Tacitus' Histories
Publius Cornelius Tacitus
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The Histories was written between 110 and 100 B.C. It covered the Year of Four Emperors following the downfall of Nero, the rise of Vespasian, and the rule of the Flavian Dynasty up to the death of Domitian.
Only the first four books and 26 chapters of the fifth book have survived, covering the year 69 and the first part of 70. The work is believed to have continued up to the death of Domitian on September 18, 96. As a prelude to the account of Titus's suppression of the Great Jewish Revolt, Book 5 features a short ethnographic survey of the ancient Jews as seen from the Roman point of view. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia.) (11 hr 2 min)
Chapters
Reviews
A LibriVox Listener
This is prime ancient history, presented the ancient way. The moralizing and fictive speeches are typical--and they show us much about Roman culture even as they make us doubt the details presented. This is not, despite what the other comment claims, focused solely on battles. Politics and intrigue are central, and there are many character sketches.
great knowledge of the period covered
Chuck
Empire in Turmoil
Sean O'Shannessy
The tumultuous Year of the Four Emperors (68-69AD) could have easily been the year that the Roman Empire collapsed, but more by luck than good management, the cluster of civil wars and rebellions didn't fragment their domination of the Mediteranean and Southern Europe but instead consolidated the Pax Romana from Britain to Egypt. Tacitus gives us a relatively contemporaneous account of the personalities, politics, and culture of that chaotic time, which resonates so strongly with our own. Rivetting insights, beautifully read.