An investigation of the America-Rome analogy that goes deeper than the facile comparisons made on talk shows and in glossy magazine articles.America's post--Cold War strategic dominance and its pre-recession affluence inspired pundits to make celebratory comparisons to ancient Rome at its most powerful. Now; with America no longer perceived as invulnerable; engaged in protracted fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan; and suffering the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression; comparisons are to the bloated; decadent; ineffectual later Empire. In Why America Is Not a New Rome; Vaclav Smil looks at these comparisons in detail; going deeper than the facile analogy-making of talk shows and glossy magazine articles. He finds profound differences.Smil; a scientist and a lifelong student of Roman history; focuses on several fundamental concerns: the very meaning of empire; the actual extent and nature of Roman and American power; the role of knowledge and innovation; and demographic and economic basics--population dynamics; illness; death; wealth; and misery. America is not a latter-day Rome; Smil finds; and we need to understand this in order to look ahead without the burden of counterproductive analogies. Superficial similarities do not imply long-term political; demographic; or economic outcomes identical to Rome's.
#2125752 in Books Ronald L Baker 2000 2000-10-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.32 x 6.12l; 1.56 #File Name: 0253338034341 pagesHomeless Friendless and Penniless The WPA Interviews with Former Slaves Living in Indiana
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