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Ammianus Marcellinus, a historian of the late Roman period, authored his principal historical work in Latin, though his native language was Greek.
Answer: False
While Ammianus Marcellinus' native tongue was Greek, his seminal historical work, the *Res gestae*, was composed in Latin, the administrative language of the Roman Empire.
Ammianus Marcellinus is believed to have been born in Rome around 330 AD and to have died shortly after 378 AD.
Answer: False
Scholarly consensus suggests Ammianus Marcellinus was born in Roman Syria, possibly in a town named Ammia, and his death likely occurred between 391 and 400 AD, rather than in Rome shortly after 378 AD.
Ammianus Marcellinus identified himself as ethnically Italian and a Roman citizen by birth.
Answer: False
Contrary to this assertion, Ammianus Marcellinus identified himself as *Graecus* (Greek) and likely hailed from Roman Syria, indicating a non-Italian ethnic origin.
Ammianus Marcellinus composed his historical magnum opus, the *Res gestae*, in his native Greek language.
Answer: False
This is incorrect. Although Greek was his native language, Ammianus Marcellinus chose to write his historical account, the *Res gestae*, in Latin, the prevailing administrative and literary language of the Roman Empire.
Prior to his career as a historian, Ammianus Marcellinus served as a soldier within the Praetorian Guard.
Answer: True
This statement is accurate. Ammianus Marcellinus' military background, including service in the Praetorian Guard, provided him with firsthand experience that informed his historical writing.
Following his military service, Ammianus Marcellinus established his residence in Constantinople to undertake the writing of his history.
Answer: False
Ammianus Marcellinus settled in Rome during his later years to compose his historical work, not in Constantinople.
Ammianus Marcellinus' military background provided him with limited insight into the events he described.
Answer: False
This is contrary to scholarly assessment. His military career provided him with invaluable firsthand knowledge and a unique perspective on military affairs, significantly enhancing the depth and authenticity of his historical accounts.
Who was Ammianus Marcellinus?
Answer: A 4th-century Roman soldier and historian writing in Latin.
Ammianus Marcellinus was a Roman soldier and historian of the 4th century AD, renowned for his Latin historical work, the *Res gestae*, which chronicles events of the late Roman Empire.
What is the probable birthplace of Ammianus Marcellinus?
Answer: Roman Syria, possibly in a town named Ammia
Based on his own references and scholarly analysis, Ammianus Marcellinus is most likely to have originated from Roman Syria, possibly from a locality known as Ammia.
Ammianus Marcellinus chose which language for writing his historical account?
Answer: Latin, the administrative language of the Empire
Despite his native fluency in Greek, Ammianus Marcellinus chose Latin for his historical work, aligning with the standard literary and administrative practice of the Roman Empire during his time.
Which prominent military figure did Ammianus Marcellinus serve under early in his career?
Answer: Ursicinus
Ammianus Marcellinus served under Ursicinus, a prominent military commander who held important positions such as magister militum (master of soldiers) and governor of Nisibis.
Ammianus Marcellinus was present during which significant military event in 359 AD?
Answer: The sack of Amida by the Persians
Ammianus Marcellinus was stationed near Amida and provided a detailed, firsthand account of the Persian siege and subsequent capture of the city in 359 AD.
Where did Ammianus Marcellinus settle in his later years to write his history?
Answer: Rome
After concluding his military career, Ammianus Marcellinus settled in Rome, where he dedicated himself to writing his extensive historical account, the *Res gestae*.
Ammianus Marcellinus' military background primarily influenced his writing by:
Answer: Providing him with firsthand knowledge and a unique perspective on military affairs.
His extensive experience as a soldier provided Ammianus Marcellinus with direct insight into military operations, strategy, and the realities faced by troops, which significantly enriched the authenticity and detail of his historical narratives.
Which emperor did Ammianus Marcellinus serve under, besides Constantius II?
Answer: Julian
Ammianus Marcellinus served under Emperor Constantius II and later under Emperor Julian, whose reign he chronicled extensively and with admiration.
Ammianus Marcellinus' historical work, the *Res gestae*, is recognized as the sole surviving comprehensive historical account from late antiquity.
