1. The Most Prominent Orator and Writer in Rome
Age of Cicero
The Most Prominent Orator and Writer in Rome

2. Think to Yourself…
Who are some of the most prominent orators of OUR time?
What makes them such dynamic speakers?
How do they win their audiences?
Do their speakers make you a different person?

3. Age of Cicero 80 BC-43BC (Republic) Period of great unrest
Civil wars and dictators
Military might against civil right
Great material prosperity and poverty
Culture and extravagant display
Religious decadence

4. Gaius Sallustius Crispus
86-35 BC
Born of a plebian family in Amiternum (East of Rome)
Educated at Rome
Devoted the early years of his life to literary pursuits

5. Sallust’s Political Life
Active in public life
Became a partisan of Caesar and the Democratic Party, or Populārēs
Plebian tribuneship
Quaestor
Appointed governor of Province of Numidia (North Africa) by Caesar
Amassed great wealth and bought a villa on the Quirinal Hill

6. Sallust’s Literary Life
After retiring as governor, Sallust devoted his life to writing historical literature at his villa on the Quirinal
Died in 35 BC at the age of 52
Writing style
Short and to the point
Known for 2 literary works:
The Jugurthine War
An account of the war with Jugurtha from 112 to 106 BC
The Conspiracy of Catiline
An account of the plot to overthrow the state in 63 BC
Written about 20 years after the event
Sallust used Cicero’s orations as reference as well as available records
Why else would this have been a good account for Sallust?