Problemy z historią najnowszą w cesarstwie rzymskim

Abstract

The problems with contemporary history in the Roman Empire

The aim of the article is to present the stance of ancient historians of early and late empire towards their contemporary history. The author analyzed preface texts of chosen history books by Livius, Tacitus and Ammianus Marcellinus. Moreover, he discussed fragments of historiography works of G. Asinius Pollio, M. Valerius and A. Cremutius Cordus. The author stated that the issue of “contemporary history as a danger” became a regular literary topos.