Rome Unit Exam

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Recommended: Notion of virtue

As Livy states in his Early Histories of Rome piece, “I do honestly believe that no country has ever been greater or purer than ours or richer in good citizens and noble deeds; none has been free for so many generations from the vices of avarice and luxury; nowhere have thrift and plain living been for so long held in such esteem” (Atchity 139). Rome was founded to create a new community and start over after the fall of Troy. As seen in The Aeneid, Aeneas and his men display virtues of selflessness; completing their actions for the good of the people around them and establishing a new home where they can be free and live in unison. Even when stricken with love, Aeneas is reminded from Jupiter “you owe him Italy’s realm, the land of Rome!” (Virgil 137). Without hesitation, the leader, Aeneas, who fell in love leaves to discover the idea of “Rome” because he did not act out of self-interest and knew that this was the right thing to do. It was virtues such as these, led by early Romans like Aeneas that defined The Republic, made up of citizens acting to enhance Rome, that led to the great successes of Rome and added on to the greatness of their empire. Tacitus’ writings Agricola and Germania begin to display Rome’s corruption and how the virtues found in The Republic are disappearing. Tacitus recognizes Agricola for his superior leadership and displays the virtues that Rome lacked under the poor leadership of the Emperor Domitician. Agricola served Rome and did not go to war for the fame and money. Since the time of The Republic, Rome has lost their sense of great leadership and has become corrupted because the leaders of Rome conduct their actions to heighten themselves. In fact, Domitician, “The emperor had a haunting fear of being outshone by a subject. He had silenced the learned professions, and had forbidden honour to be won in civil life” (Tacitus 45). Tacitus

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