Politeness, “Humanitas” and Imperialism. A Reflection by Montesquieu (“EL”, XIX, 27) and Tacitus’ “Agricola”
A reflection by Montesquieu on the relationship between absolutism, idleness and politeness (“EL” XIX, 27) is connected, through a note later deleted in the manuscript, to chap. 21 of Tacitus’ “Agricola”, where the author shows how Agricola, the father-in-law of the historian and a general victoriou...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Spanish |
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University of Bologna
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Montesquieu.it |
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| Online Access: | https://montesquieu.unibo.it/article/view/10733 |
| _version_ | 1819108875502092288 |
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| author | Sergio Audano |
| author_facet | Sergio Audano |
| author_sort | Sergio Audano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A reflection by Montesquieu on the relationship between absolutism, idleness and politeness (“EL” XIX, 27) is connected, through a note later deleted in the manuscript, to chap. 21 of Tacitus’ “Agricola”, where the author shows how Agricola, the father-in-law of the historian and a general victorious over the Britons, had gradually (and skilfully) imposed a conquest which was not merely military but also cultural. The Roman civilization, defined in its overall “superiority” as “humanitas”, could easily offer seductive tools (temples, forums, houses, elegant clothes and refined manners) that extinguished any memory of past freedom, cancelled any identity and common memory, thus contributing to the long-term affirmation of Roman imperialism. Still in the “Agricola”, Tacitus also proposes the opponent’s point of view through the famous speech by the Britons’ commander Calgacus before the decisive battle of Mons Graupius: the well-known metaphor of the “desert called peace” is well explained if associated not only with the traditional Roman expansionism, but, as acutely noted by Montesquieu, also to the subtle conquests of the “humanitas”. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:16:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3111959476f3441ca2e2b563ea4dea8c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2421-4124 |
| language | Spanish |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T03:16:53Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | University of Bologna |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Montesquieu.it |
| spelling | doaj.art-3111959476f3441ca2e2b563ea4dea8c2022-12-21T18:40:48ZspaUniversity of BolognaMontesquieu.it2421-41242020-04-0112110.6092/issn.2421-4124/107338967Politeness, “Humanitas” and Imperialism. A Reflection by Montesquieu (“EL”, XIX, 27) and Tacitus’ “Agricola”Sergio Audano0Centro di Studi sulla Fortuna dell’Antico “Emanuele Narducci” – Sestri LevanteA reflection by Montesquieu on the relationship between absolutism, idleness and politeness (“EL” XIX, 27) is connected, through a note later deleted in the manuscript, to chap. 21 of Tacitus’ “Agricola”, where the author shows how Agricola, the father-in-law of the historian and a general victorious over the Britons, had gradually (and skilfully) imposed a conquest which was not merely military but also cultural. The Roman civilization, defined in its overall “superiority” as “humanitas”, could easily offer seductive tools (temples, forums, houses, elegant clothes and refined manners) that extinguished any memory of past freedom, cancelled any identity and common memory, thus contributing to the long-term affirmation of Roman imperialism. Still in the “Agricola”, Tacitus also proposes the opponent’s point of view through the famous speech by the Britons’ commander Calgacus before the decisive battle of Mons Graupius: the well-known metaphor of the “desert called peace” is well explained if associated not only with the traditional Roman expansionism, but, as acutely noted by Montesquieu, also to the subtle conquests of the “humanitas”.https://montesquieu.unibo.it/article/view/10733tacitoagricolahumanitasimperialismopolitesse |
| spellingShingle | Sergio Audano Politeness, “Humanitas” and Imperialism. A Reflection by Montesquieu (“EL”, XIX, 27) and Tacitus’ “Agricola” Montesquieu.it tacito agricola humanitas imperialismo politesse |
| title | Politeness, “Humanitas” and Imperialism. A Reflection by Montesquieu (“EL”, XIX, 27) and Tacitus’ “Agricola” |
| title_full | Politeness, “Humanitas” and Imperialism. A Reflection by Montesquieu (“EL”, XIX, 27) and Tacitus’ “Agricola” |
| title_fullStr | Politeness, “Humanitas” and Imperialism. A Reflection by Montesquieu (“EL”, XIX, 27) and Tacitus’ “Agricola” |
| title_full_unstemmed | Politeness, “Humanitas” and Imperialism. A Reflection by Montesquieu (“EL”, XIX, 27) and Tacitus’ “Agricola” |
| title_short | Politeness, “Humanitas” and Imperialism. A Reflection by Montesquieu (“EL”, XIX, 27) and Tacitus’ “Agricola” |
| title_sort | politeness humanitas and imperialism a reflection by montesquieu el xix 27 and tacitus agricola |
| topic | tacito agricola humanitas imperialismo politesse |
| url | https://montesquieu.unibo.it/article/view/10733 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sergioaudano politenesshumanitasandimperialismareflectionbymontesquieuelxix27andtacitusagricola |