15 ore 20 min, 2 gen 264 anni a. C. - Twelve Tables of Law Carthage

Descrizione:

In the excerpt below from Parallel Lives, Roman biographer Plutarch describes Julius Caesar's rise to power as a general and politician. Parallel Lives, a collection of biographies of great men, celebrates the qualities that made men like Alexander the Great and Caesar so famous. In this excerpt from Life of Caesar, the biography of Caesar in the Parallel Lives, Plutarch details many of the events that actually occurred in Caesar's life with the benefit, and limitations, of hindsight. For example, Plutarch portrays Caesar's motivations as explicit, when in fact, there is little specific evidence to pin down Caesar's ultimate plan. To be sure, Caesar aimed to be first man in the state, but to this day, experts argue whether or not he intended to install a monarchy. Plutarch did draw on earlier sources, but given his purpose, he clearly chose what he needed to make his point, not always providing and explaining contrary evidence. Despite the dangers in using such biographies as historical fact, Plutarch's Life of Caesar remains a valuable source. In discussing the virtues and vices of his subject, Plutarch provides valuable insight into the legend of Caesar as Romans up to his day knew it.