Eutropius facts for kids

Eutropius was a historian who lived in the late 300s. He worked for a Roman Emperor named Julian the Apostate. Eutropius believed in many gods, which was common in the Roman Empire at that time.

Who Was Eutropius?

Eutropius was an important person in the Roman Empire. He was a historian, which means he wrote about the past. He worked for Emperor Julian, who ruled the Roman Empire from 361 to 363 AD. Eutropius's job was to record important events and stories from Roman times.

His Famous Book: A Summary of Roman History

Eutropius wrote a special book called Historiae romanae breviarium. This Latin title means "A Short History of Rome." It was a summary of Roman history, divided into ten parts or "books." He wrote this book sometime between the years 350 and 370 AD. It's the only writing we know of by Eutropius.

What the Book Covers

Eutropius's book starts from the very beginning of Rome. It tells the story of Rome's founding. Then it covers the time when Rome was a kingdom. After that, it talks about the Roman Republic. Finally, it describes the Roman Empire, up to the time of Emperor Jovian in 364 AD. This book was a quick way for people to learn about Rome's long past.

Why His Book Is Important Today

Even though it's a short summary, Eutropius's book is very helpful for historians today. It gives us a look at how people in the late Roman Empire saw their own history. It also helps us understand events from that time. His book was used for many years as a simple textbook to teach Roman history.