History Question: Rome vs USA - ...Setanta, you around?

You're welcome Osso, and thanks to you and Walter for your kind remarks.

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Set., what fun! I was not the only one who enjoyed your POV. I had guests over this weekend and the Rome/USA comparison actually came up without my prompting (as littlek touched on, it's sort of in the collective mind of many). I printed this out and read it at the dinner table. We had a nice little debate about Rome, the pro's and con's of Barbarians, virtue, bad emperors vs. bad presidents, and how we try to understand ourselves by looking at the past. As I read your post, I had flash backs to my Roman history readings of years ago- my middle aged brain keeps better storage than I thought. All very interesting and more food for thought. Thanks again.

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Set. we have some similar interests but you have much denser, thicker, worked out knowledge. You ease my way to getting a clue. I admit I'm a pansy at all this, whatever my notes.

You have lived and breathed history and I read it as I can long later.

Well, so? So, your posts give me joy.

That and a banana will give you pie, but I mean it as a real thank you.

(Will shut up now. Bye.)

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Oh, what, GW and I agree again. We have to stop meeting like this.

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Cool. I'll be back to read this later.

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thanks to Set from here too.

Mrs S said she didnt know that about Cincinnati...which is a remarkable thing in itself Laughing

ok out of here before I'm in real trouble.

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Thanks very much, Setanta, for the explanations and the picture. I sure look now at Cincinnati with a different eye. Laughing

It seems to me though that citizens in every country have to do that, either fight or plow, nothing exceptionally virtuous per se. I guess the Romans got to find themselves some virtue to go down in history.

I am also surprised why the Americans need to compare themselves to Romans, isn't it enough to be Americans?

Has the book Ad Urbe Condita been translated in any language?

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I was curious so I checked out the book. Here is a link for anyone interested.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ab_Urbe_Condita_%28book%29

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Livy's book has been translated many, many times, and has been published many, many times in English. One of the best selling versions is the first five books, which cover the legendary history of Rome. Probably the next most popular version is the five books which cover the invasion of Italy by Hannibal.

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Thanks for the info, Setanta. I am going to check that out next time I go to the library.

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Hail Calgacus!

Who said, and I quote....

"I'd not relieve myˈself upon a Roman if he were aflame....feculent wall building pimps."

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Steve 41oo wrote:

Setanta will give the definitive answer as soon as he discovers this thread. I feel sure somehow.

What is setanta??

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maliyana wrote:

What is setanta??

A mild and non-communicable social disease.

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Feculent . . . hehehehehe . . . that was a nice touch . . .