Embracing New Ideas: Virgil and the Birth of Roman Literature

This chapter discusses the background and context in which the Roman poet Virgil wrote his epic poem, the Aniad. It explores previous attempts at epic poetry, such as Ennius and Lucretius, and their influence on Virgil's work. The chapter also touches on the political climate of the time, with civil strife, slave revolts, and factional uprisings, as well as Rome's expansion into the Mediterranean.