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Review Of ' Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus '

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Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus or Pliny the Younger was a roman aristocrat at the height of the Pax Romana. The Pax Romana was a time of stability and peace throughout the roman empire. There was very minimal military activity. His letters give us a view into the perspective of the roman aristocrat as well as an insight into roman society. The letters also give a perspective of the lives of roman women during this time. Roman society was a very patriarchal during the Pax Romana and women were considered much less important than men. This is apparent in his letters. There are very few accounts in Pliny 's letters that go into detail about the women of these times. The letters that do include female characters are about aristocrats dominantly and give us only a biased snapshot of how they interact within roman society. The character that we have the most to go on is Culpurnia. Calpurnia is the granddaughter of Calpurnius Fabitus and wife of Pliny the Younger. In his letters he describes Calpurnia as becoming well adjusted to her role as Pliny 's wife.”You are a model of family devotion, and you loved your brother, matching his deep regard for you with equal affection. You love his daughter as if she was your own, and to her you re-enact the fondness not only of an aunt, but also that of the father she lost”(4,19). Calpurnia was everything Pliny could ask for in a wife. He extolled her intelligence, her devotion, and her expertise at looking after their home. “She is

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