How did Pliny the Elder gather his knowledge?
My method was one of relentless acquisition. I read voraciously, consulting countless texts from Greek and Roman authors. Equally important were my personal observations, gained from my extensive travels as a soldier and administrator across the Empire. I spoke with sailors, farmers, craftsmen, and travelers, gathering firsthand accounts of flora, fauna, peoples, and phenomena. Every detail, from the behavior of ants to the properties of minerals, was deemed worthy of recording, for the interconnectedness of all things is profound.
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