A quaestor was a minor official who helped with accounts on a general's or a governer's staff. Cicero was quaestor in Sicily in 75 B.C.E.

2. Cicero's Birth and Boyhood

Cicero was born on January 3, 106 B.C.E.

3. Cicero Begins His Studies and Enters Public Life

Philo of Larissa (ca. 160-80 B.C.E.), the last head of the "New Academy", the philosophical school founded by Plato. A skeptic, he was a pupil of Clitomachus. He came to Rome around 88.

Clitomachus (ca. 187-109 B.C.E.), a skeptic, head of the "New Academy" after Carneades, whose pupil he was. Taught Philo of Larissa.

Carneades (214-128 B.C.E.), founder of the "New Academy", the third major shift in focus of the philosophical school founded by Plato. Carneades refused to be dogmatic about issues of truth, admitting probabilty and prefering reason by arguing both sides of an issue.

Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 B.C.E.), conservative Roman general who also fought with political opponents in Rome. He brutally crushed his opposition, became Dictator in 82, and published a list of people to be put to death. His reforms put the government back in the hands of the conservative groups.

The Marsian War, also called the Italian War or Social War because Rome fought against its allies (socii in Latin), was fought in 91-87. Cicero probably joined in 89.

Cicero's speech still survives, In Defense of Sextus Roscius of Ameria . This Roscius is not the same as Cicero's friend the comic actor.

4. Cicero Studies Philosophy and Rhetoric

Apollonius Molon (late 2nd-early 1st cent. B.C.E.), a prominent rhetorician who lived on Rhodes. He was an important influence on Cicero, who had the chance to hear him lecture again when he came to Rome in 87.

Posidonius (late 2nd-mid 1st cent. B.C.E.), an important historian of contemporary events, particularly Pompey's military expeditions to the East. His notion of the unity of history influenced most major historians after him.