Characters and Events of Roman History: From Caesar to Nero - Couverture souple

FERRERO, Guglielmo

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1793318719 ISBN 13 : 9781793318718

Editeur : Independently published, 2019

Synopsis

The volume of essays is scarcely inferior to the history in interest. Lectures written for public delivery, they are popular in style, but full of suggestion.The first one, on Corruption in Ancient Rome, is very illuminating. It proves that what the Romans called corruption was in fact the process of evolution that goes on in all societies, and which is as inevitable as the growth of a tree. It shows that the luxury which so shocks the ancient moralists was far behind what is found in our modern capitals, and is there looked upon as a matter of course and almost without reprobation. But one thing he does not explain- why was luxury so much more destructive to the stamina of the race than it is today? I suspect that it was due to the institution of slavery in a condition of society where many of the shrewdest men and most beautiful women were mere chattels under the absolute dominion of their masters. Would that our clear-sighted author might give us an analysis of the consequences of slavery among the ancients.The essay on Nero goes far to render the monster comprehensible. Signor Ferrero does not mitigate his crimes nor seek to throw a glamor over his career, as have some recent writers. He shows him as he was; but he helps to make us understand how such a beast could be.The essay on Wine in Roman History is perhaps the most instructive. It is a powerful argument in the hands of the prohibitionists. It is generally supposed that wine was the customary beverage of the Romans. Signor Ferrero demonstrates, however, that in the days of Rome's true greatness, it was drunk only on solemn occasions; that it came in along with other oriental vices, and that the Romans degenerated in proportion to its use. This, coming from an Italian who no doubt takes his bottle of Chianti or asti spumante every day, is a strong admission.The essay on The Development of Gaul is most informing. We all know that Caesar's conquest proved the bulwark of the Empire, turning back the tide of barbarian invasion even when Italy herself succumbed; but few realize how quickly the Gauls assimilated Roman civilization, how rich, how prosperous, how refined they became within a few years after their annexation. To find anything analogous we must turn to Japan, those Frenchmen of the farther East. — George B. Rose, The Sewanee Review, Vol. 17, No. 4.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Independently published
• Date d'édition: 2019
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1793318719
• ISBN 13: 9781793318718
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 235
• Éditeur: Kim Doyle
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible