Caesar era

Author: (American) Will Durant
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Caesar was a Roman general, dictator, and statesman. During the period of the Han Dynasty in China, he decisively and irrevocably changed the course of history in the Greek-Roman world. He gave the Roman state and the Greek-Roman world a respite, continuing in the East for over six hundred years and in the relatively backward West for over four hundred years. Without him, the elements of ancient Greek culture would not have had enough strength to exert a decisive influence on Christianity and Islam; without him, ancient Greek culture could not have permeated the regions of the Middle East as understood by Westerners for seven centuries; without him, Rome and the Greek-Roman world might have been subjugated by barbarian tribes from the West and the Parthian Empire from the East before the beginning of the Christian era. He was regarded by the Western world as "truly worthy of being the supreme great man."
Reasons to Read This Book: Though not likable, he is highly attractive, and both in the past and now, he can captivate people. He applied his intelligence to warfare, leading his soldiers to victory and thus earning their admiration. Behind the scenes, he was considered a "master" and a "genius" in manipulation, propaganda, administration, and command. His magnanimity toward his defeated political rivals revealed his greatness in character. He was not only seen as a "masterful public speaker" but also possessed a genius for writing. Although his writings were written for propaganda, they had "outstanding literary value" and were often appreciated as "brilliant works of art."
Recommended for the following groups to read this book:
- Scholars or enthusiasts of the Roman Empire
- Scholars or enthusiasts of Sino-Western exchanges
- Scholars or enthusiasts of Greek-Roman culture
- Scholars or enthusiasts of biographical literature
This book is adapted from the relevant content of Will Durant's classic "The Story of Civilization, Volume III." It is written in clear, fluent prose and a novelistic style, depicting the era named after Caesar. It is not just a history book but a life story and intellectual history filled with wisdom and personal insights. The author, taking the stance of "learning from others," strives to make this "Roman history" a "history of our own," a "history of our own struggles," and a "foreshadowing of our future work."
The New York Times called this book a "highly recommended read," The New Yorker believed it had "a keen appreciation for this great era," The American described it as "distinctive in style," and Library Journal praised it as "fluent and witty in style."