'''Tacitus''' A.D. 55-120: [[Roman]] author of Histories, Annals, and Germania, describing 1st century Rome. Only portions of his writings have survived. One of the earliest sources outside of the Bible to mention [[Christians]]. Chronicles [[Nero]]'s blaming the Christians for the fire in Rome and the first large scale persecution. Did not think highly of Christians or [[Jews]]. He painted an unflattering picture of Rome under the Emperors paying careful note to corruption or scandal. His works give a detailed history of life under the Emperors from the death of [[Augustus]] to the death of [[Domitian]] covering a period from 14 A.D. to 96 A.D. As with many others writers of antiquity, only portions of his writings have survived. | '''Tacitus''' A.D. 55-120: [[Roman]] author of Histories, Annals, and Germania, describing 1st century Rome. Only portions of his writings have survived. One of the earliest sources outside of the Bible to mention [[Christians]]. Chronicles [[Nero]]'s blaming the Christians for the fire in Rome and the first large scale persecution. Did not think highly of Christians or [[Jews]]. He painted an unflattering picture of Rome under the Emperors paying careful note to corruption or scandal. His works give a detailed history of life under the Emperors from the death of [[Augustus]] to the death of [[Domitian]] covering a period from 14 A.D. to 96 A.D. As with many others writers of antiquity, only portions of his writings have survived. |