Titus LiviusTitus Livius

ab urbe conditaab urbe condita

continuedcontinued

Titus Livius (Livy) Titus Livius (Livy) and Early Roman Historyand Early Roman History

The historian Livy ( 59 B.C. – A.D. 17) The historian Livy ( 59 B.C. – A.D. 17) Work: Work: ab urbe condita ( from the founding of Rome) ab urbe condita ( from the founding of Rome)

an enormous history of Rome from its foundation to an enormous history of Rome from its foundation to his own time, contains many traditional stories about his own time, contains many traditional stories about early Roman history that are not historical factsearly Roman history that are not historical facts

Stories reflect traditional Roman ideals and values, Stories reflect traditional Roman ideals and values, not necessarily those of the early Romans, but not necessarily those of the early Romans, but rather of later periods and of Livy’s own period. rather of later periods and of Livy’s own period.

Important: history reflects Roman vision of the pastImportant: history reflects Roman vision of the past Stories provide many Stories provide many exemplaexempla (examples) of (examples) of

exemplary Roman men and women who act exemplary Roman men and women who act according to Roman values, and examples of those according to Roman values, and examples of those who do not. who do not.

Livy’s prologueLivy’s prologue

““Events before the city was founded or planned, Events before the city was founded or planned, which have been handed down more as pleasing which have been handed down more as pleasing poetic fictions than as reliable records of historical poetic fictions than as reliable records of historical events, I intend neither to affirm nor to refute. To events, I intend neither to affirm nor to refute. To antiquity we grant the indulgence of making the antiquity we grant the indulgence of making the origins of cities more impressive by commingling the origins of cities more impressive by commingling the human with the divine, and if any people should be human with the divine, and if any people should be permitted to sanctify its inception and reckon the permitted to sanctify its inception and reckon the gods as its founders, surely the glory of the Roman gods as its founders, surely the glory of the Roman people in war such that, when it boasts Mars in people in war such that, when it boasts Mars in particular as its parent and the parent of its founder, particular as its parent and the parent of its founder, the nations of the world would as easily acquiesce in the nations of the world would as easily acquiesce in this claim as they do in our rule.” this claim as they do in our rule.”

Themes in Livy’s HistoryThemes in Livy’s History

Nationalism Nationalism The Roman characterThe Roman characterRoman values; values associated Roman values; values associated

with Roman institutionswith Roman institutions

Transition from Old Rome to present Transition from Old Rome to present New Rome New Rome

Nationalism:Nationalism:Rome was on a missionRome was on a mission

Driven forward by Driven forward by will and character will and character of Roman people, of Roman people, by the will of the by the will of the gods:gods:

Preface: Preface: “ “The subjects to which I would ask The subjects to which I would ask

my reader to devote his earnest my reader to devote his earnest attention are these: the life and attention are these: the life and morals of the community; the men morals of the community; the men and the qualities by which through and the qualities by which through domestic policy and foreign dominion domestic policy and foreign dominion was won and extended.”was won and extended.”

From the Old Rome to the New From the Old Rome to the New RomeRome

Preface:Preface:““Then as the standard of morality Then as the standard of morality

gradually lowers, let him follow the gradually lowers, let him follow the decay of the national character, decay of the national character, observing how at first it slowly sinks, observing how at first it slowly sinks, then slips downward more and more then slips downward more and more rapidly, and finally begins to plunge into rapidly, and finally begins to plunge into headlong ruin, until he reaches these headlong ruin, until he reaches these days, in which we can bear neither our days, in which we can bear neither our disease nor their remedies.”disease nor their remedies.”

Rome’s destiny to rule the worldRome’s destiny to rule the worldBook 5.48; 49Book 5.48; 49

““A conference took place between Q. A conference took place between Q. Sulpicius, the consular tribune, and Sulpicius, the consular tribune, and Brennus, the Gallic chieftain, and an Brennus, the Gallic chieftain, and an agreement was arrived at by which 1,000 agreement was arrived at by which 1,000 lbs. of gold was fixed as the ransom of a lbs. of gold was fixed as the ransom of a people destined ere long to rule the people destined ere long to rule the world.”world.”

““But gods and men alike prevented the But gods and men alike prevented the Romans from living as a ransomed Romans from living as a ransomed people.”people.”

