The _Annals_ deal with the time from the death of Augustus to that of Nero, _i.e._ from 14 to 68 A.D. There are extant Books i.-iv. and a part of v. and vi., and Books xi.-xvi., except the beginning of xi. and the end of xvi. We have thus lost the whole of the reign of Caligula and the reign of Claudius from 41-47 (part), and Nero's reign from the close of 66 to 68. The work was published between A.D. 115 and 117. This is settled by _Ann._ ii. 61, 'Exin ventum Elephantinen ac Syenen, claustra olim Romani imperii, quod nunc rubrum ad mare patescit.' The conquest here spoken of was made by Trajan A.D. 115, and his successor Hadrian, soon after coming to the throne (August, A.D. 117), gave up the regions beyond the Euphrates and Tigris (Spartianus, _Hadri._ 5).[113] _Tacitus' views on politics, philosophy, and religion._-- (1) The ideal mixed form of government Tacitus considers to be impracticable. _Ann._ iv. 33, 'Cunctas nationes et urbes populus aut primores aut singuli regunt: delecta ex eis et consociata rei publicae forma laudari facilius quam evenire, vel si evenit, haud diuturna esse potest.' Tacitus is essentially a conservative. Thus he always uses _antiquus_ and _priscus_ in a good sense (_H._ ii. 5; 64; _Ann._ vi. 32). In _Ann._ iii. 60 he speaks with pride of the republic: 'Magna eius diei species fuit, quo senatus maiorum beneficia, sociorum pacta, regum etiam, qui ante vim Romanam valuerant, decreta ipsorumque numinum religiones introspexit, libero, ut quondam, quid firmaret mutaretve.' See also the speech of C. Cassius in _Ann._ xiv. 43. As an aristocrat Tacitus is sometimes unjust to men of low birth, as in _Ann._ iv. 3, where he sneers at Seianus as 'municipali adultero,' and attaches great value to high birth (cf. vi. 27). He is prejudiced against slaves and barbarians. Tacitus theoretically prefers a republic (cf. _Ann._ vi. 42, 'Populi imperium iuxta libertatem, paucorum dominatio regiae libidini propior est'), but admits the impossibility of a restitution of the free state (_H._ ii. 37-8) and the necessity of empire. _H._ i. 1 (of Augustus), 'omnem potentiam ad unum conferri pacis interfuit.' Cf. also Galba's speech in _H._ i. 16. The problem is to reconcile the empire with freedom (see _Agr._ 3 quoted p. 341). One's duty is to steer one's course _inter abruptam contumaciam et deforme obsequium_ (_Ann._ iv. 20). Tacitus gives only modified approval to patriots like Paetus Thrasea (_Ann._ xiv. 12; 49) and Helvidius Priscus (_H._ iv. 6), and on the other hand gives praise for moderation to men like Agricola (_Agr._ 42), M. Lepidus (_Ann._ iv. 20), L. Piso (_Ann._ vi. 10). _Ann._ xiv. 12, 'Thrasea Paetus ... sibi causam periculi fecit, ceteris libertatis initium non praebuit.' _Agr._ 42, 'Non contumacia neque inani iactatione libertatis famam fatumque provocabat.'