Tacitus' Annals

by Ronald Mellor

Tacitus' Annals is the central historical source for first-century C.E. Rome. It is prized by historians since it provides the best narrative material for the reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero, as well as a probing analysis of the imperial system of government. But the Annals should be seen as far more than an historical source, a mere mine for the reconstruction of the facts of Roman history. While the Annals is a superb work of history, it has also become a central text in the western literary, political, and even philosophical traditions - from the Renaissance to the French and American revolutions, and beyond. This volume attempts to enhance the reader's understanding of how this book of history could have such a profound effect.

Chapters will address the purpose, form, and method of Roman historical writing, the ethnic biases of Tacitus, and his use of sources. Since Tacitus has been regarded as one of the first analysts of the psychopathology of political life, the book will examine the emperors, the women of the court, and the ambitious entourage of freedmen and intellectuals who surround every Roman ruler. The final chapter will examine the impact of Tacitus' Annals since their rediscovery by Boccaccio in the 14th century.

Genres: History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published October 21, 2010

Reviews

[Erich]

This history of the Roman empire from 14 to 68 AD covers the rule of Tiberius, Caligula (mostly lost to history), Claudius, and Nero. Stories of treachery, brutality, lust for power, and autocratic rule take up many pages.

When reading through these stories you may ask yourself, why read something so brutal and depressing ? Why not skim the cliff notes of this time to get a general sense of this period. Tactius responds:

"Even if I had to relate foreign wars and deaths encountered in the service of the State with such a monotony of disaster, I should myself have been overcome by disgust, while I should look for weariness in my readers, sickened as they would be by the melancholy and continuous destruction of our citizens, however glorious to themselves. But now a servile submissiveness and so much wanton bloodshed at home fatigue the mind and paralyze it with grief. The only indulgence I would ask from those who will acquaint themselves with these horrors is that I be not thought to hate men who perished so tamely. Such was the wrath of heaven against the Roman State that one may not pass over it with a single mention, as one might the defeat of armies and the capture of cities. Let us grant this privilege to the posterity of illustrious men, that just as in their funeral obsequies such men are not confounded in a common burial, so in the record of their end they may receive and retain a special memorial. "

These memorials for great personages like Germanicus, Seneca ,Thrasea Paetus , and many others evoked various emotions that led lead to reflection that would not have happened without their stories stirring your soul.

Sadness for the people and his family when you learn of Germanicus' fate. Later, feelings of disgust and hatred for Nero and his wicked deeds. Overall this is a special book from antiquity.

[Sophia]

on the whole -- Tacitus was pretty accurate, insofar as we can tell. all historians are writing a political history. for sources: word of mouth chatting with people, imperial proclamations. Tacitus was able to cut through some of the noise

themes: loss of freedom under imperial rome (augustus marks the beginning of this)

my takeaway: loss of family freedom (if leges iuliae and lex papia poppaea can be called that) part of a broader schema of the times.

[Duane]

What can I say about a classic like this... it has to have been "Reviewed" more
than 90% of what else is listed on this site, and by people with far more
expertise than myself on the subject of Roman civilization.

But one thing does occur to me... for me, this book was *terrifying*. I see a lot of boringly vapid threads on this site with people asking what is the "scariest" book anyone ever read, and the answers invariably comprise the likes of Stephen King and others of no consequence whatsoever (at least from a literary or historical standpoint, and arguably from any standpoint at all other than profitability to their publishers). None of that stuff "Scares" me, but THIS really did. Tacitus depicts perfectly the horror of living in a society where the rule of one man is absolute, everyone is essentially the property of the State, and everyone within society lives from day to day at the sufferance and arbitrary whim of a capricious, cruel, corrupt, and even in some cases insane absolute Ruler, expecting at any moment to be ordered to end their own lives by "severing their veins" (even the phrase itself makes me cringe).

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good thing that the sections on Caligula are no longer extant because the sections on Nero have enough crazy to go around for everyone. Also, I shudder every time I read the phrase "opened his/her veins," which occurs a lot in this work. Great source on Tiberius, who is the focus of Books 1-6.

[Twila · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to fall asleep, read Tacitus. He's not as colourful and he does not include as much hearsay as Suetonius - which is good - but that doesn't mean he doesn't editorialise. He's quite the lengthy writer, but still helpful.