Authors Flashcards
Who wrote the Res Gestae?
Emperor Augustus
When did Augustus write the Res Gestae?
In the last years of his life?
What was the Res Gestae?
A compilation of Augustus’ achievements
Why did Augustus write the Res Gestae?
To show how important he had been for Rome
How is the Res Gestae useful?
It gives a unique insight into Augustus’ mind
What are the drawbacks of the Res Gestae?
It was written by Augustus so presents events as he wants them to be seen and excludes some of the less favourable aspects of his reign
Who was Suetonius?
A Roman equestrian with a successful career in imperial administration
When was Suetonius writing?
c. 50 years after Nero was emperor
What did Suetonius write?
Biographies of the emperors
Why did Suetonius write biographies of the emperors?
To evaluate them by theme and compare them to each other
How did Suetonius useful?
He did detailed research and had access to the imperial archives and records of speeches made in the Senate
What are the drawbacks of Sueotnius?
He was a biographer not a historian and often includes anecdotal stories that may have been exaggerated or made up
Who was Tacitus?
A successful Roman politician originally from Gaul
When was Tacitus writing?
Early 100s CE
What did Tacitus write?
A chronology of imperial Rome
Why did Tacitus write a chronology of imperial Rome?
To expose the difference between appearance and reality under the emperors
How is Tacitus useful?
He had access to a variety of sources including eye-witnesses earlier in his life, and is a good contrast to the sycophantic contemporaries
What are the drawbacks of Tacitus?
He was writing with a deep hatred of the emperors because of his experience as a senator under Domitian
Who was Cassius Dio?
A successful Roman politician originally from Greece
When was Cassius Dio writing?
c. 200 years after the Julio-Claudians
What did Cassius Dio write?
A history of Rome from its founding myth to his time
Why did Cassius Dio write a history of Rome?
To evaluate past emperors and guide the current emperor towards the behaviour he deemed appropriate
How is Cassius Dio useful>
His work is detailed and thoroughly researched and uses authors now lost to us
What are the drawbacks of Cassius Dio?
He has a heavily critical senatorial bias and cannot separate the principate as he knows it from the principate he’s writing about
Who was Velleius?
A successful Roman soldier turned politician
When was Velleius writing?
Under Tiberius
What did Velleius write?
A history of Rome but focusing on the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius
Why did Velleius’ history focus on the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius?
Because that’s when he was alive and to please Tiberius
How is Velleius useful?
He was a contemporary eye-witness and provides a useful balance to the later more cynical writers
What are the drawbacks of Velleius?
He is overly patriotic and loyal to the emperors because he owed his successful career to them
Who was Josephus?
A Jew who fought in the First Jewish-Roman War but surrendered and defected to the Romans
When was Josephus writing?
90s CE
What did Josephus write?
A history of the world from a Jewish perspective
Why do we use Josephus?
He gives us another perspective on Gaius’ reign and some information about Claudius’ death
How is Josephus useful?
He had access to eye-witnesses
What are the drawbacks of Josephus?
He is eager to emphasise the idea of Gaius being evil because Gaius treated the Jews poorly
Who was Seneca?
A Roman philosopher and senator originally from Spain who tutored Emperor Nero
When was Seneca writing?
During the reigns of the later Julio-Claudians
What did Seneca write?
Philosphy
Why did Seneca write philosophy?
To promote good leadership
How is Seneca useful?
He was contemporary to the time and had a personal connection with Emperor Nero
What are the drawbacks of Seneca?
He was recalled from exile by Agrippina II so may have felt indebted to her and wrote more positively about her and her son
Who was Strabo?
A geographer
When was Strabo writing?
Under Augustus and Tiberius
What did Strabo write?
An account of all the world that was known to the Romans
Why do we use Strabo?
To understand the workings of the empire and how Augustus administered it
How is Strabo useful?
He writes from a neutral point of view
What are the drawbacks of Strabo?
He was a geographer not a historian so wasn’t focused on the emperors
Who was Pliny?
A prominent Roman equestrian
When was Pliny writing?
Under the Flavians
What did Pliny write?
A history of nature
Why do we use Pliny?
Some of his extracts relate to the Roman empire and emperors
How is Pliny useful?
He was contemporary to the later Julio-Claudians and speaks his mind factually
What are the drawbacks of Pliny?
He’s wrote a history of nature not the Julio-Claudian emperors
Who was Virgil?
An Italian poet
When was Virgil writing?
Under Augustus
What did Virgil write?
An epic poem about the Trojan son of Venus and ancestor of Romulus and Remus that Augustus claimed descent from
Why did Virgil write an epic poem about Augustus’ supposed lineage?
To promote the ‘divine descent and destiny’ of Augustus and to celebrate his achievements
How is Virgil useful?
He shows us Augustus’ chosen propaganda and the image he wanted to create of himself
What are the drawbacks of Virgil?
He follows Augustus’ propaganda line because his patron Maecenas was a friend of Augustus’ and he provides very little historical detail
Who was Horace?
The son of a wealthy freedman
When was Horace writing?
Under Augustus
What did Horace write?
Augustus’ official poetry
Why did Horace write official poetry for Augustus?
To emphasise the moral and religious aspects of Augustus’ rule
How is Horace useful?
He shows us how Augustus wanted his reign and himself to be perceived
What are the drawbacks of Horace?
His work is not balanced because his patron was Maecenas he was later friendly with Augustus himself
Who was Ovid?
An Italian poet who was banished because his love poems conflicted with Augustus’ views on adultery
When was Ovid writing?
During Augustus’ reign
What did Ovid write?
Poems based on the Roman religious calendar
Why did Ovid write poems based on the Roman religious calendar?
To celebrate the key religious aspects of Augustus’ reign
How is Ovid useful?
He gives us an insight into the worship of Augustus and how important the religious honours given to him were
What are the drawbacks of Ovid?
His poems are similar to Augustus’ propaganda and were likely an attempt to regain favour after his exile
How are coins useful evidence?
They are dated and usually carry a message that the emperor wanted to be circulated
What are the drawbacks of coins?
They are most often propaganda and their message may be open to different interpretations
What does the value of a coin tells us?
Which classes the emperor wanted their message to be circulated amongst
How are inscriptions and archaeological evidence useful?
They help us understand the emperors’ priorities and interests
What are the drawbacks of inscriptions and archaeological evidence?
They may have limited detail or be open to interpretation and are often propaganda
