The Annals of Tacitus: Book 3 (Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries) [Paperback]

Tacitus (Author), A. J. Woodman (Editor), R. H. Martin (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521609461 | ISBN-13: 978-0521609463 | Publication Date: August 26, 2004

The Annals of Tacitus, which chronicle the years AD 14-68, are arguably the greatest work of the greatest Roman historian. Book 3 of The Annals covers the years AD 20-22, a period including the trial of Calpurnius Piso for treason and the alleged murder of Germanicus. The editors are the first to compare a recently discovered record of this trial with Tacitus' narrative of the same events. Throughout the volume attention is paid to literary matters, and textual. linguistic and historical issues are treated fully.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This excellent addition to the Cambridge classical texts and commentaries continues F.R.D. Goodyear's commentary on books i and ii of the annals.

Language Notes

Text: English, Latin --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 536 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (August 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521609461
• ISBN-13: 978-0521609463
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,724,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Primary Source On the History Of Imperial Roman, December 15, 2007

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Michael A Neulander "Political Philosophy" (VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Annals of Tacitus: Book 3 (Cambridge Classical Texts and Commentaries) (Paperback)

I read this book for a graduate course in Roman history. It is an indispensable primary source for students of Roman history.

On the first page of his Annals of Imperial Rome, Tacitus wrote that Octavian "seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians." Tacitus' description of Augustus' transformation of Rome from a republic into an empire is most illuminating as well. "Upper-class survivors found that slavish obedience was the way to succeed, both politically and financially. They had profited from the revolution, and so now they liked the security of the existing arrangement better than the dangerous uncertainties of the old regime."

Sir Ronald Syme relied heavily on the work of Tacitus for his cogent narrative of Octavian's rise to power as Augustus. Syme's in-depth study of Tacitus' life and work was published in 1958. Tacitus' historical accuracy was doubted for centuries and Syme made a project of re-evaluating the accuracy of his historical writings. Syme believed that Tacitus was in a unique position to write about the birth and early political history of the Imperial period in Rome due to his very active political life. Tacitus had served as a senator, consul, and proconsul of Asia. In addition, he was known to be an excellent orator in his day. In his writings, Syme believed that Tacitus provided excellent accounts of Augustus' rise to power and his career as Rome's first Emperor.

Tacitus delved into the machinery of the new government, including Augustus' use of patronage as well as his many thwarted attempts at planning for his own succession. What Syme found was a man that grew very adept politically and whose political maturity rapidly developed at an early age. At eighteen, he was named as heir to Julius Caesar. He grew into the greatest Roman princeps spanning fifty-six years until his death. Augustus knew that to retain power he had to maintain the general consent of the governed. He astutely maintained order not by following the constitution or past precedent, but by using the tremendous resources at his disposal. Augustus kept the plebeians in check making sure they were fed, kept them amused with games, and constantly reminded them that he was protecting them from the oppression of the nobiles.

Augustus became the "leader of a large and well organized political party as the source and fount of patronage and advancement."

Recommended reading for those interested in Roman history, military history.