Cicero

One of the most intellectually prominent historical figures from the Roman Republic was Cicero. Despite coming from an obscure background, he rose to become one of the most powerful men in Rome in the first century BC. Cicero was a key figure in many of the events that led to the end of the Roman Republic. He was a prolific writer and much of what he wrote has survived to modern times. His treatises covered a wide variety of topics including rhetoric, good government, and citizenship. Cicero embraced Greek philosophy and his works on the subject allowed St. Augustine to also embrace it and apply it to Christianity. Both his historical writings and his defense of the Roman Republic inspired individuals in both the American and French Revolutions. Cicero continues to influence educators and scholars in regards to law, government, rhetoric, and history.