Vergil’s AeneidVergil’s Aeneidbook 6.795-800book 6.795-800

““Now turn your eyes this way to see this Now turn your eyes this way to see this race and your Romans. Here Caesar and all race and your Romans. Here Caesar and all of the clan of Iulus will come to the great of the clan of Iulus will come to the great vault of heaven. This man, this he whom vault of heaven. This man, this he whom again and again you have heard in the again and again you have heard in the promise of prophecy, Caesar Augustus, son promise of prophecy, Caesar Augustus, son of a god. He shall found once again an era of a god. He shall found once again an era of gold in the land of Latium, throughout of gold in the land of Latium, throughout the fields that Saturn once ruled. He shall the fields that Saturn once ruled. He shall carry his power beyond Garamantes and carry his power beyond Garamantes and Indians….”Indians….”

Vergil’s AeneidVergil’s AeneidBook 6. 860-862Book 6. 860-862

““You, Roman, remember to govern You, Roman, remember to govern the peoples with power (these arts the peoples with power (these arts shall be yours), to establish the shall be yours), to establish the practice of peace, spare the practice of peace, spare the conquered, and beat down th conquered, and beat down th haughty.”haughty.”

The Roman Character in LivyThe Roman Character in Livy

Has courage, self-Has courage, self-restraint, discipline, restraint, discipline, resilience, frugality, resilience, frugality, pietas pietas (for the gods, (for the gods, for the for the paterpater, , magistrate, law) magistrate, law)

Respect forRespect for mos mos maiorum maiorum traditions traditions of the ancestorsof the ancestors

pietaspietas for the gods and for the gods and mos mos maiorummaiorum

Book 5. 46 (Gallic Invasion 390 BCE)Book 5. 46 (Gallic Invasion 390 BCE) ““The Fabian house had an annual sacrifice The Fabian house had an annual sacrifice

on the Quirinal, and C. Fabius Dorsuo, on the Quirinal, and C. Fabius Dorsuo, wearing his toga…and bearing in his wearing his toga…and bearing in his hands the sacred vessels, came down hands the sacred vessels, came down from the Capitol, passed through the from the Capitol, passed through the middle of the hostile pickets, unmoved by middle of the hostile pickets, unmoved by either challenge or threat, and reached either challenge or threat, and reached the Quirinal. There he duly performed all the Quirinal. There he duly performed all the solemn rites and returned with the the solemn rites and returned with the same composed expression and gait, same composed expression and gait, feeling sure of the divine blessing, since feeling sure of the divine blessing, since not even the fear of death had made him not even the fear of death had made him neglect the worship of the gods.”neglect the worship of the gods.”

Aeneas’ symbol of Aeneas’ symbol of pietas pietas

The role of religion in LivyThe role of religion in LivyBook 1.19Book 1.19

““[Numa} realized that a people whose aggression [Numa} realized that a people whose aggression had formerly been checked by fear of their had formerly been checked by fear of their enemies and by military discipline might become enemies and by military discipline might become fractious in their new-found idleness. He therefore fractious in their new-found idleness. He therefore first aimed to instill in them fear of the gods, an first aimed to instill in them fear of the gods, an invaluable constraint in the case of an untutored invaluable constraint in the case of an untutored multitude, which in those days was rather multitude, which in those days was rather primitive. ..because he could not win them over primitive. ..because he could not win them over without some miraculous fiction, he pretended without some miraculous fiction, he pretended that he met by night with the goddess Egeria: it that he met by night with the goddess Egeria: it was at her prompting, he claimed, that he was was at her prompting, he claimed, that he was instituting religious rites that would please the instituting religious rites that would please the gods most and was assigning a special priest to gods most and was assigning a special priest to each of them…”each of them…”

Livy as a source forLivy as a source for

Political history – Political history – Religious history Religious history Social historySocial history

Livy as a source for social Livy as a source for social historyhistory

Consequences of War, Book 32.7Consequences of War, Book 32.7

“ “ Matrons were wandering about the Matrons were wandering about the streets and asking those they met streets and asking those they met what recent disaster had been what recent disaster had been reported or what news was there of reported or what news was there of the army……The next day and several the army……The next day and several days afterwards, a large crowd, days afterwards, a large crowd, containing more women than men containing more women than men stood at the gates waiting for some stood at the gates waiting for some one of their friends or for news…”one of their friends or for news…”

