Historical Problems on Augusts
Historical Problems in the Original Works on Caesar Augustus As a history student progresses through his/her studies, there reaches acertain point where the student achieves an adequate level of advancement. Ahistory student or any student for that matter, often achieves their primary base ofknowledge of past events through modern sources. An advanced history student atone point becomes aware of the subjectivity of modern views of the ancient past. There are often "gray areas" where the original facts of any given history arequestionable. One such subject which contains much ambiguity is the ancienthistory of Rome. Countless modern sources are available, yet all these modern, orsecondary sources base their knowledge on original, or primary sources writtennearly two centuries ago. Specifically, the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus,which lasted from 31 BC to 14 AD, contains some elements of ambiguity. Whilemost ancient sources on Augustus are generally accurate for the most part, thereare still certain questions that modern scholars debate over. In the following essay,I will present the historical problems relating to the emperor Augustu
Augustusaccepted and received command over several provinces. " (Suetonius- Lives of the Twelve Casears)Dio also presents these same facts in his account. As for foreign nations, those which I was able to safely forgive, I preferred to preserve than to destroy. Augustius won over the soldiers with gifts, the populace with cheap corn, and all men with the sweets of repose, and so grew greater by degrees, while he concentrated in himself the functions of the Senate, the magistrates, and the laws. However this conflictswith Augustus' claim that he never held any powers greater than those of hiscolleagues. Thus he was practiced in oratory, not only in the Latin language but in Greek as well, was vigorously trained in military service, and thoroughly instructed in politics and the art of government. Scholars have greatly contested Dio's statement. " (Augustus- The Res Gestae)In the account by Tacitus of Augustus, he writes the following with a great deal ofsarcasm and implied bitterness: "Hence my purpose is to relate a few facts about Augustus, more particularly his last acts. Since there is noofficial ancient source that clarifies this matter, one can only guess what his titlewas in reality. enrolled him among the patricians, and trained him for the rule, carefully educating him in all the arts that should be possessed by one who was destined to direct well and worthily so great a power. I will note thecredit in my essay. The senatorsagreed Augustus should be given command over the Roman state. Caesar was impressed with Augustus at an early age.
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