• The introduction, written by Michael Grant, introduces Cicero's writing along with his historical influences.
• Cicero was an individualist who believed in human rights and that people had a spark of divinity that made them equal to one another.
• Cicero was not dogmatic and resisted dogmatism.
• Cicero wrote in the late 60s, 50s, and 40s B.C. during the late Roman republic before Caesar took power.
• Cicero retired to the country when Caesar took over and took refuge in writing.
• Cicero went through a divorce, fights with friends, and his daughter's death that added to his refuge to the country.
• Cicero's work contains much Greek philosophy.
• Cicero believed strongly that philosophy took away "the load of empty troubles."
• Cicero criticized those Romans that were too Hellenized, although many were interested, it was a superficial interest.
• Cicero was excellent at popularizing ideas and wrote in dialogue form because...
This section contains 1,771 words
(approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page)