5 quotes
An imperialism without imperialists, a design of conquest devoid of human agency or forethought, such a notion applies neither to Rome nor to any other empire in history.
The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People's History of Ancient Rome (2003)
The writing of history has long been a privileged calling undertaken within the church, royal court, landed estate, affluent town house, government agency, university, and corporate-funded foundation.
The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People's History of Ancient Rome (2003)
They have yet to consider that republicanism might largely be a cloak for oligarchic privilege—as it often is to this day—worn grudgingly by the elites as long as it proved serviceable to their interests.
The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People's History of Ancient Rome (2003)
Throughout the ages, in keeping with their ideological proclivities, gentlemen historians have tended to dismiss the populares of the Roman Republic as self aggrandizing demagogues who affronted constitutional principles by encroaching upon the Senate's domain.
The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People's History of Ancient Rome (2003)
Throughout history, in the name of “liberty,” owning classes have opposed political leaders who have sought a more equitable distribution and use of wealth. And in the name of “stability” and “public safety,” they have repeatedly surrendered some of their own power to autocratic leaders dedicated to preserving the privileged socioeconomic order.
The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People's History of Ancient Rome (2003)