Answer: False
This assertion is inaccurate. While the *Res gestae* is a crucial and extensive source, it is not the only surviving major historical account from late antiquity; other significant works also exist.
The *Res gestae* by Ammianus Marcellinus originally encompassed Roman history from the reign of Emperor Augustus through to the death of Emperor Valens.
Answer: False
The original scope of the *Res gestae* extended from the accession of Emperor Nerva in 96 AD to the death of Emperor Valens in 378 AD, not from the reign of Augustus.
The extant portions of Ammianus Marcellinus' *Res gestae* exclusively comprise the books detailing events from 353 AD to 378 AD.
Answer: True
This statement accurately reflects the surviving corpus of Ammianus Marcellinus' work. Only the books covering the period from 353 AD to 378 AD have been preserved to the present day.
The original *Res gestae* consisted of approximately 18 books, all of which have survived.
Answer: False
The *Res gestae* originally consisted of thirty-one (or possibly thirty-six) books, and only the final eighteen books have survived.
The surviving eighteen books of the *Res gestae* are considered insignificant for understanding the 4th-century Roman Empire.
Answer: False
This assertion is false. The surviving eighteen books of the *Res gestae* are considered indispensable and fundamental for contemporary historical understanding of the 4th-century Roman Empire.
What is the primary historical work attributed to Ammianus Marcellinus?
Answer: Res gestae
The primary historical magnum opus of Ammianus Marcellinus is known as the *Res gestae*, meaning 'Deeds Accomplished,' which served as a continuation of Tacitus's historical narrative.
Which period did the *original* *Res gestae* aim to cover?
Answer: From the reign of Emperor Nerva (96 AD) to the death of Emperor Valens (378 AD).
The *Res gestae* was originally conceived to chronicle Roman history from the accession of Emperor Nerva in 96 AD through to the death of Emperor Valens in 378 AD, thereby extending the historical record from Tacitus.
How much of Ammianus Marcellinus' *Res gestae* survives today?
Answer: The books covering 353 AD to 378 AD.
Only the final eighteen books of the *Res gestae*, which detail events from 353 AD to 378 AD, have survived. The initial thirteen books are entirely lost.
What was the original number of books in Ammianus Marcellinus' *Res gestae*?
Answer: 31
The *Res gestae* is generally understood to have originally comprised thirty-one books. However, some scholars propose a possible original length of thirty-six books.
Ammianus Marcellinus' historical narrative expresses strong disapproval of Emperor Julian's policies and military endeavors.
Answer: False
This is contrary to Ammianus' portrayal. He held Emperor Julian in high regard and expressed considerable admiration for his reign and actions, despite noting certain criticisms.
The scholarly consensus posits that Ammianus Marcellinus was a devout Christian who primarily directed his critiques toward pagan practices.
Answer: False
This view is inaccurate. Ammianus Marcellinus is generally considered a pagan historian who held tolerant views towards Christianity, and he did not exclusively focus his critiques on paganism.
Ammianus Marcellinus considered Christian sectarian disputes, such as the Arian controversy, to be the paramount theological issues of his era.
Answer: False
While Ammianus Marcellinus observed and commented on Christian sectarian disputes, he often viewed them as internecine conflicts, sometimes finding them 'unworthy,' rather than the most important theological issues.
Ammianus Marcellinus praised the Serapeum of Alexandria, suggesting his work was completed before its destruction in 391 AD.
Answer: True
This is a valid inference. The praise for the Serapeum, which was destroyed in 391 AD, serves as evidence that Ammianus Marcellinus likely finished his *Res gestae* before this date.
Ammianus Marcellinus provided a detailed account of the volcanic eruption that destroyed Pompeii.
Answer: False
Ammianus Marcellinus did not document the eruption of Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii; instead, he provided a notable account of the 365 AD earthquake and tsunami in the eastern Mediterranean.
Ammianus Marcellinus accurately documented the sequence of events for the 365 AD tsunami, including the sea receding before the wave.
Answer: True
This statement is accurate. Ammianus Marcellinus' description precisely captured the characteristic sequence of a tsunami: an initial earthquake, followed by a significant recession of the sea, and then the inundation by a massive wave.
