Tacitus believes that Roman Imperialism has a variety of attributes that include prosperity, cruelty, and jealousy. Tacitus no doubt had much contempt for Domitian as he believes that his rule was purely tyrannical. Tacitus describes him as impeding on the exchange of free thoughts and ideas between the Roman writers which led to many of them becoming exiled. However, he describes how times are getting better but ever so slowly with the change of leadership to Nerva, and then Trajan. Tacitus writes “Now at long last our spirit revives. In the first dawn of this blessed age, Nerva Caesar harmonized the old discord of autocracy and freedom: day by day Nerva Trajan is enhancing the happiness of the time; and the public security, ceasing to be merely something hoped and prayed for, is as solid and certain as a prayer fulfilled. Yet human nature is so weak that the cure lags behind the …show more content…
If Tacitus truly believed that their conquest was a beautiful thing, he probably would have made Calagus sound more barbaric. However, Tacitus reiterates his speech as it was told to him and even tosses a few praises in the direction of Calagus. His speech describes the Romans as filled with greed and hate. Calagus said, “The wealth of an enemy excites their greed, his poverty their lust for power. Neither East nor West has served to glut their maw. Only they, of all on earth, long for the poor with as keen a desire as they do the rich. Robbery, butchery, rapine, these the liars call “empire”: they create desolation and call it peace.” If Tacitus truly disagreed with Calagus’ point of view, he surely would have amended his speech or showed favor one way or another. To that extent, Tacitus does indeed compliment Calagus by calling him a “man outstanding in valour and family.” Tacitus thinks highly of this barbarian leader, and therefore must put merit into his criticisms of Roman