The historical story is told of the Roman government from 31 BC until the present day, and it begins anachronistically in the middle of the story when Augustus Caesar dies and is succeeded by Tiberius.
Tacitus is a friend of the state, he explains. He reminds the reader that Augustus was a peaceful leader, a difficult feat given the recent civil war. The historian compares the reigns of Augustus with Nero, noticing that under Nero's principate, the Senate devolved into a partying group of yesmen (people who tell the emperor only what he wants to hear).
In daily life, Tacitus explains that the people are becoming more disenfranchised, but in either case, the pride of being a Roman citizen is still alive and well. The citizens of the Roman empire are tasked with difficult lives though, and Tacitus tells about a nasty habit among the civilians to kill themselves in honor suicides. The suicides are not impressive to Tacitus, and he feels that they are melodramatic and vain.
He tells about Tiberius, who is both an authoritarian and a dictator, but even though he criticizes Tiberius, he still pays the emperor honor, remembering him as a great man. Nero is like Tiberius in his aggressive leadership and the decay of the principate, but Tacitus explains that whereas Tiberius was an honorable man, Nero is not good whatsoever. Tacitus explains that Nero is an evil man.
"The Annals" is a historical work written by the Roman historian Tacitus, covering the period from the death of Augustus Caesar in AD 14 to the end of Nero in AD 68. The Annals is considered one of the greatest works of Roman history, It is divided into 16 books, in which Tacitus provides a detailed and critical account of the reigns of the Roman emperors Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero, and the political and social events of the time. Tacitus is known for his critical approach, and he is not hesitant to reveal the flaws and corruption of the ruling elite. Tacitus was also interested in the customs and traditions of the Germanic tribes, and he included many descriptions of their way of life. The Annals are not only an important source of information about Roman history but also a significant literary work.
