The Annals

One of the most important historical records from classical antiquity, “The Annals of Imperial Rome” chronicles the history of the Roman Empire from the reign of Tiberius beginning in 14 AD to the end of the reign of Nero in 68 AD. Written by Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman Senator during the second century AD, it is a detailed first-hand account of the early Roman Empire and an important source for a modern understanding of that time. It is believed that as a Senator, Tacitus had access to the records of the Roman Senate and thus had a very accurate basis for his history. The work begins with the death of Caesar in 14 AD and in brutal and unflinching detail Tacitus describes the decadence and corruption of the Roman Emperors, as well as the equally corrupt Senatorial aristocracy, who Tacitus saw as being too servile to the Emperors. The reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero were a fascinating and bloody time, full of violence, treasonous plots, murders, suicides, and uprisings. Included are vivid descriptions of the great fire of Rome, the persecution of the Christians, and the suppression of the revolt in Britain led by Boudicca. Presented in this volume is the classic translation of Alfred John Church and William Jackson Brodribb.