"'The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find for yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models, base things, rotten through and through, to avoid."

-- Livy in Early History of Rome

SOME QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Does the Early History of Rome have a dominant theme?  Is so, what is it?

Why is Livy interested in history?  What meaning or lessons does he seem to draw from its study?

What story does Livy tell of Rome's history?  To what extent is the Early History characterized by a sense of loss and decline?  Should it be interpreted as a critique of Livy's own day??

How does Livy characterize the era of the kings?  What roles and functions does Livy assign the kings in his history of the Roman state?

What, for Livy, are the Roman virtues?  What does Rome, at its best, seem to represent for Livy?  What distinguishes it from other states?  How does Livy define liberty?

How does Livy portray the relationship between private and public morality?

How would you assess Livy's portrayal of gender roles?

How would you compare and contrast the deaths of Lucretia and Verginia?  How would you compare the rape of Lucretia with the rape of the Sabines and the rape of Rhea Silvia?

How does Livy view political power?  Who does he think should have power?  How much and why?

How does Livy describe and account for the social and political divisions within Rome itself?  Assess the struggle between the plebeians and the patricians as portrayed by Livy.  How does Livy view the common people of Rome?

How does religion enter into Livy's account and what is most interesting here?

How would you describe the structure and methodology of Livy's history?  How does Livy construct and use speeches in his history?

Where would you place Livy in regards to the relationship between history and mythology?  What, in your own mind, is the difference between the two?

How valuable is Livy as a source for Roman history?

What individual episodes from the Early History stood out for you?  Why?  What characters stand out for you?

Who was Livy?

How would you compare and contrast Livy with Virgil?

SOME EXTRA SOURCES