234 B.C. - 149 B.C
Marcus Porcius "Censorius" Cato was born in Tusculum in 234 B.C. to a peasant family. He died in 149 B.C. at age 85 leaving 2 sons, Cato Licinianus by his first wife and Cato Salonianus by his 2nd wife.
He began his political career under L. Valerius Flaccus. After holding several offices in 195 B.C. he became consul where he eventually settled the administration in Spain and initiated the development of Roman Rule. In 184 B.C. he became censor with L. Valerius Flaccus at a time when social deterioration among nobles and people gave his doctrines full scope. Cato taxed luxury, revised senatorial and equestrian rolls, and checked the publicani. He spent liberally on building. He represented a policy of reconstruction, moral, social and economical He was a great stimulus to the Roman tradition.
Cato's thoughts found expression through his strong literary talent. He published speeches, wrote an encyclopedia for his 1st son, including agriculture, rhetoric and medicine, and separate treatises on medicine, law and military science. In 160 B.C. he wrote De Agri Cultura. This work explored the development of vine, olive and fruit growing, and grazing for profit in Latium and Campania.
Source: The Oxford Classical Dictionary
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