Titelpagina voor: C. Forstner, C. Cornelii Taciti, notæ politicæ, 1655

This is the title page for C. Forstner's "C. Cornelii Taciti, notæ politicæ," printed in 1655 by Franciscus Moyardus. During this time, Europe was still reeling from the aftermath of the Thirty Years' War, a conflict deeply rooted in religious and political tensions. The book itself is a commentary on the works of Tacitus, a Roman historian known for his cynical analysis of power. In the 17th century, reading Tacitus was a way of reflecting on and understanding the political landscape of the time. Forstner’s work would have been received differently depending on where you were. For some, it was a critical examination of political life; for others, it was a dangerous endorsement of Machiavellian principles. Printed in Latin, the book speaks to an educated, elite audience, largely excluding women and lower classes, who were often denied formal education. It invites us to reflect on who has access to knowledge, and how that access shapes our understanding of the world.