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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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People File • Historian

Livy

Livy, whose full name was Titus Livius, was a Roman historian born in Patavium, in northern Italy, around 59 BCE and died in AD 17.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Livy was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome called *Ab Urbe Condita*. His work became a classic source for understanding Rome’s past.

Who Livy was

Livy, born Titus Livius in Patavium (modern Padua, Italy) around 59 BCE, was a Roman historian active during the late Republic and early Empire. He died in Patavium in AD 17. His life spanned a period of major political change in Rome.

What he wrote

Livy’s chief work, *Ab Urbe Condita* (*From the Founding of the City*), originally comprised 142 books. It traced Roman history from legendary beginnings through the Republic and into the reign of Augustus. Only part of the work survives today, but it remains a key source for early Roman history.

Why he matters

Livy became a classic author in his own lifetime and shaped how Romans and later readers understood their past. His historical style influenced centuries of historical writing. He is one of the major Roman historians of antiquity.

In short

  • Livy wrote *Ab Urbe Condita*, a vast history of Rome.
  • His work covered Rome from its founding to the reign of Augustus.
  • Only part of the original 142 books survives.
  • He remains a major influence on historical writing.

Quick questions

Who is Livy?
Livy was a Roman historian whose full name was Titus Livius. He is best known for writing a major history of Rome in Latin.
What did Livy write?
He wrote *Ab Urbe Condita* (*From the Founding of the City*), a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people.
When did Livy live?
Livy lived from around 59 BCE to AD 17.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livy
    Supports: Basic biographical details, dates, identity as a Roman historian, and the scope of *Ab Urbe Condita*.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Livy
    Supports: Birth and death information, status as a major Roman historian, and long-term influence.
  3. Livius.org — https://www.livius.org/articles/person/livy/
    Supports: Livy’s identity, dates, and authorship of a major history of the Roman Republic.
  4. EBSCO Research Starters — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/titus-livius
    Supports: Description of *Ab urbe condita*, surviving books, and Livy’s historical significance.