What was Ammianus Marcellinus' attitude towards Emperor Julian?
Answer: He viewed Julian with strong admiration.
Ammianus Marcellinus held Emperor Julian in high esteem, frequently praising his character, policies, and military leadership, despite acknowledging certain controversial actions.
How did Ammianus Marcellinus generally perceive Christianity?
Answer: As a straightforward religion focused on justice and mildness.
Ammianus Marcellinus described Christianity as a religion characterized by justice and mildness. While he noted negative actions by Christians, his critique was often directed at their internal disputes rather than the faith itself.
What specific criticism did Ammianus Marcellinus make about Christian sects?
Answer: Their internal disputes were often more savage than conflicts with outsiders.
Ammianus Marcellinus famously observed that the internal conflicts and disputes among Christian sects were frequently more violent and destructive than conflicts with external adversaries.
Which major natural disaster did Ammianus Marcellinus vividly describe in detail?
Answer: An earthquake and subsequent tsunami in the eastern Mediterranean in 365 AD.
Ammianus Marcellinus offered a detailed and remarkably accurate description of the catastrophic earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the eastern Mediterranean region in 365 AD.
What detail about the 365 AD tsunami did Ammianus Marcellinus accurately document?
Answer: The sea receded significantly before the main wave struck.
His account precisely noted the characteristic sequence of a tsunami, including the unusual phenomenon of the sea dramatically receding from the coastline before the immense wave struck.
What does Ammianus Marcellinus' detailed description of the 365 AD tsunami suggest about him?
Answer: His keen observational skills and ability to record sequences.
The precise and sequential nature of his account of the 365 AD tsunami demonstrates Ammianus Marcellinus' capacity for keen observation and his ability to accurately document complex natural events.
Ammianus Marcellinus' critique of Christian sects suggests he:
Answer: Was concerned about the destructive nature of internal religious conflicts.
His commentary on Christian sects indicates a concern for the disruptive and often violent nature of their internal theological disputes, which he found detrimental.
What aspect of Emperor Julian's reign did Ammianus Marcellinus criticize?
Answer: His excessive reliance on pagan sacrifices and an edict affecting Christian teachers.
While generally admiring Julian, Ammianus Marcellinus did criticize certain actions, including Julian's emphasis on pagan rituals and an edict that restricted Christians from teaching classical literature.
The primary challenge with the manuscript tradition of the *Res gestae* is the complete loss of the first thirteen books.
Answer: True
This statement accurately identifies a major difficulty in reconstructing the *Res gestae*. The first thirteen books, covering the period from 96 AD to 353 AD, are entirely lost.
The main source for the surviving parts of the *Res gestae* is a 15th-century manuscript found in Florence.
Answer: False
This is incorrect. The principal manuscript source for the surviving books is a 9th-century Carolingian manuscript, designated Vatican lat. 1873 (V), originating from Fulda.
The Fragmenta Marbugensia (M) is considered the only independent textual source for Ammianus Marcellinus, despite being only a fragment.
Answer: True
This assertion is correct. The Fragmenta Marbugensia (M), a ninth-century codex, is considered the only independent textual witness for Ammianus Marcellinus, making it critically important for textual scholarship.
The first printed edition of Ammianus Marcellinus' work in 1474 was complete and considered definitive.
Answer: False
This is inaccurate. The 1474 edition was incomplete and suffered from textual deficiencies. Subsequent editions were required to address its shortcomings and complete the publication of the surviving books.
Byzantine summaries offer valuable, though incomplete, insights into the lost Greek summaries of the first twenty-five books of the *Res gestae*.
Answer: True
This statement is accurate. Byzantine historical works contain fragments derived from Greek summaries of the lost portions (Books I-XXV) of Ammianus Marcellinus' *Res gestae*, providing crucial, though partial, information.
The 'Authority control' section in online articles about Ammianus Marcellinus lists identifiers from databases like Google Scholar and ResearchGate.
Answer: False
This is incorrect. Authority control sections in academic contexts usually list standardized identifiers from international databases like ISNI and VIAF, not general academic platforms like Google Scholar or ResearchGate.
What is a significant challenge regarding the manuscript tradition of Ammianus Marcellinus' *Res gestae*?
