PURPOSE

In Chapter 12 of Suburani, you learn about one of the most devastating events in the history of ancient Rome—the Great Fire of 64 CE. The fire destroyed large parts of the city, and in its aftermath, the Roman people and their leaders looked for someone to blame. In this activity, you will explore ancient perspectives on the fire, examine possible motives and evidence, and develop your own view based on what you’ve read.

TASK

Read the section on the Great Fire of Rome in Chapter 12 of Suburani. Begin by closely examining the ancient sources, especially the excerpt from Tacitus, and then consider the views of modern experts and the different theories about who or what may have caused the fire.

Answer the following questions in English:

1. Tacitus reports that some people tried to spread the fire and prevent others from stopping it. What are the two possible motives he suggests for this behavior?
2. Three ancient sources (Suetonius, Cassius Dio, and Tacitus) give different accounts of the fire. What do these sources agree on? Where do they differ? How reliable do you think these sources are?
3. Modern experts also disagree about what caused the fire. Summarize the arguments made by at least two of the modern experts (Baudy, Carandini, Varner). What evidence do they focus on?
4. In your view, how did the fire start? Was it an accident, or was it arson? If it was deliberate, who do you think was responsible—and why? Support your opinion with evidence from the chapter.

Be specific and thoughtful in your responses.

NOTA BENE

• Your submission will be marked as complete if you make a sincere effort to address each of the questions. Please note that 2 points will be deducted for each unanswered question (total: 10 points).
• Your responses must be entirely your own work.
• While you may discuss the assignment with a classmate, each of you should write your own answers independently.
• The use of AI tools is not allowed in the preparation of this assignment.