Most of the historical works written by the Romans disappeared long ago. But while other books were lost, Tacitus' works survived--though, sometimes, just barely. Can you guess why this might later figures thought the works of Tacitus worth preserving? Please read the first few paragraphs of Tacitus' Histories, and see if you can find a line or two that explains the appeal of Tacitus and his approach to history.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Selections from Tacitus' Histories (Extra Credit)
Most of the historical works written by the Romans disappeared long ago. But while other books were lost, Tacitus' works survived--though, sometimes, just barely. Can you guess why this might later figures thought the works of Tacitus worth preserving? Please read the first few paragraphs of Tacitus' Histories, and see if you can find a line or two that explains the appeal of Tacitus and his approach to history.
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Perhaps it is just me or my internet connection, but the link does not seem to be working properly. Did anyone else get this result also?
ReplyDeleteThe link came up bad for me also, I googled and came up with this - not sure if it's the one we're supposed to be reading, but it's a start.
ReplyDeletehttp://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/t/tacitus/t1a/
Oops, maybe not... lol That link was for "the annals". The one below is for "histories"...
ReplyDeletehttp://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/t/tacitus/t1h/
http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/t/tacitus/t1h/
ReplyDelete^^^^ this link works
"These and like thoughts made him waver between hope and fear; but hope triumphed. Some supposed that he retraced his steps for love of Queen Berenice, nor was his young heart averse to her charms, but this affection occasioned no hindrance to action."
I think that Tacitus' work was appealing because he had so much detail in what was going on. Tacitus would tell you how the people felt in great detail. He didn't talk broadly about events that happened, he also talked about kind of gossip or what many people though during that time. It makes it more interesting and more real because you understand that people back then were not as different as you would think from the people of today as far as how they were.
"But while we instinctively shrink from a writer’s adulation, we lend a ready ear to detraction and spite, because flattery involves the shameful imputation of servility, whereas malignity wears the false appearance of honesty. I myself knew nothing of Galba, of Otho, or of Vitellius, either from benefits or from injuries. I would not deny that my elevation was begun by Vespasian, augmented by Titus, and still further advanced by Domitian; but those who profess inviolable truthfulness must speak of all without partiality and without hatred. I have reserved as an employment for my old age, should my life be long enough, a subject at once more fruitful and less anxious in the reign of the Divine Nerva and the empire of Trajan, enjoying the rare happiness of times, when we may think what we please, and express what we think."
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that leaders and historians of any age would appreciate Tacitus' honesty in his work. A record with as little bias as possible would give a better portrayal of history than ones full of "adulation, detraction and spite," which is why Histories survived to our times.
"Yet the age was not so barren in noble qualities, as not also to exhibit examples of virtue. Mothers accompanied the flight of their sons; wives followed their husbands into exile... Never surely did more terrible calamities of the Roman People, or evidence more conclusive, prove that the Gods take no thought for our happiness, but only for our punishment."
ReplyDeleteThis statement may say a couple different things. When I read it, I got the feeling that the worst of times brought out the best in people. This would be very appealing to someone who lived around this time period who may have experienced wars, ect.. It would be a relief to read about people being good people when everything else is falling apart.
Jon Hepola
"Yet the age was not so barren in noble qualities, as not also to exhibit examples of virtue. Mothers accompanied the flight of their sons; wives followed their husbands into exile; there were brave kinsmen and faithful sons in law; there were slaves whose fidelity defied even torture; there were illustrious men driven to the last necessity, and enduring it with fortitude; there were closing scenes that equalled the famous deaths of antiquity. Besides the manifold vicissitudes of human affairs, there were prodigies in heaven and earth, the warning voices of the thunder, and other intimations of the future, auspicious or gloomy, doubtful or not to be mistaken. Never surely did more terrible calamities of the Roman People, or evidence more conclusive, prove that the Gods take no thought for our happiness, but only for our punishment." I think people like his accounts and approaches of history because they are interesting to read and there is a sense of honesty in his writing and I think people really enjoy that.
ReplyDeleteRuth Wilson
ReplyDelete"I myself knew nothing of Galba, of Otho, or of Vitellius, either from benefits or from injuries."
Along with the rest of the sorrounding paragraph, which is in the first entry, I believe this is one of the main reasons people would preserve Tacticus. He shows very little bias! One cannot reasonably expect someone with an overwhelming bias to present the whole truth. Most of the best essays I've ever read where where I was unable to tell what side the author was on. The amount of detail is staggering. His narrative is wonderfully alive. This is more like story telling, less like the dry historians of later years who insist that histry is all about dates and events, not people and stories of power.
"history of a period rich in disasters, frightful in its wars, torn by civil strife, and even in peace full of horrors. Four emperors perished by the sword. There were three civil wars; there were more with foreign enemies; there were often wars that had both characters at once."
ReplyDeleteObras work was saved because of how the people had to go through 4 different types of emperors in a short amount of time, and how all died from the sword because the other wanted the power and causing people to join sides and fight which were the civil wars and since foriegn force thought Rome was weak because of the civil wars they felt it was a goodtime to attack, which had the roman emperors fight both foreign wars and civil wars at the same time.
"Then too the truthfulness of history was impaired in many ways; at first, through men’s ignorance of public affairs, which were now wholly strange to them, then, through their passion for flattery, or, on the other hand, their hatred of their masters."
ReplyDeleteHe lets us all know that history is simply the recollection of someone elses thoughts or perspectives. Someone can have a negative view about a certain event while someone else could have a positive view for it. The older the history is, the more likely the details are going to be taken from different sources and pieced together to make a story. He just wants up to know that he's going to do his best to tell a story and not make history.
"I think it proper, however, before I commence my purposed work, to pass under review the ... elements of weakness and strength which existed throughout the whole empire, that so we may become acquainted ... with their relations and their causes."
ReplyDeleteI think this would be make Tacitus' works important for later historians. He says here that he will detail the condition of Rome, both the good parts and bad. Knowing this sort of background makes the following events easier to understand.
Also, he claims he will focus on the big picture, not just give a detailed list of events, which he claims "are often matters of chance." Knowing how events relate, and their causes and effects, is the real purpose of history. Knowing that something occurred does us little good, but knowing why and how allows us to truly understand it, so, presumably, later generations can imitate or avoid such actions.
"Yet the age was not so barren in noble qualities, as not also to exhibit examples of virtue."
ReplyDeletefor me this quote says that even though there were many memorable qoutes during this time there were also many example of virtue that didnt live up to those quotes, so it seems that Tacitus was going to show both the great qoutes of the time and also the bad virtues taht happened