Caesar Era: Famous People and the Era

Author: Will Durant (USA)
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: Caesar was a Roman general, dictator, and statesman. During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in China, he decisively and irrevocably altered the course of history in the Greek-Roman world. He gave the Roman state and the Greek-Roman world a respite, allowing them to endure for over six hundred years in the east and over four hundred years in the relatively underdeveloped west. Without him, the elements of ancient Greek culture could not have possessed enough strength to exert a decisive influence on Christianity and Islam; without him, ancient Greek culture could not have permeated the regions known as the Middle East in the West 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 called the supreme great man."
Reasons to Read This Book: Though not likable, he is highly attractive, captivating people both in the past and now. He applied his intelligence to warfare, winning battles and thus earning the admiration of his soldiers. 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 "excellent 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 and fluent language and presents an original and unique 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, with the stance of "learning from this," strives to make this "Roman history" a "telling of our own history," a "history of our own struggles," and a "prospect of our future work."
The New York Times called this book a "highly recommended good book," The New Yorker believed it had "a keen appreciation for this great era," The American described it as "stylistically unique," and Library Journal praised it as "stylish and witty."