Virtus Romana: Politics And Morality In The Rom... 📥

Historians served as "promoters of change," using the concept of virtus to help Romans redefine their identity as they moved from citizen-soldiers of a Republic to subjects of an Emperor.

Scholars of Roman history, historiography, and intellectual history, as well as advanced undergraduates. Virtus Romana: Politics and Morality in the Rom...

The term virtus is famously difficult to translate, shifting between "military courage" and "ethical virtue". Balmaceda traces this progression across different eras: Historians served as "promoters of change," using the

Definitions of political and moral terms are not fixed; they are reinterpreted by historians to fit or challenge contemporary political realities. and endurance .

Adapts the concept for life under autocracy. Under tyrannical rule, virtus becomes less about public glory and more about "private" qualities like constancy, moderation, and endurance . Key Takeaways

Balmaceda highlights a dichotomy between virilis-virtus (manly courage in war) and humana-virtus (moral virtues like justice and clemency). Book Details