The Roman Annalistic Tradition

Summary of the application for funding of the research project: The Roman annalistic tradition and its influence an the picture of the history of the Roman Republic (300-100 B.C.) The project intends to research the influence of early Roman Historiography an the picture of the history of Republican Rome from 300 to 100 B. C. Up to now the annalistic tradition was mostly judged by analysing the early period of the Roman Republic. But, the annalists did not only put their `constructions` in the 5th and 4th century B.C., annalistic conceptions of extreme tendency and `fictitious elements` can also be found in ihe traditions about 3rd and 2nd century B.C. The study to be realized in ihe project is of various importance. lt promises to give new information about the work of the annalists and their conceptions of historiography. A new understanding of the competitive Roman aristocracy, which nearly all annalists belonged to, can be exspected. A more precise picture of the relation between historiography and politics can be gained and, above this, - as has been already shown in single cases - new knowledge about the historical run of Roman republican history. By analysing senatorical values and culture of conflict, it is intended to comprehend the social context, in which the annalists composed their historical works. Texts are to be examined an grammatical qualities and rhetorical turns. By that concepts of Modern Literary Theory are to be tested in the practical work with ancient texts.