Tacitus' Annals

Catalog description

In this seminar we will read Tacitus' Annals, a work replete with stirring history presented in a style that eschews complacency. Through careful study of this work and selected passages of its predecessor, the Histories, we will develop a richly detailed understanding of Tacitus' historiographical method, principles, and practice. Consideration of surviving epigraphic parallels will allow us to see a particularly important element of his historiographical practice, namely, his awareness of but deviation from the official record of events. Each class session will involve close reading of the text and student-led discussion of important features of Tacitus work. As a group project we will produce a variorum edition of the Annals for on-line publication. Final projects will take the form of papers suitable for presentation at the SCS Annual Meeting.