The period covered by the "Histories" (written before the "Annals") starts at the beginning of the year AD 69, i.e. six months after the death of Nero and continues to the death of Domitian in 96. It is not known when Tacitus began writing the Annals, but he was well into writing it by AD 116. Modern scholars believe that as a senator, Tacitus had access to "Acta Senatus", the Roman senate's records, thus providing a solid basis for his work.