Italian scholars attending the one American university “Chairs of Wisdom” have presented different volumes of nostalgic stories that reflect the history and the events of ancient histories of Italy. One of these scholars has had a great success with his book on the popular stories that have interested readers around the world. Michael Parenti is one of the renegade Italian American scholars whose works have caused much controversy in the literary world. He writes of the spell-binding moments of history and the popular illusions of the reality of the events that happened in the social history of ancient. The ‘reality” in this book reflects the highest probability of attainable truth. The author gathered information through the careful analysis of evidence that has been documented over the years and presented a clear view of the different societies in the past. It is through this use of document analysis that Michael Parenti’s could demystify and explore the different aspects of the Roman society in his book “The Assassination of Julius Caesar” and thereby create the current realities of the Southern-Italian American ancient history.
The proof of Paranti’s arguments in the book centers on the authoritative language and the epistemological and logical analysis of the relevant documents. The author’s presents the pertinent ideological values in the different classes that are presented in the current historical narratives. These documents are presented as “Gentlemen’s History.” Throughout this opening chapter, Parenti reveals that the class values were ideally presented in the historical narratives that were written by gentlemen. Additionally, the metaphorical use of the “Gentlemen” helps to clarify the author’s views on the social and economic class values that historians revealed in the eighteenth century. Parenti suggests that the renowned “Gibbon perceived reality in accordance with the position he occupied in the social structure” (p. 14) because he is ideally, the gentleman scholar who presents the ‘gentlemen’s history’ which is “heavily indebted to an upper-class ideological perspective” (p. 14). This history also centers on the life and assassination of Julius Caesar.
Throughout Rome, there were the natural consequences of domestic union and peace. These factors helped to shape the uniformity and obedience of the Roman society and changes the way readers viewed the upper-class impression of the Roman Empire. Historians have shared different views on the ancient and modern studies of the rich nobility in Rome. In fact, these historians have present general views on the Roman commoners as similar to the parasitic mob that will only become interested in bread and circuses. Cicero’s “starving, contemptible rabble” reveals this practice and these conspirators to Caesar’s death have significantly highlighted the fact that Caesar’s role as the champion of the poor was in fact unacceptable.
Parenti further suggests that Caesar took on the fight for the poor and a demagogue and an adventurer. This image of Caesar is also the reason for his assassination as the common belief is that Caesar’s assassination stemmed from a constitutional or personal struggle that had no foundations in social content. In the book “The Assassination of Julius Caesar” Parenti compares these acts and Caesar’s murder to the assertions of “gentlemen historians” which allows analyzing the events as for a bracing critique of popular resistance by members of the society who were against power and wealth. In the modern society, greed continues to take control of the way people think and the assassination of Caesar as he attempts to help the poor is common to the modern society.
Parenti gives background information on Caesar’s assassination small proportions and instead delves deeper into the realm of the wider Roman society. The author carefully assesses the evidence and presents his views on the democratic struggles that existed among the Roman commoners. The religious augury served as means of social control, the political use of attacks on homosexuality, and the male dominance and oppression of women in the society. The book gives readers a clear insight into the different perspectives of an age in history that has been distorted by common errors of historians over time. In an interview with Brian Lamb in 2003, Parenti notes that the background for the book came from his readings in the political theory and philosophies of the Greeks. This political background helped him to develop an interest in the Romans and the intrigue and struggles of Cicero.
Parenti notes in chapter 9 that the assassination came about because of the fact that Caesar was at the height of his power and had just won the war against Pompey and his aristocratic army. Additionally, Caesars was making a number of changes in the society and this brought on controversies with the rich in the society. Based on the popular history, Cassius seeks the help of his relative, Brutus. These men, along with a number of others who supported their cause were responsible for the death f Caesar. Cicero is probably the most outstanding hero of many historians (Parenti, np). For many critics, Cicero was truly a hypocrite who would praise Caesar and emphasize his love and loyalty while delighting in the assassination and the events surrounding the assassination.
Cicero came from a wealthy family and this was not a surprise that he was not in favor of Caesar’s plans for Rome. Some critics would call Cicero an arrivist. Despite his wealth, Cicero had no family connections in the senate. But he proved that he was one of those people who would work towards his goals without reservations. He set his goals on serving as a part of the oligarchic faction. This group refused to share power and opposed the laws that would bring about land reforms. Interestingly, the people who sided with the group, led by Caesar were assassinated. Cicero believed that the people were starving masses. His narrow thoughts do not allow for the truth that the people of Rome were truly victims of a power struggle that Caesar attempted to change.
In conclusion, Parenti successfully gives a new look on the way gentlemen historians have distorted, to some extent, the images of the greed and political struggles that plagued Rome at the time. The author also presents Caesar as the opposite image to what is popular in history and shows that Caesar was a true hero and champion of Rome. His assassination was clearly a result of the greed and the political struggles in the country. Parenti’s views may contradict the history of Rome a lot, but it is clear that Caesar was not the dictator or destroyer of Rome, but was in fact an honorable man who fought for the slaves who suffered and felt disenfranchised in the society.
References
Parenti, Michael. The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A People's History of Ancient Rome
(2003) (New Press People's History) New York, First Edition, 4th Printing Edition
