Anthony Everitt's Cicero Summary

Anthony Everitt writes the book Cicero to give readers an inside look at the ancient Roman world during the time of Cicero. Anthony Everitt brings this story to life by retelling the events that took place during this time through Cicero’s eyes. Everitt’s writing techniques give the reader the capability to read the book with ease and understanding. He explores not only the political life of Cicero, but he also gives a detailed insight of Cicero’s personal, everyday life. He shows the readers just how hectic Cicero’s world was and how he came to be known as Rome’s greatest politician. In chapter one, Everitt describes the condition of the Roman government during this time. Ancient Rome was populated with nearly one million people. Everitt’s

Rome had shopping malls, bars, and many more modern day activities to offer its citizens. Refined as it was, Rome had an unquestionably weak government. Anthony makes the statement, “The Republic’s greatest underlying problem was the system of government.” During this time, Rome had no police force like what we know today. Armed soldiers were not allowed inside Rome which created problems for the citizens. This city lacked prisons, the death penalty, and the basic prosecution services that every government needs. Because of Rome’s weak constitution and the collapse of the monarchy, the authority was in the hands of two Consuls. These two men held office for one year and were elected by the people. The senate, during Julius Caesar’s time, held 900 members. Even though Rome’s political system was nothing less than chaos, it had some guarantees that would keep them alive. Rome’s citizens were devoted to their city and would help defend it in any circumstance. The people had no equality, but they found comfort in the rule of law and placed their personal stake in the future of the Republic. The senate soon became

Everitt gives the background of Cicero’s family tree starting with his grandfather. Cicero was of a family of landowners, farmers, and perhaps fullers that took part in the local aristocracy. Everitt’s inclusion of the occupations of Cicero’s family proves his idea that Cicero came from low nobility, but worked his way up the political ladder. This shows that Cicero had to work hard for where he made it to in life. Cicero’s grandfather, Marcus Cicero, played a big part in the local politics but tended to stay away from the center of Rome’s political life. Marcus Cicero had two sons, Marcus and Lucius. Despite the way their father handled the political affairs, Lucius and Marcus chose to make a name for themselves in the political world. Lucius, the younger brother, was not successful in his attempt to gain national recognition due to his death soon after returning from a trip to the eastern Mediterranean. Marcus, the oldest brother and father of Cicero, was overtaken by poor health. Because of this, he stayed in his home and became a well known scholar. He built up his family estate from a small home to a grand villa where many family and friends gathered to fellowship with one another. The Cicero’s had the life that everyone considered to be ideal. On January 3, 106 BC Marcus Tillius Cicero was born to his mother Helvia and father Marcus. Two years later, his brother Quintus was born. While