Tácito y la decadencia del imperio

Abstract

Tacitus’ text, Germania XXXIII, centered around the phrase urgentibus imperii fatis, is not a totally pessimistic interpretation, despite the opinion of many contemporary writers. The Roman historian shows a critical viewpoint of the past, tied in with the relativity of time; in this way the decadence in social customs is seen as an essential part of its reflection, and therefore all his work is riddled with pessimistic annotations. His criticism is directed against the excesses of civilization, in the sense that the maintenance of the latter will be the best means the Romans have of freeing themselves of the threat posed by the barbarians. Consequently, the divisions which kept the Germanic peoples in mutual discord had until that time assured the continuance of Roman power.