Main sources for the early history of the Republic

[Skywatcher]

Hi. This is my first post here. I am looking for primary sources from the ancient Romans themselves. I have been reading Livy, which I have been told is the best source for the early period of Rome's history. What are the other sources? Right now I am mostly interested in the period from the founding of the Republic up to the first Punic war. Are there any sources besides Livy? Also, what is the best modern history of Rome? I have one by Michael Grant published in the 70s, which is very informative but rather dry. Any help would be appreciated. Pat

[Primus Pilus]

Hi. This is my first post here. I am looking for primary sources from the ancient Romans themselves. I have been reading Livy, which I have been told is the best source for the early period of Rome's history. What are the other sources? Right now I am mostly interested in the period from the founding of the Republic up to the first Punic war. Are there any sources besides Livy? Also, what is the best modern history of Rome? I have one by Michael Grant published in the 70s, which is very informative but rather dry. Any help would be appreciated. Pat

 

Welcome to the forum... here's a good list to get you started. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8719

 

Livy is definitely the most comprehensive, but others provide more insight into different periods. If you want to do a chronological review though, then Livy, Dio Cassius and/or Dionysus of Halicarnassus are your best options.

[Pompieus]

Roman historical writing did not begin until the time of the Punic Wars with Q Fabius Pictor, who wrote in greek. Cato was apparently the first Roman to write a history in latin, in the 160s BC. Both these and other minor contemporary annalists are lost, however. Caesar, Sallust and Livy are the oldest surviving histories in latin.

Edited June 20, 2010 by Pompieus

[Skywatcher]

Welcome to the forum... here's a good list to get you started. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8719

 

Livy is definitely the most comprehensive, but others provide more insight into different periods. If you want to do a chronological review though, then Livy, Dio Cassius and/or Dionysus of Halicarnassus are your best options.

 

Thanks for the list, it is very helpful.

 

Roman historical writing did not begin until the time of the Punic Wars with Q Fabius Pictor, who wrote in greek. Cato was apparently the first Roman to write a history in latin, in the 160s BC. Both these and other minor contemporary annalists are lost, however. Caesar, Sallust and Livy are the oldest surviving histories in latin.

 

I remember reading somewhere that the first historians of Rome had to rely on some sort of religious records and oral traditions. According to Grant the Romans did not know exactly when these events occurred so they would choose dates that had numerological significance or that coincided with important dates in Greek history.

[barca]

Hi. This is my first post here. I am looking for primary sources from the ancient Romans themselves. I have been reading Livy, which I have been told is the best source for the early period of Rome's history. What are the other sources? Right now I am mostly interested in the period from the founding of the Republic up to the first Punic war. Are there any sources besides Livy? Also, what is the best modern history of Rome? I have one by Michael Grant published in the 70s, which is very informative but rather dry. Any help would be appreciated. Pat

 

 

Try this one:

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=EAEOAAAAQ...p;q&f=false

 

It's on my list of books to read

[Viggen]

Try this one:

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=EAEOAAAAQ...p;q&f=false

 

It's on my list of books to read

 

We did a review of this book a while back, defenitely worth a look

http://www.unrv.com/book-review/beginnings-of-rome.php

 

cheers

viggen

[Caewil]

A good modern source would be Kurt A. Raaflaub. If you can, get the whole blackwell companion to the Roman Republic. Very well researched and not dry at all.