ANNALS

ANNALS, Annales, a historical Account of the Affairs of a State, digested in order of Years; see YEAR. The difference between Annals and History is variously assigned by various Authors—Some say that History is properly a Recital of Things which the Author has seen, or been a bystander to. What they build upon, is, the Etymology of the Word; History in the Greek, signifying the Knowledge of Things present, and in effect, ἱστορία, properly signifies to see. On the contrary, Annals, say they, relate to the Transactions of others, and such as the Writer never saw. See HISTORY.



Of this Opinion, the great Annalist, Tacitus himself, seems to have been; in regard, the first Part of his Work, which treats of former Times, he calls Annals; whereas when he comes down to his own Times, he changes his Title, and calls it History. Aulus Gellius is of a different Sentiment, and pretends that History and Annals only differ from one another as the Genus does from the Species; that History is the Genus, and implies a Narration or Recital of Things passed; and that Annals are the Species, and are also a Recital of Things passed, but with this difference, that these last are digested into certain Periods, or Years.

The same Author gives us another Opinion, which he says he borrows from Suetonius Asellio: According to that Writer, Annals are a bare Relation of what passes each Year; whereas History relates not only the Transactions themselves, but also the Causes, Motives, and Springs thereof. The Annalist has nothing to do but to lay down the Facts, but the Historian reasons and discants on them.

Of this last Opinion seems Cicero to be, when speaking of Annalists, he says, "Unam dicendi laudem putant esse brevitatem, non Exornatores rerum, sed tantum Narratores": He adds, that History, in its Origin, was a Composition of Annals.

The same Cicero relates the Origin of Annals: To preserve the Memory of Transactions, the Pontifex Maximus, says he, wrote what passed each Year; and exposed it on a Table, in his own House, where everyone was at liberty to read them——These they called Annals Maximi; and the Custom was kept up till the Year of Rome 610. See FASTI.

Several other Writers, in imitation hereof, took to this simple, and naked Way of relating Facts; and were hence denominated Annalists——Such were Cato, Pictor, Piso Antipater, etc.

ANNALS