of the fifth book have survived, they offer a striking insight into the tumultuous events of 69 and the early days of 70 A.D. The narrative is thought to extend up to Domitians demise on September 18, 96 A.D. Notably, Book 5 features a compelling ethnographic ...

In his final masterpiece, The Annals, Tacitus masterfully chronicles the tumultuous years following Augustus Caesars death in 14 AD. Although he aimed to write at least 16 books, several sections have been lost to history, including books 7-10 and parts of books 5, 6, 11, and 16. The narrative culminates with Tiberiuss death, leaving us to ponder how Tacitus would have depicted the reigns of Caligula and Claudius, leading into the dramatic events of Nero’s rule and his death in June 68 AD. Tacituss ambition for a comprehensive history of the early Empire remains unfulfilled, as he passed ...

In the rich tapestry of 75 A.D., during the sixth year of Vespasians reign, the Dialogus de Oratoribus presents a captivating exploration of the decline of oratory through an engaging dialogue. While its authorship remains a topic of debate—often linked to Tacitus, with some attributing it to Quintilian—the brilliance of this work is undeniable. It artfully investigates the reasons behind the erosion of eloquence, highlighting failures in education both at home and in academic institutions. This text serves as a concise yet profound guide to the art of rhetoric, masterfully blending ...

Join us as we delve into Tacitus final masterpiece, The Annals, which vividly recounts the chaotic era following Augustus Caesars death in 14 AD. Although Tacitus intended to write at least 16 books, several sections are tragically lost, including books 7-10. The story begins with Tiberius demise and transitions through the reigns of Caligula and Claudius, ultimately capturing the dramatic events of Neros rule, possibly extending to mid-68 AD. Regrettably, the latter half of book 16 is missing, leaving us at a crucial juncture in history. Tacitus’ untimely death cut short his ambitious works...

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of the Germanic tribes as revealed by Gaius Cornelius Tacitus in his ethnographic masterpiece, *Germania*, penned around 98 AD. This engaging narrative delves into the origins and traditions of the Germanic peoples who thrived beyond the Roman Empires grasp. Following in the footsteps of renowned historians like Herodotus and Julius Caesar, Tacitus provides a vivid exploration that starts with the geography and laws of these tribes, moving on to intricate depictions of various groups, from those near Roman borders to the far-off shores of the Baltic. ...

The historical works of Tacitus are a history of the period from A.D. 14 to 96 in thirty volumes. Although many of the works were lost (only books 1-5 of the Histories and 1-6 and 11-16 of the Annals survive), enough remains to provide a good sense of Tacitus’s political and moral philosophy.He recognized the necessity for strong rulers but argued that more should be done to manage the succession of power and allow for the ascension of talent. Tacitus asserted that it was the dynastic ambitions of Rome’s many emperors that caused the decline of moral and political life and precluded the ...

The scene of the Dialogus de Oratoribus, as this work is commonly known, is laid in the sixth year of Vespasian, 75 a.D. The commentators are much divided in their opinions about the real author; his work they all agree is a masterpiece in the kind; written with taste and judgement; entertaining, profound, and elegant. It is normally considered to have been written by Tacitus, even though some ascribe it to Quintilian. The main subject is the decadence of oratory, for which the cause is said to be the decline of the education, both in the family and in the school, of the future orator. In a ...

The Histories was written between 110 and 100 B.C. It covered the Year of Four Emperors following the downfall of Nero, the rise of Vespasian, and the rule of the Flavian Dynasty up to the death of Domitian. Only the first four books and 26 chapters of the fifth book have survived, covering the year 69 and the first part of 70. The work is believed to have continued up to the death of Domitian on September 18, 96. As a prelude to the account of Titus's suppression of the Great Jewish Revolt, Book 5 features a short ethnographic survey of the ancient Jews as seen from the Roman point of view. (...

"Dem römischen Historiker Tacitus ist es zu "verdanken“, dass die barbarischen Ethnien jenseits des nördlichen römischen Imperiums erstmals in dem Sammelbegriff "Germanen“ zusammengefasst worden sind. Historisch nachgewiesen ist inzwischen, dass die Germanen zwar als Ethnie kurzzeitig existiert haben (wahrscheinlich, weil sie aufgrund der fehlenden Schriftsprache keine bessere oder andere Idee hatten wie sie ihre kleine Dörfer-Ansammlung nennen sollten), aber lediglich eine kleine unbedeutende Ethnie darstellten."

Publius Cornelius Tacitus (c. 56 to c. 120 AD) was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire, and considered to be one of the greatest Roman historians. Five works ascribed to Tacitus have survived. The surviving portions of his two major works, the Annals and the Histories span the history of the Roman Empire from the death of Augustus, in 14 AD, to the years of the First Jewish-Roman War, in 70 AD.