Plutarch (c. 46-120 AD) was a Greek biographer, historian, and essayist. His Parallel Lives of Illustrious Greeks and Romans were comparative biographies written in pairs, comparing one influential Greek with one influential Roman. Plutarch's Lives were used as sources for Shakespeare and other Elizabethan playwrights. Plutarch also wrote Morals, a collection of essays and dialogues on historical, rhetorical, and philosophical topics.