Description
"A provocative history" of intrigue and class struggle in Ancient Rome--"an important alternative to the usual views of Caesar and the Roman Empire" (Publishers Weekly). Most historians, both ancient and modern, have viewed the Late Republic of Rome through the eyes of its rich nobility--the 1 percent of the population who controlled 99 percent of the empire's wealth. In The Assassination of Julius Caesar, Michael Parenti recounts this period, spanning the years 100 to 33 BC, from the perspective of the Roman people. In doing so, he presents a provocative, trenchantly researched narrative of popular resistance against a powerful elite. As Parenti carefully weighs the evidence concerning the murder of Caesar, he adds essential context to the crime with fascinating details about Roman society as a whole. In these pages, we find reflections on the democratic struggle waged by Roman commoners, religious augury as an instrument of social control, the patriarchal oppression of women, and the political use of homophobic attacks. The Assassination of Julius Caesar offers a whole new perspective on an era thought to be well-known. "A highly accessible and entertaining addition to history." --Book Marks… (more)
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Parenti's explanation of a
My saddest revelation was that Cicero was a mouthpiece and wannabe for the rich nobility. Parenti reveals him as small and grubby. What a shame.
Parenti's explanation of a
My saddest revelation was that Cicero was a mouthpiece and wannabe for the rich nobility. Parenti reveals him as small and grubby. What a shame.
The main thesis of the book, was that Julius Caesar was assassinated not for being a tyrant, but for taking away power and profits from the wealthy elite, and giving them to the
The book was interesting, but could get a little dry at times. If I were a little more familiar with the big names at the time, it probably would have been vastly easier to follow. For that reason, I'd recommend this to anyone who has read anything about Roman History before, but maybe not for someone's first time.