History after Liberty

Tacitus on Tyrants, Sycophants, and Republicans

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, Ancient & Classical, Nonfiction, History, Ancient History, Rome
Cover of the book History after Liberty by Thomas Strunk, University of Michigan Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Thomas Strunk ISBN: 9780472122479
Publisher: University of Michigan Press Publication: November 21, 2016
Imprint: University of Michigan Press Language: English
Author: Thomas Strunk
ISBN: 9780472122479
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Publication: November 21, 2016
Imprint: University of Michigan Press
Language: English

Roman historian Tacitus wrote a damning critique of the first century CE Roman empire. The emperors in Tacitus’ works are almost universally tyrants surrounded by flatterers and informants, and the image Tacitus creates is of a society that has lost the liberty enjoyed under the Roman Republic. Yet Tacitus also poignantly depicts those who resist this tyranny and seek to restore a sense of liberty to Rome. In his portrayal of autocrats, sycophants, and republicans Tacitus provides an enduring testament to the value of liberty and the evils of despotism.
 
History after Liberty explores Tacitus’ political thought through his understanding of liberty. Influenced by modern republican writers such as Quentin Skinner and Philip Pettit, this study defines Tacitean libertas as the freedom from the rule of a dominus and as freedom to participate in the traditional politics of Rome through military service, public service in the senate and magistracies, and public speech. All of these elements are balanced in Tacitus’ writings with examples of those resisting the corruption of politics in an effort to restore a sense of free civic engagement. The work concludes with an exploration of Tacitus’ own writings as an act of restoring liberty. In contrast to most studies on Tacitus, History after Liberty argues that Tacitus is a republican who writes both to demonstrate that Rome had become a tyranny and to show a way out of that tyranny.
 
History after Liberty addresses the political thought of Tacitus’ writings. As such it will be of most interest to those who study the history and historiography of the early Roman empire, namely classicists and ancient historians. The work will also be of use to those interested in the antecedents to modern political thought, particularly the history of republicanism and freedom; readers from this category will include political scientists, philosophers, and modern historians.
 

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Roman historian Tacitus wrote a damning critique of the first century CE Roman empire. The emperors in Tacitus’ works are almost universally tyrants surrounded by flatterers and informants, and the image Tacitus creates is of a society that has lost the liberty enjoyed under the Roman Republic. Yet Tacitus also poignantly depicts those who resist this tyranny and seek to restore a sense of liberty to Rome. In his portrayal of autocrats, sycophants, and republicans Tacitus provides an enduring testament to the value of liberty and the evils of despotism.
 
History after Liberty explores Tacitus’ political thought through his understanding of liberty. Influenced by modern republican writers such as Quentin Skinner and Philip Pettit, this study defines Tacitean libertas as the freedom from the rule of a dominus and as freedom to participate in the traditional politics of Rome through military service, public service in the senate and magistracies, and public speech. All of these elements are balanced in Tacitus’ writings with examples of those resisting the corruption of politics in an effort to restore a sense of free civic engagement. The work concludes with an exploration of Tacitus’ own writings as an act of restoring liberty. In contrast to most studies on Tacitus, History after Liberty argues that Tacitus is a republican who writes both to demonstrate that Rome had become a tyranny and to show a way out of that tyranny.
 
History after Liberty addresses the political thought of Tacitus’ writings. As such it will be of most interest to those who study the history and historiography of the early Roman empire, namely classicists and ancient historians. The work will also be of use to those interested in the antecedents to modern political thought, particularly the history of republicanism and freedom; readers from this category will include political scientists, philosophers, and modern historians.
 

More books from University of Michigan Press

Cover of the book Nimrod by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book The Political Consequences of Motherhood by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book Teaching U.S.-Educated Multilingual Writers by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book Trust and Hedging in International Relations by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book Defensive Internationalism by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings in the U.S. Senate by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book A Mouth Sweeter Than Salt by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book Justice and Injustice in Law and Legal Theory by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book The Black Musician and the White City by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book Networks of Champions by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book Is Rational Choice Theory All of Social Science? by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book When Ethnicity Did Not Matter in the Balkans by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book Jane Cooper by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book Africa in Translation by Thomas Strunk
Cover of the book Institutions and Economic Theory by Thomas Strunk
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy