Livy

Titus Livius (59 BC–AD 17) was born in Patavium, now Padua, in northern Italy and spent most of his life in Rome, where he knew Augustus. He held no office and fought in no war; his work was the History of Rome from its founding, Ab Urbe Condita, in 142 books, of which thirty-five survive, covering the early centuries down to 293 BC and the years from 218 to 167, including the war with Hannibal. The lost books are known from ancient summaries. His vivid, moralizing narrative shaped the European image of Rome.