GERMAN 271:  GERMAN THOUGHT AND CULTURE

Tacitus		Outline
		Resources
		Study Questions

• Tacitus: Life and Work
• Germania
  • Background to book: when, where was it written
  • Tacitus' purpose: why it was written
  • The Germans
    • Origins and geneaological heritage
    • Way of life and customs
      • Public structures and civic organization
      • Commerce
      • Religion
      • Private/home life; relationship between the sexes
      • National character

back to top

Resources

Encyclopedia Britannica article: http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/9/0,5716,72709+1+70868,00.html

Benario, Herbert W.  An Introduction to Tacitus. Athens : University of Georgia Press, 1975. - PA6716.B4 1975

Mellor, Ronald.  Tacitus.  New York: Routledge, 1993. - DG206.T32M45 1993

back to top

Study Questions

1. Describe Tacitus' overall impression of the Germans.  Does he admire the Germans?  

2. What does Tacitus say about the origins of the Germanic peoples?  Are there flaws in his description?

3. What features of Germanic life are of greatest interest to Tacitus?  Give some details.

4. What criticisms does Tacitus level at the Romans?

5. In what ways might a modern scholar criticize Germania? 

 back to top