Abridgement of Roman History (eBook)

Eutropius (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2022
89 Seiten
DigiCat (Verlag)
859-654741937-2 (EAN)

Infos

Eutropius's "Abridgement of Roman History" serves as a concise yet comprehensive overview of Rome's vast historical tapestry, written in an accessible Latin style ideal for a broad audience. Comprising ten books, this work meticulously condenses the annals of Roman history from its legendary foundation to the reign of Emperor Jovian. Eutropius employs clear narrative techniques, blending elevation with simplicity, making complex events digestible for readers unfamiliar with ancient historiography. The work emerges against the backdrop of the late Roman Empire, reflecting a nostalgia for the empire's glorious past while grappling with the challenges of its contemporary decline. Eutropius, a fourth-century Roman historian and apparently a freedman, likely drew from a wealth of sources, including earlier historians like Livy and Tacitus. His background as a bureaucrat within the imperial court bestowed him a unique perspective on Rome's historical evolution. The need to educate a growing population about their heritage may have motivated Eutropius to produce this abridgment, aiming to instill a sense of identity and continuity amid turbulent times. Highly recommended for scholars and enthusiasts alike, "Abridgement of Roman History" invites readers to explore Rome's monumental legacy through Eutropius's lens. This book not only fills a crucial gap in the canon of Roman historiography but also serves as an introductory text for those seeking to understand the complexities of Roman identity and the historical forces that shaped an empire.

Autor

Eutropius was a Roman historian who flourished in the latter half of the 4th century AD during the reign of Emperor Valens, to whom Eutropius' most well-known work, the 'Breviarium ab urbe condita' (Abridgement of Roman History), is dedicated. While the exact details of his life are sparse, it is clear that Eutropius held a civic office as a secretary at some point, which would have granted him access to historical archives and thus the material necessary for his historical writings. His 'Breviarium' is a concise chronicle of Roman history from its mythic founding up to the year 364 AD and is notably one of the few sources that covers certain aspects of the late Roman Empire. Written in ten books, Eutropius' Breviarium was valued for its brevity and easy-to-understand Latin, which made it popular in educational settings throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. It was even translated into Greek during the Byzantine period, underscoring its widespread appeal. His style, characterized by concise narratives and avoidance of elaborate rhetoric, has been appreciated for its utility as a historical summary, even if it lacks the analytical depth of larger, more comprehensive histories. Scholars refer to Eutropius's work not only for the narrative of events but also as a reflection of 4th-century perspectives on Rome's past. Despite the brevity of his work, Eutropius's ability to condense Rome's vast history into a digestible format ensures his lasting significance in the annals of historiography.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 22.11.2022
• Übersetzer: John Selby Watson
• Verlagsort: Prague
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Geschichte / Politik ► Vor- und Frühgeschichte / Antike
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte
• Schlagworte: 1880s works • accessible history study • ancient civilizations • ancient roman history • Ancient Rome • Ancient works • classical historical text • Classical Studies • concise historical narrative • educational history resource • educational Roman history • emperor Jovian reign • Eutropius historian • Eutropius translation • foundations of civilization • Fourth-century historiography • Historical breviary • Historical Overview • Historical Synthesis • History • Humanities • Imperial bureaucracy • Imperial chronicles • Julian the Apostate • key Roman figures • language • Languages • Late Antiquity • Late Roman Empire • Latin • Latin historical texts • public domain classics • roman civilization • Roman Empire foundation • roman empire history • Roman historiography • Roman Literature • Translations • Works originally in Latin