Tacitus Book I: AD 14-15

I'm partway through Book I, which covers the political struggles after the death of Caesar Augustus.  One thing that's confusing is how many people have similar names, because everyone has long names/many names, and political families were always marrying, divorcing, remarrying, and adopting kids from other families for political purposes.

Tacitus is a more interesting writer than Plutarch. He's more of a storyteller than an instructor. I decided to read him because I heard that Catherine the Great (late Tsarina of Russia) admired his political insights.  Tacitus definitely understood people. I've particularly enjoyed his treatment of the mutinies in the Roman legions, and the ways in which shrewd commanders suppressed the mutinies. One commander allowed the men to punish mutineers themselves, and did nothing to stop brutality. Tacitus noted that if he had tried to stop them, then he'd be responsible for anything he didn't stop. This way he let the men own the bloodshed, both for good (they have staked their honor on avenging disloyalty) and for bad (the shame of excess is on them, not him). This is a shrewd insight.

Next book: Annals of Imperial Rome by Tacitus

I read a bunch of books that I didn't feel like blogging.  Now I'm going to read Annals of Imperial Rome by Tacitus. I'm sick and tired of the news, nothing but a crumbling empire wracked by plagues, debts, wars, and decadent politicians.  Let's read something different!