Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, orator, and philosopher who lived from 106 BCE to 43 BCE. He is considered one of the greatest orators in the history of the Roman Republic. Known for his defense of republican principles and his opposition to tyranny, he often found himself at odds with Julius Caesar's ambitions for personal power and dictatorship.
Cicero's literary works cover a range of topics, including rhetoric, philosophy, politics, and ethics. His letters, speeches, and philosophical treatises have provided valuable insights into the political and intellectual climate of ancient Rome. The Epistulae ad Familiares (Letters to Friends) contain a wide variety of correspondence that has been preserved over the centuries.
Notably, a large number of these letters were Litterae Commendaticiae (Letters of Recommendation) to various individuals, including influential figures in Roman politics, business associates, friends, and acquaintances. The letters were typically written to advocate for someone seeking employment, political support, or other assistance. Here is a typical letter of introduction from Cicero to Publius Lentulus Spinther from 56 BCE:
Aulus Trebonius, who has important business in your province, both of wide extent and sound, is an intimate friend of mine of many years standing. As before this, he has always, both from his brilliant position and the recommendations of myself and his other friends, enjoyed the highest popularity in the province, so at the present time, trusting to your affection for me and our close ties, he feels sure that this letter of mine will give him a high place in your esteem. That he may not be disappointed in that hope I earnestly beg of you, and I commend to you all his business concerns, his freedmen, agents, and servants; and specially that you will confirm the decrees made by T. Ampius in his regard, and treat him in all respects so as to convince him that my recommendation is no mere ordinary one.*
Cicero's letters of recommendation were a common practice in the social and political circles of ancient Rome, where personal connections and endorsements played a significant role in securing positions and opportunities. Person A (Spinther) relies on trusted associations with person B (Cicero) to recommend person C (Trebonius). Often Cicero's letters were self serving; a way to demonstrate his influence within the Roman Republic. At the same time, Cicero was careful to qualify a recommendation as either genuine or qualified:
If you are well I shall be glad. I am quite well. I presume that you will remember that, when escorting you on the commencement of your official journey, I mentioned to you in the presence of Publius Cuspius, and also afterwards urged you privately at some length, that whomsoever I might recommend to you as connections of his, you should regard as among connections of my own....Wherefore I thought it necessary to explain to you in this letter why I give letters of introduction to all the friends of Cuspius. In future letters I will merely append the mark agreed upon between you and me, and at the same time indicate that he is one of Cuspius's friends.**
Two thousand years later we are still asking for recommendations. However, it seems we are less focused on the goal of building trust between A, B, and C and more inclined to just provide a few names of people that we hope won't speak ill of us. Some job applications still require references, but nowadays many do not. Employers and supervisors are well versed in the language of neutrality when speaking about an employee's abilities and accomplishments. Coded phrases such as "He has potential" or "She's a work in progress" suggests that the candidate may not be fully qualified or experienced for the position. "He was very independent" or "She liked to do things her own way" might indicate that the candidate had difficulty following instructions or working within a team. Some employers flat out refuse to provide anything other than confirmation of dates of employment. This all but makes a list of references worthless. Nowadays potential employers that actually call for references are mostly checking a box.
The Roman Republic was a vast empire, but it was governed by a system of magistrates, including consuls, praetors, and tribunes. In that sense, the network of people involved in leading the Roman Republic was relatively small. Similarly, it can be said that the network of people directly involved in the business of the performing arts is relatively small. Regardless of whether references are required or requested, the importance of the connection between A, B, and C remains. Go the Ciceronian route; make an effort to make the connections.
Sometimes the (really) old ways are best.
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*The Letters of Cicero, trans. Evelyn S. Schuckburgh. Cambridge; George Bell and Sons, 1899. § Fam.1.3 XCVI (Fam. I, 3) p. 208.
**§ Fam.1.3 XCVI (Fam. I, 3) p. 242.