Chelsea Dornan 10/12/11 Western Civilization

Romans have always viewed themselves as a force to be reckoned with . They have an unbeatable willpower that allowed the Roman Empire to conquer and rule over many countries. Romans view other civilizations as inferior to themselves. They believe that their traditions and values are correct. They conquered many different civilizations with many different values and beliefs . The Jews of Judea and the Germanic tribes were two of those civilizations. The Jewish War written by Flavius Josephus explains the lifestyle and culture of the Jewish people. It is clear through the tone Josephus writes in that he believes the Jewish people to be inferior compared to the Romans . Josephus quotes the Roman-backed king of Judea, Agrippa, as he speaks to the public. Other nations by the thousand, bursting with greater determination to assert their liberty, no longer resist. Will you alone refuse to serve the masters of the whole world? (Josephus 253) Agrippa is trying to convince the people not to rise in revolt against the power of Rome. Agrippa knows that their revolt doesnt stand a chance against such a power. Romans werent the only ones to consider themselves the masters of the whole world. Romans conquered far greater

civilizations for example the Germanic Tribes. A small revolt from the Jewish people was nothing they couldnt handle. Germania written by Tacitus explains the lifestyle and beliefs of the Germanic Tribes. The German Tribes were a feared and warlike people. Their way of life was extremely different than the Romans. They were a very honorable people. Their beliefs about battle are based around loyalty to their chief . This is something the Romans could respect. However the German way of living was very different to the Romans who looked at it with a distain and confusion you can feel through the writing of Tacitus. They live scattered and apart, just as a spring, a meadow, or a wood has attracted them. Their villages they do not arrange in our fashion, with the buildings connected and joined together, but every person surrounds his dwelling with an open space, (Tacitus 260) Romans live in crowded cities and pride themselves on beautiful monuments and buildings. The Germans had no use or value for things like that. The Germans difference in taste was a point of confusion for the Romans. However the Romans didnt look down upon everything about the Germans. In every household the children, naked and filthy, grow up with those stout frames and limbs which we so much admire. (Tacitus 261) While there is still the common tone of superiority it is acknowledged that the Romans admire some things about the Germans. Tacitus also elaborates on the Germans love of drinking and how the Romans view it as a vice. If you indulge in their love of drinking by supplying

them with as much as they desire, they will be overcome by their own vices as easily as by the arms of an enemy. (Tacitus 262) While the Romans werent known for their sobriety they clearly viewed drinking as a weakness of the Germans. The two authors, Josephus and Tacitus, are very similar in their view that Rome is the overall master of the world. Josephus is definitely more blatant in his claim. He speaks of Romes power and their wide reaching empire. His tone implies that he sees the Jewish people as weak and stupid for even considering taking on the Roman Empire. Whereas Tacitus merely talks in detail of Germans, how they live, their strengths, and their weaknesses. While the tone of Tacitus writings still hold an undeniable disdain and superiority towards the Germans. Germans held value in things Romans would never consider valuable. Yet the ornate buildings along with the worth of silver and gold were things Rome viewed as very valuable and the Germans did not agree. Tacitus and Josephus in the end dont seem to hold any positive thoughts about the Jewish people or the Germanic Barbarians. In the end they believe that the Roman Empire is the master of the world. No matter what civilization is pitted against the Romans they always prevail. Their writings only emphasize the strength of Rome and the overpowering and lasting impact they had on the rest of the world.