In less developed nations, literacy rates remain as bad as they were in Caligula's day. This insurmountable disadvantage persisted over thousands of years and continues even today, when there are only two ways by which an American kid gets a good education: rich parents, or a willingness to plunge oneself into tens of thousands of dollars into debt (I myself owe $57,000 in student loans, which will not be paid off for 30 years). Literacy rates in ancient Rome were horrific the vast majority of the population could neither read nor write. From the days of Sallust, Seutonius and Polybius on down to Edward Gibbon, education was a privilege reserved for the wealthy. It is unfathomable to people such as himself that there are those for whom education is a pipe dream, an unattainable aspiration prohibited by the financial situations into which they were born. Robinson speak from precisely the privileged perspective Parenti works so tirelessly to challenge here. Parenti's interest is not in some puerile (and typically American) debate over who is right and who is wrong, but rather a very fair and disinterested discussion about the consequences of crippling class stratification in ancient Rome and, as it turns out, throughout much of the history that followed. It is not, as "L.C" Robinson asserts above, that Parenti thinks everybody is wrong. Parenti!Ĭritics who fail to see through the very blindnesses Parenti challenges throughout this book are just proving his point. Almost by instinct many historians seemingly identified themselves with the oligarchy ("the best") and condemned Caesar for excessive arrogance and ambition in a Rome where all of the Senatorial class were equally ambitious and desirous of getting & keeping private wealth. Parenti was able to take these inherent contradictions of the wealthy Senators AND many hisotrians and recognize their class blindness. ![]() ![]() These "protectors" of the Roman constitution allowed Pompey to become consul before he was legally of age, appointted him sole consul (a unique position) at one point, allowed him to govern Spain and maintain an army without going to Spain, and gave him control of the Roman state BEFORE Caesar crossed the Rubicon. ![]() I have been constantly amazed at the praise that major historians have given to Cicero (who lies to everyone but Atticus), Brutus (whose exhorbitant interest rates were talked about by even HIS peers), for Cato (whose hyprocrisy allowed him to denounce Caesar at all points while manipulating Roman laws to defeat Caesar at every turn) and others in the oligarchy as "noble" protectors of the constitution. I started reading about Julius Caesar 50 years ago.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |