History and Historians: Examining Historical Perspectives in Rome

This assignment delves into the historical writings of Livy and Tacitus, exploring their perspectives on Roman history. The analysis begins with Livy's account, examining his purposes, sources, and portrayal of Roman values, including the origins of Rome with Aeneas and the legends surrounding Romulus and Remus. The assignment then transitions to Tacitus, analyzing his impartiality, style, and vision of society, especially his views on the political situation post-Actium and the importance of societal values. Key topics include Livy's handling of legends, the Horatii and Curiatii battle, and Hannibal's crossing of the Alps. The assignment explores Tacitus's claims about studying history, his perspective on society, and his approach to causality, providing a comprehensive overview of their contributions to historical understanding.

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History and Historians
Name
Institution

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Book 1(Preface)
What seems to be the place of history at the time that Livy is writing his History of Rom?
The place of history was Rome. In his writing, Livy covered the history of the city of Rome and
the Romans from the time of the earliest Roman legends to his lifetime. His first five books got
published around 27 BC and 275 BC. Livy continued with the publication of history in different
books.
What are Livy's purposes in writing his history?
Since Livy’s writing was under the reign of Augustus, the history of Livy stressed the victory of
Rome. The history of Livy stresses on the great victory of Rome. Livy wrote his history with the
purpose of promoting the new government of Emperor Augustus.
What are Livy's sources for the earliest times of the history of Rome and what is his
reaction to these sources?
Livy relied on the materials on earlier writers of the 1st and 2nd centuries B.C. There is no
evidence that Livy consulted any evidence from documentaries. Livy made shrewd sources that
inspired his writing since he often picked Polybios, the Greek historian as to his major guide of
the Eastern wars and sometimes his sources were not reliable since he had few sources (Mineo,
126). The use of these sources was often not critical and the choices were hardly determined by
reason or logic.
What is the value of the past for the present according to Livy?
According to Livy, the value of the past lie on the Roman character and the conditions which
made the Romans be great people with regards to virtues. Scholars have criticized some of these

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values arguing that they were exaggerated. He acknowledged the roman religion and ancient
rituals. He argued that Roman morality had declined because the Romans had neglected some
important institutions.
What notion of historical progression does Livy present?
Livy presents the progression of Roman morals.
Book 1 (Sections 1 to 8)
What is the origin of the Romans according to Livy? Recall the origin of the Aeneas and
the foundation of Rome.
According to Livy, Aeneas, Trojan Prince, a significant figure that connected the Trojans with
the Romans and goddess Venus is acknowledged as the founder of Rome. Aeneas who is the Son
of the Anchises and goddess Venus are said to have fled Troy City at the end of the Trojan War.
The following may adventure, Aeneas with his son Ascanius arrive at Laurentum, Italy.
How does Livy deal with legends? See, for instance, his discussion of the wolf saving
Romulus and Remus.
The legends survived dangers and came out of as heroes after many sufferings. For example, for
Romulus the case of Romulus and Remus, the twins survive many death sentences and are later
discovered and saved by the she-wolf. She-wolf suckled them as they got fed by a woodpecker.
Later, they are cared for by a shepherd and the wife.
Book 1 (Sections 1.22 to 1.26)
How does this battle between the Horatii and the Curiatti end?

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Two of the Horatii triplet twins were killed but the third managed to survive and slay all of his
pursuers. When the one that survived entered Rome victorious, the sister recognized a cloak that
she had given one of the Curiatti that she had loved. She mourned and when she was seen
mourning she was killed by the brother. The brother declared death on any Roman would who
would be seen mourning the enemy.
What does this tell us of early Roman Morals?
The story explains the origin of the legal practice in Rome which gave every condemned Roman
the right appeal to the populace. From the myth, it can be deduced that the Romans had a formal
and strict code of conduct which if defied would attract a heavy penalty. While the laws were not
always obeyed, breaking them would always result in heavy punishment.
Book 21 (section 21.32 to section 21.37)
How effective is Livy's description of Hannibal's crossing of the Alps?
Livy used an eye witness account to describe Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps written by one of
the companions of Hannibal who is known as the writer of the history of the Punic War in a
week. Whereas Polybius utilized the original text, Livy did not know it directly. The real source
he used is not clear but it is generally agreed that the author was careful.
Tacitus, The History
Book 1(Paragraph 1.1 to 1.8)
What impact did the political situation since Actium (about 30 B.C: see Cleopatra and
Antony) have on the writing of history and the writing of truth?

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From the Battle of Actium, the Roman Republic ended for good and the Roman Empire took
over. The influences of the Roman Empire were thereafter felt all over the world. The colossal
defeat of Antony made Cleopatra commit double suicide which provided a lot of movie fodder
more than two centuries later.
How does Tacitus establish his impartiality?
Tacitus claimed that he was objective given his comparative analysis of the other writers in
history whose works he labeled as falsified and written under hatred. In conflict, Tacitus
purposes to relate the different facts without partiality or bitterness. A good example of Tacitus'
partiality is demonstrated in the historical narrative when he negatively portrayed Tiberius.
What seems to have been the purpose of the first paragraph?
The first paragraph is designed to help the audience get some purchase on Tacitus' texts. The first
paragraph begins with certain basic facts to establish Tacitus as a great careerist within the
political system that rose to the position of the imperial government (Heller, 102). The first
paragraph is introductory and explains the biography and the point of view that the book will
assume.
How would you characterize Tacitus' style in the second paragraph? Justify.
The second paragraph sounds more like history rather than a biography. He describes the career
of Agricola explaining the incidents and events that would properly fall in the history of the
Roman Island conquest. The paragraph is perceived as a eulogy and the composition is perceived
as an act of the devotion of pious.
Is Tacitus claiming to be studying in writing his history?

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Yes. It is not strange that Tacitus is studying in his history. Occasionally, he overstepped the
boundaries that were put by the usage of the rhetoric and instead used certain materials for
dramatic effectiveness or intrinsic interests.
What is Tacitus claiming to be studying in writing his history?
Tacitus claims to be studying oratory skills
What is Tacitus' vision of society or from what social viewpoint is he writing?
Tacitus views society as strong, with periodic power in the Roman government, indicating that
there is a need for fresh talent to take over power. The attitude of the aristocrats towards political
freedom was to secure the continuity of dynastic leadership regardless of the qualifications. If
August was a warlord, he would establish a dynasty.
8. How does Tacitus deal with causality? What is the nature of the causes that Tacitus
identifies? In short, how does Tacitus explain the events and the course of history; what is
its motor?
Tacitus identifies the need for restraints of systematic institutions on the preservation of freedom
and liberty. He acknowledges the need for strong rulers even though he argues that a lot should
be done to help in managing the succession of power and give way for the ascension of talent.

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References
Heller, Wendy. "Tacitus Incognito: Opera as History in L’incoronazione di Poppea." In Studies
in Seventeenth-Century Opera, pp. 101-158. Routledge, 2017.
Mineo, Bernard. "Livy’s political and moral values and the Principate." A companion to
Livy (2015): 125-138.