The Chronicle of Gall Anonymus (Chronicle and Deeds of the Princes or Rulers of Poland, in  Latin Cronica et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum) is the first, though unfinished, Polish chronicle, written in Latin, probably between 1112 and 1116. It is a collection of chronologically arranged historical narratives whose protagonists are the rulers of Poland…

The Primary Chronicle (other titles: Annual Tale, Povest’ vremennykh let, Chronicle of Nestor) is an Old Rus’ chronicle describing the history of the Rus’ state from the arrival of Rurik in Novgorod the Great (9th century) to the beginning of the 12th century. It is regarded as the fundamental source for the study of the…

Pliny the Elder was a Roman official, writer, historian, and naturalist, probably of Etruscan origin. He was born in 23 CE in Lombardy but received his education in Rome. He came from an equestrian family. He never founded his own family, and in his will he adopted his nephew – Pliny the Younger. He began…

Herodotus (c. 484–426 BC) was a Greek historian, traveller, and writer from Halicarnassus in Asia Minor. He is considered the “Father of History” because he was among the first to attempt not only to describe events but also to investigate their causes and verify accounts provided by different witnesses. His most important and only preserved…

Publius Cornelius Tacitus probably came from provincial aristocracy and was likely born in Gaul, although traditional historiography considered one of the Italian cities of Umbria to be his birthplace. He was the first member of his family to hold high offices and enter the Senate. He served as quaestor (81–82), praetor (88), consul (97), and…

Petronius was distinguished by his aesthetic sense and his ability to make accurate judgments, which led to him being recognized as the “arbiter of good taste” (arbiter elegantiarum). His opinions were supposedly valued even by Emperor Nero himself. However, not everyone accepted the poet’s high position; as a result, a conspiracy was formed against him,…