Primary Sources - Ancient Rome

Question 1

“The History of Rome from its Foundation”

Answer 1

• author: Livy
• origin story, overthrow of rex, Titus Manlius
• bias: encouraged patriotism and “ancestral ways”
• sources: XII tables, oral histories, family histories, and older historians
• according to Livy, Rome’s rise is attributed to: patriotism, discipline, courage, and disdain for material wealth (i.e. Cinncinatus)
• Livy believes Rome was a “victim of its own success”: wealth of conquest, greed, and moral depravity
• origin story: Romulus and Remus
• rape of the Sabine women: Rome lacked enough women to adequately increase the population, they invite people from neighboring city-states to dinner and a show, when a signal is given, the Romans rush the crowd and kidnap all of the women
• birth of republic, rape of Lucretia: Tarquinius Superbus, the last of the 7 kings of Rome, was not well-liked by his people…his son, Sextus, rapes Lucretia, the wife of another nobleman…Lucretia kills herself in shame (Livy’s moral: honor over life)…this event triggers a revolt against Superbus, the gates of Rome are closed to him when he is out on campaign…the Republic is born
• Titus Manlius: consul that issued an order to the Roman army to not leave their post to fight without the consent of their superiors…his own son (also Titus Manlius), was challenged by an enemy soldier while out on patrol…Titus accepts and wins the duel, killing the enemy soldier…however, through doing so, he disobeyed a direct order from command, and his own father burned him at the stake (Livy’s moral: law over family)

Question 2

“Lives: Marcus Cato”

Answer 2

• author: Plutarch
• Cato the Elder, fall of the Republic (200ish years after Cato’s death)
• quotes from Cato
• Bias: idealized portrait of Cato, but he does criticize him, too (i.e. thought “casting out” of slaves was inhumane)
• humble origins to consul to censor, fought in 2nd Punic War, HATED Carthage (“Carthago delenda est”), informal lawyer (no fee), took land for pennies after Hannibal ravaged the Roman countryside (irony of benefit)
• GREAT EXAMPLE OF SOCIAL MOBILITY OF ROME DURING THIS PERIOD

Question 3

“The Lives of the Twelve Caesars: Augustus”

Answer 3

• author: Suetonius
• Octavian Augustus, consolidation of power, organization of the empire
• Octavian is adopted by Julius Caesar, inherits throne, 2nd Triumvirate (Octavian, Antony and Lepidus), defeats Egypt (Antony & Cleopatra), expands the empire, founded public works, etc.
• Good source because: he was the Imperial Secretary (had access to the imperial archives)
• Bad source because: he loved gossip and did not critically assess the validity of “sensational sources”

Question 4

“On the Nature of Things”

Answer 4

• author: Lucretius
• Lucretius embraced Epicureanism
• the atomic theory allows oneself to be free from the shackles of religion
• we’ve conquered religion, but “we’re not saying there’s no god” (atheism was illegal)

Question 5

“Thoughts”

Answer 5

• author: Marcus Aurelius
• work composed while on campaign
• duty liberates man by allowing right reason
• uncertainty of what lies beyond death
• every human has a spark of Divine Reason in their soul (Stoicism) that would return to the creator after death
• happiness achieved through virtue, control of emotions

Question 6

The Bible: New Testament

Answer 6

• no author
• teachings of Jesus: personal ethics, demands higher ethical standard than Jewish law, pacifism, strong bias against material wealth, no capital punishment
• how to become Christian (Peter), communal sharing of possessions, better not to be married at all (but better married than tempted) (Paul), extremely patriarchal society