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Pliny The Elder Research Paper

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A distinguished military veteran and dedicated historian, Pliny the Elder’s work provides us with aspects of everyday life in Ancient Rome, and is a valuable source for knowledge on the state of science in that time. Gaius Plinius Secundus, better known as Pliny the Elder to distinguish himself from his nephew, Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, wrote as a naturalist, biographer, and historian. Around 79 A.D, Pliny died during the eruption of Vesuvius which decimated Pompeii and Herculaneum, his nephew wrote of these events in his letters to Tacitus . Throughout his lifetime, Pliny obtained many military positions in the government, including administrator of Equestrian Rank and Procurator of Africa. Nero, whom Pliny did not support and thoroughly …show more content…

Natural History was spanned over 102 volumes, 37 of which the modern world had. In detail much is described of the physical nature of the world at that time. It illustrates on zoology, geography, anthropology, botany, and the medical uses of certain plants. It is regarded as one of the most influential books ever written in Latin . His work was largely successful and was kept for centuries, for many it formed the basis of their education. It shaped scientific and medical theories until the middle ages, 1,000 years later . The Natural History was one of the first ancient European texts to be printed. His lost works include “The Life of Pomponius Secundus,” “The History of the Wars in Germany,” and “On the Use of Dart by Cavalry.” His nephew, Pliny the Younger, offers a wide description of his works in his letters …show more content…

The first printed edition appeared in 1469. Since then, editions vary widely in what is omitted and how the Latin is translated . Most of his spare time was spent personally investigating the information on geography and natural phenomena that would be recorded in his encyclopaedia. Pliny had a set reader audience for Natural History; evidence is found in his preface of the book, where he states that it is not intended for the general reader and was designed for utility, not entertainment . Pliny's purpose in writing the Natural History was to cover all learning and art so far as they are connected with nature or draw their materials from nature. Pliny’s Natural History is still agreed on today to be a valuable anthropological source, though most critics still focus on where Pliny obtained his sources than anything

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