Settlement of veteransSettlement of veteransBook 31.4Book 31.4

“…“….the question was brought up as .the question was brought up as to the holdings which were to be to the holdings which were to be assigned to the veteran soldiers who assigned to the veteran soldiers who had served with Scipio in Africa. had served with Scipio in Africa. ….appoint ten commissioners for the ….appoint ten commissioners for the purpose of measuring and allotting purpose of measuring and allotting that portion of the Samnite and that portion of the Samnite and Apulian territory which had become Apulian territory which had become State domain.”State domain.”

corn (grain) distributioncorn (grain) distributionBook 31.4Book 31.4

““They also distributed to the people They also distributed to the people with strict impartiality and to the with strict impartiality and to the general satisfaction a vast quantity general satisfaction a vast quantity of corn which Scipio had sent from of corn which Scipio had sent from Africa. It was sold at four asses the Africa. It was sold at four asses the modius.”modius.”

On slaves in wartimeOn slaves in wartimebook 34.6book 34.6

““Our allies had fallen away from us, we Our allies had fallen away from us, we had no reserves from which to make had no reserves from which to make good our losses, no seamen to render good our losses, no seamen to render our navy effective, and no money in the our navy effective, and no money in the treasury. We ad to arm the slaves and treasury. We ad to arm the slaves and they were bought from their owners on they were bought from their owners on condition that the purchase money condition that the purchase money should be paid at the end of the war. … should be paid at the end of the war. … We gave up our slaves to act as rowers We gave up our slaves to act as rowers ….”….”

slaves can starveslaves can starveBook 2. 34Book 2. 34

“…“…In this year….the commonwealth was In this year….the commonwealth was attacked by another much more serious attacked by another much more serious evile: first, dearness of food, owing to the evile: first, dearness of food, owing to the fields remaining uncultivated during the fields remaining uncultivated during the secession, and following on this a famine secession, and following on this a famine such as visits a besieged city. It would have such as visits a besieged city. It would have led to the perishing of the slaves in any case, led to the perishing of the slaves in any case, and probably the plebeians would have died, and probably the plebeians would have died, had not the consuls provided for the had not the consuls provided for the emergency for sending men in various emergency for sending men in various directions to buy corn (grain)…”directions to buy corn (grain)…”

Women and the Oppian LawWomen and the Oppian LawBook 34.1Book 34.1

“ “ M. Fundanius and L. Valerius, had brought M. Fundanius and L. Valerius, had brought in a proposal to repeal the Oppian Law. in a proposal to repeal the Oppian Law. This law had been made on the motion of This law had been made on the motion of M. Oppius, a tribune of the plebs, during M. Oppius, a tribune of the plebs, during the consulship of Q. Fabius and Tiberius the consulship of Q. Fabius and Tiberius Sempronius, when the strain of the Punic Sempronius, when the strain of the Punic War was most severely felt. It forbade any War was most severely felt. It forbade any woman to have in her possession more woman to have in her possession more than half an ounce of gold, to wear a dress than half an ounce of gold, to wear a dress of various colors or to ride in a two-horsed of various colors or to ride in a two-horsed vehicle within a mile of the City or of any vehicle within a mile of the City or of any Roman town unless she was going to take Roman town unless she was going to take part in some religious function.”part in some religious function.”

Debate on Repeal of Oppian LawDebate on Repeal of Oppian LawBook 34.2-7Book 34.2-7

Speech by Marcus Porcius Cato on Speech by Marcus Porcius Cato on behalf of the law: 2-4 – conservative behalf of the law: 2-4 – conservative patriarchal view of women and their patriarchal view of women and their dutiesduties

Speech by L. Valerius in favour of the Speech by L. Valerius in favour of the repeal: 5-7: - lists the repeal: 5-7: - lists the accomplishments of women in times accomplishments of women in times of crises.of crises.

Livy and Polybius on Rome’s Livy and Polybius on Rome’s successsuccess

Livy:Livy: Rome’s rise to greatness was due to Rome’s rise to greatness was due to the Roman character traits (the Roman character traits (virtutesvirtutes))

PolybiusPolybius: Rome’s rise to dominance was : Rome’s rise to dominance was due to its political constitution.due to its political constitution.

LivyLivy - transition from old Rome to new - transition from old Rome to new Rome; shows moral decay of individuals but Rome; shows moral decay of individuals but Rome remains a stable state and not merely Rome remains a stable state and not merely a stage in a continuing process of decay a stage in a continuing process of decay (Like Sallust)(Like Sallust)

PolybiusPolybius - saw historical process as cyclical - saw historical process as cyclical