Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, orator, lawyer, and philosopher. He was born in 106 BC in Arpinum and died in 43 BC. He played a crucial role in the politics of the late Roman Republic. He served as consul in 63 BC, during which time he dismantled the Catilinarian conspiracy. He is renowned for his prose and oratory, introducing Romans to the main schools of Greek philosophy and creating a Latin philosophical vocabulary. His extensive works include speeches, letters, and philosophical and rhetorical treatises, serving as a fundamental source for Roman history and culture.