Tacitus (56–120 CE) Flashcards
When was Tacitus born?
Around AD 56.
What were Tacitus’ two major historical works?
Annals and Histories.
Who was Tacitus’ father-in-law?
Gnaeus Julius Agricola, a prominent general in Roman Britain.
Which Roman emperors did Tacitus criticize in his works?
Tiberius, Nero, and Domitian.
Where did Tacitus likely grow up?
Southern Gaul or northern Italy.
What are Tacitus’ Germania and Agricola about?
Germania is an ethnographic account of Germanic tribes, and Agricola is a biography of his father-in-law focusing on his military exploits in Britain.
What is Tacitus best known for?
Being one of the greatest Roman historians and his critical accounts of the Roman Empire.
Which writing style is Tacitus famous for?
Brevitas – concise and dense prose.
How did Tacitus’ works influence future generations?
He influenced historiography, Enlightenment thinkers, and ideas about the corrupting influence of power.
What time period did Tacitus live through?
The height of the Roman Empire, from the reign of Nero to Trajan.
How did the political atmosphere of Rome influence Tacitus’ work?
The corruption, paranoia, and despotism of emperors shaped his critical view of autocratic rule.
What is one of Tacitus’ key contributions to historiography?
Combining literary skill with deep psychological insight and moral commentary on power.
How is Tacitus’ Germania ironic in its later usage?
It was later appropriated by nationalist movements in Germany, despite Tacitus using it as a critique of Rome.
How did Tacitus balance his political career with his critical writing?
He likely practiced self-censorship to avoid drawing dangerous attention to his critiques of Roman emperors.
Why is Tacitus’ work still considered relevant today?
His observations on the nature of power and tyranny remain relevant to discussions on politics and governance.
