Saeculum

In "Saeculum," Paul Hay explores the origins of periodization in ancient Rome during the first century BCE, revealing how Romans began to delineate historical eras, particularly through the influence of the general Sulla. By adopting the Etruscan term saeculum, they linked concepts of time to experiences of prosperity and catastrophe, reshaping their understanding of progress and decline. This thought-provoking account illustrates an intellectual revolution that transformed both the narrative of history and the perception of time itself.