Intro

Hello, I am Pliny the Elder. Along with my curator Professor William, I am going to examine Book 8 of my The Natural History. I'll begin with elephants, where I can discuss through Roman warfare and mastery of the world, we were able to tame these beasts and bring them to Rome for our people's entertainment. I will then examine a few other animals such as the lion, tiger, and jaguar, that through Roman expansion and cultural influence became staples in our gladiator pits and circuses. I will then discuss how the view of serpents or "dragons" has changed over time, as they were once heavily misunderstood creatures.