Roman Historians Flashcards
When was Sallust alive?
86 - 35 BC
Who was Sallust biased towards?
Aligned with Caesar in 49 as legionary commander in the Adriatic - sent to quell Caesar’s mutinous soldiers in Campania in 47, reinstated to senate; became governor of Africa Nova through Caesar, withdrew from public life after his murder - therefore is biased favourable towards Caesar in his beliefs
What were Sallust’s failings?
Failings: very common to copy Sallust’s work; he is selective so may have left out equally important events
Why was Sallust writing?
“I resolved to return to a cherished purpose from which ill-starved ambition had diverted me, and write a history of the Roman people, selecting such portions as seemed to me worthy of record.” Cat. 3.3-4.5.
Why did Sallust write on Catiline?
“…because of the extraordinary nature of the crime and the danger arising from it.” Cat. 5.9.
What was Sallust’s style?
Style: “reminiscent of the antique prose”; modelled on Thucydides and Cato the Elder. Characterised by brevity - ‘abrupt and rapid form of prose in Latin’ to emulate Thucydides - vocabulary - ‘revelled in the archaic’ - inconcinnitas - ‘variety and dissymmetry’ to create ‘the unusual and unexpected’
Which historian influenced Sallust?
Thucydides
When was Livy alive?
59 BC - 17 AD
Which historians were aligned with Livy?
Sallust fits Polybius’ ideas of what historians needed to be. “Nor would Herodotus resent Livy’s being thought his equal […] he has come to rival Sallust’s immortal rapidity.” Quintilian, Inst. 10.1.101-102
What were Livy’s failings?
Failings: was Livy an armchair historian? Traditional (conservative) outlook; never held office - either political, military or religious - and knew Augustus
What were Livy’s sources?
Sources: made use of earlier authors, often correcting them; is critical of his sources occasionally but mostly accepted that they were true; sometimes shows his research
What was Livy’s style?
Style: varied and flexible - “milky richness”
When was Josephus alive?
c. 37 - c. 100 AD
Why was Josephus writing?
Explains the school of the Pharisees, which most Jews would have been familiar with and draws a comparison for his readers - implies that he was trying to make the Jewish religion more easily understandable for outsiders. Writing in order to educate Romans etc. on the true nature of Judaism?
How did the destruction of the Temple influence Josephus’ writing?
Josephus writes in the acknowledgement of the transience of the Temple - insight into the mentality of Judaism and the fluctuation of their religious identity and centre
