Agricola Summary and Analysis

Tacitus begins his account of the life and career of Agricola by pointing out that many men have had their lives set on record in an effort to overcome the apathy of the age, and to show the true nature of a man. He reminds readers that many eulogies in the past have later been seen as capitol offenses when the people within the tales become public enemies. Tacitus notes this is no longer a problem, but also notes that the people of the Empire have wasted fifteen years as they battled for freedom.

Tacitus starts his written eulogy with the birth of Gnaeus Julius Agricola in Forum Julii. Agricola was born into military and governmental service through his father, and enjoyed culture and liberal arts through his mother. He served his military apprenticeship in Britain, where he showed himself to...