GERMANIA by Tacitus As you read, consider the following questions: What did German men and women look like (actual physical appearance and dress)? Note the landscape Tacitus describes. What were the German s religious beliefs and how did they worship? What kinds of gifts were given at a Germanic wedding ceremony? According to Tacitus, how did this ceremony indicate the status of married women in Germanic society? How did Tacitus' moral outlook affect his writing? What aspects of Roman life come under implied criticism? How credible is Tacitus? (a. Do you find evidence that he was an eyewitness? b. Do you find incorrect statements of fact unacceptable use of statistics or opinions? c. Does Tacitus indicate his sources plainly? d. Does he clearly distinguish between evidence and inference?) Be sure to include information from the reading to prove your point.
Tacitus probably never visited Germany, but it is possible that he may have spent a short time there. His information about the Germans came from works of earlier writers, including Julius Caesar, and from reports of soldiers and merchants who had returned from the Roman frontier. Although he was a relatively careful reporter, Tacitus may have permitted events in Rome to influence his selection of material and the language he used. He lived through the reign of the cruel emperor Domitian and during these hard years he saw a number of his friends put to death on false charges of treason. He also witnessed the decline of moral standards in Rome. Thus he may have emphasized the freedom, democracy, and high moral standards of the German tribes in order to teach his fellow citizens a lesson by implication. In any event, Germania remains the best surviving description of the barbarians north of the Roman Empire.
Roman frontier through Gladiator Setting: It is 180 C.E. Now, in the approaching winter, a large Roman Army readies itself for battle. Its foes are the Germanic tribes described by the Roman historian Tacitus. The Emperor Marcus Aurelius is part of this long military campaign in Germania. It was always a concern that these tribes might drive a wedge through the heart of the European empire. As has been written, his goals were relatively clear: First and foremost, the enemy had to be driven out of Italy and then into their own territory beyond the Danube. He strove to isolate the tribes and then defeat them individually, so that the ultimate manpower superiority of the empire and its greater skill in warfare and logistics could more easily be brought to bear. It was a successful strategy, as one tribe after another suffered defeat and reestablished ties with Rome. Although Marcus would encourage his son Commodus to carry on he did not. It marked the beginning of the end. Rome would never hold the upper hand in its relationship with the Germanic tribes beyond the fringes of the empire. As you watch: Describe the setting of the first scene, What parts of the scene do you find most powerful? Why? What parts of the scene would you want more information about what parts would you question? Explain.
Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism This map depicts part of the landscape of the Roman Empire as it was in the late second to early third centuries C.E. Provinces, principal settlements and legionary bases are labeled. This map was prepared to accompany the book The Romans from Village to Empire by Mary T. Boatwright, Daniel Gargola and Richard J.A. Talbert, Oxford University Press, 2004, where it appears as Map 12.1. This map was compiled and produced by Rachel Barckhaus, Mary T. Boatwright, Tom Elliott, Daniel Gargola, Andrew Hull and Richard Talbert. 121 CE-180 CE
The Five Good Emperors Domitian (83-96 CE) - assassinated Nerva (96-98 CE) - adopted Trajan Trajan (98-117 CE) - adopted Hadrian Hadrian (117-138 CE) - adopted Antoninus Pius Antoninus Pius (138-161 CE) - adopted Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE) - father of Commodus Commodus (180-192 CE) - assassinated
Tendencies of the age of the Five Good Emperors Comparative peace and prosperity throughout the Empire Principle of co-option - adopting (not begetting) one s heir Government exists to serve the people - not vice versa Enormous governmental bureaucracy, nasty wars on the borders Rich get richer and more entrenched Poor are also taken care of somewhat through state social programs Stoicism in particular becomes a religious creed of sorts Christianity is on the rise; persecuted by Marcus Aurelius Vast popular belief in oracles, miracles, magic
Features of Marcus Aurelius s Meditations Thought to have been written while fighting on the Danube frontier Thought that it was not intended to be read by anyone but Marcus Aurelius himself NOT a handbook on Stoicism and NOT a guide to serving as Emperor First book is a tribute to important people in his life; the rest is random Public Affairs: very focused on service to universal citizenry Everything is Beautiful: mixed reverence and revulsion for Nature Dust in the Wind: human existence is transitory Read and appreciated from 4th century CE on
Public Affairs Each hour, be minded, valiantly as is fitting for a Roman and a man, to do what is in your power to do, with precise and unaffected dignity, natural love, freedom and justice; and so, to give yourself relief from every imagination. (Meditations 2.5) The working of the whole is like a torrent; it carries all in its stream. How cheap and petty are those little men caught up in their politics and what they think of as their philosophy. They ve got snot for brains. What s your task? Act as Nature asks you to act. Do what it s possible for you to do. Don t look around to see if anyone notices. Don t hope for Plato s Republic - be content if you make any progress at all. (Meditations 9.29)
Everything Is Beautiful And anyone with a feeling for nature - a deeper sensitivity - will find pleasure in everything. He ll look calmly at the distinct beauty of old age in men and women and at the loveliness in children. (Meditations 5.3)
Dust in the Wind In short, know this: human lives are brief and trivial. Yesterday a baby; tomorrow embalming fluid, ash. (Meditations 4.48) Asia and Europe? Distant recesses of the Universe. The ocean? A drop of water. Mount Athos? A molehill. The present? A split second in eternity. Miniscule, transitory, insignificant. (Meditations 6.36) The sheer rottenness of the matter that underlies all things! Water, dust, bones, stench. Marble? An encrustation of earth. Gold and silver? Sediments. Your clothes? The hair of animals. Purple dye? Blood. And so on: your breath is like that too and changes from one thing into another. (Meditations 9.36) Mortal man, you have been a citizen in this great city. Why is it hard if Nature, who brought you in, sends you out of the city? She is no tyrant or unjust judge. (Meditations 12.36)
You really can only be sure of three things: 1. Nothing stays the same. 2. Happiness is always temporary. 3. Death is the end of existence. Therefore: Do not waste your time pursuing self love and pleasure. Make yourself useful improve yourself. Do your duty honor obligations to others. Live honorably do what is right and necessary. Reject extremes. Learn to live with adversity and sorrow. Respect the natural workings of the universe. In the end, the success of your life depends upon what you do. Virtue is learning to accept what one cannot change.