Classics

Classics

Leah Scott
CL 233
Dr. Perkins
Essay #2
Livy’s representation of a culture different from his own causes me to evaluate generalizations about these cultural groups in several different ways. His work, “The Gallic Invasion of Rome”, depicts the Gauls in a very unique manner and is similar in some ways and different in others from how he describes the Romans. The differences between the two cultures that are depicted illustrate what and how Livy wanted the Roman Empire to be in an idealistic manner, as he wrote for his contemporaries as an evaluative process based on his own cultural assumptions. Livy’s cultural generalizations make me rethink my own cultural assumptions of those cultures different from my own and the reasons why stereotypes and other negative ideas are carried on. Utilizing three different historical techniques, I can infer from Livy’s writing what it was like back then. Looking at Livy’s descriptions of both the Gauls and the Romans, I get a good idea for what it was like to live in the Roman Empire. Looking at Livy’s descriptions of the Gauls and the Romans, I see what values Livy considers highly esteemed. Livy’s characterization of the Romans and Gauls presents a specified evaluation of both cultures that leads to a discovery and assessment, based on his generalizations about culture.
Looking at Livy’s descriptions of both the Gauls and the Romans, I get a good idea for what it was like to live in the Roman Empire. This can be seen when Livy describes a diplomatic meeting between the Gauls and the Roman ambassadors, “the three sons of M. Fabius Ambustus were sent as ambassadors to negotiate with the Gauls and warn them not to attack those from whom they had suffered no injury who were allies and friends with Rome and who, if circumstances compelled them, must be defended by the armed force of Rome” (p. 168). Livy’s depiction of this politically drastic scene lets me know about the political relationship between the Roman Empire and...

Similar Essays