Answer: The first thirteen books are entirely lost.
A significant obstacle for scholars is the complete loss of the first thirteen books of the *Res gestae*, which cover the earlier period of Roman history intended by Ammianus.
What is the principal manuscript source for the surviving parts of the *Res gestae*?
Answer: A 9th-century Carolingian manuscript from Fulda (Vatican lat. 1873).
The primary manuscript source for the extant books of the *Res gestae* is Vatican lat. 1873 (V), a 9th-century Carolingian codex produced in Fulda, which forms the basis for most modern critical editions.
What is the significance of Byzantine summaries concerning Ammianus Marcellinus' lost works?
Answer: They contain fragments offering insights into the lost portions (Books I-XXV).
Byzantine historical compilations preserve fragments derived from Greek summaries of the early books (I-XXV) of the *Res gestae*, offering valuable, though incomplete, glimpses into the content of Ammianus Marcellinus' lost sections.
The first printed edition of Ammianus Marcellinus' work appeared in what year?
Answer: 1474
The initial printed edition of Ammianus Marcellinus' *Res gestae* appeared in 1474, although it was incomplete and required further editions to present the surviving text fully.
Ammianus Marcellinus' writing is often described as impartial and lacking rhetorical skill.
Answer: False
This characterization is inaccurate. While often described as generally impartial, Ammianus Marcellinus was also recognized for his considerable rhetorical skill, which has sometimes been a subject of scholarly discussion.
Edward Gibbon praised Ammianus Marcellinus for his literary elegance but criticized his historical accuracy.
Answer: False
This assessment is reversed. Gibbon praised Ammianus Marcellinus for his accuracy and faithfulness as a contemporary historian but criticized his prose for lacking literary flair and being excessively detailed.
The historian Ernst Stein considered Ammianus Marcellinus the most significant literary talent in the world between Tacitus and Dante.
Answer: True
This statement accurately reflects Ernst Stein's high evaluation of Ammianus Marcellinus' literary merit, placing him as a pivotal figure in classical and medieval literature.
Kimberly Kagan criticized Ammianus Marcellinus for focusing too much on strategic overview at the expense of soldier experience.
Answer: False
This is the inverse of Kagan's critique. She suggested that Ammianus Marcellinus' focus on the experiences of individual soldiers sometimes overshadowed the broader strategic context of military engagements.
Ammianus Marcellinus' rhetorical sophistication has sometimes led to questions about the absolute veracity of his historical accounts.
Answer: True
This statement is accurate. The skillful rhetorical style employed by Ammianus Marcellinus, while contributing to the literary quality of his work, has sometimes led scholars to scrutinize the absolute factual accuracy of certain passages.
Who published the first English translation of Ammianus Marcellinus' work?
Answer: Philemon Holland in 1609
Philemon Holland produced the first English translation of Ammianus Marcellinus' *Res gestae* in 1609, predating later translations by scholars like C.D. Yonge.
How did Edward Gibbon view Ammianus Marcellinus' historical writing?
Answer: As accurate and faithful, but lacking literary flair.
Gibbon esteemed Ammianus Marcellinus for his historical accuracy and contemporary perspective but found his prose style to be somewhat lacking in literary elegance and prone to excessive detail.
What critique does Kimberly Kagan offer regarding Ammianus Marcellinus' battle descriptions?
Answer: They sometimes overshadow strategic context with soldier experience.
Kagan suggests that Ammianus Marcellinus' detailed focus on the experiences of individual soldiers in battle narratives can occasionally obscure the overarching strategic considerations and decisions.
The historian Ernst Stein considered Ammianus Marcellinus to be the most significant literary talent in the world between which two figures?
Answer: Tacitus and Dante
Ernst Stein's high praise placed Ammianus Marcellinus as a literary luminary, positioning him as the most significant talent between the classical historian Tacitus and the medieval poet Dante.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic mentioned in scholarly discussions of Ammianus Marcellinus' writing style?
Answer: Focused exclusively on philosophical matters
Scholarly assessments typically describe Ammianus Marcellinus' work as comprehensive, generally impartial, and rhetorically skilled. It is not characterized by an exclusive focus on philosophical matters.