Germania: Tacitus’ Perceptions of Pax Romana Rome Essay -- Roman Histo

Germania Tacitus Perceptions of Pax papista Rome firearm the early second century is usually considered to be the height of the Roman pudding stone, closer examinations reveal a deteriorating state hiding behind a faade of power and wealth. As modern day historian C. warren Hollister described, life in Romes golden age could be pleasant enough if one were male, adult, very wealthy, and naturally immune to assorted epidemic diseases. But if this was humanitys happiest time, God help us all (14). Living during this time period, Cornelius Tacitus perceived of the rust slowly go through through Romes golden shine. He writes, the destinies of the Empire befuddle passed their zenith, predicting the end of an era 300 years before it occurred (33). He makes this endpoint based on observations of a deterioration of loyalty to the Empire imputable to weakened patriotism and societal values. His criticisms on the flaws of the Empire are interlinking into the text of his Germa nia, some being obvious while others are more than discreet. Written in 98 AD, Germania is a description of barbarian lifestyle and culture that Tacitus compiled from different accounts and bugs. What makes it a somewhat unreliable historical source is that Tacitus interjects the text with his own opinions about the Empire. For example, Tacitus cynicism with the supposed power and strength of the Empire is revealed through his descriptions of the strength of the Germans. In this time period, the Empire represented the deification of strength in a society, but Tacitus immediately brings attention to the daring and unity of the Germans in their barbaric wasteland. While the Romans enjoyed a temperate Mediterranean climate, the Germans lived in a place where t... ...able and foresees the fall of the Western Empire trinity centuries years later. He even says that the Empire was still standing because the Germans were withal busy fighting each other, and that Fortune can guarantee us nothing better than discord among our foes (33). Tacitus insight on the weaknesses of the Empire during its supposed golden age should press modern readers to re-evaluate preconceptions of the Pax Romana. Although Germania may key fruit a biased picture of the Germans living at the time period, Tactius run is valuable because of the interesting perceptions it conveys. Works CitedHollister, C. Warren. Medieval Europe A unmindful History. 8th ed. Boston McGraw Hill, 1998.Tacitus. Dialogus, Agricola, Germania. Trans. Maurice Hutton. London Heineman, 1914. IN Readings in Medieval History. 2nd ed. Ed. Patrick J. Geary. Toronto Broadview, 1997.