Rome, La Gloire Et La Liberte: Aux Sources de l'Identite Europeenne - Paperback

English summary: Rome stands out from other cities: those that have given their name to a civilization - particularly one this influential and fruitful - are few and far between. Yet Roman civilization remains difficult to decipher. It yields few of its secrets, and dazzles those who believe they understand it and who mistake it for a mirror in which they can glimpse a reflection of their own origins. Yet, even when its sheath is pierced, Rome's mystery only deepens. Nonetheless, Europe was forged in the cradle of the Latin world and has been nourished from its infancy by the milk of Roman humanism. Rome projected a unique and extraordinary vision of human beings, an exemplary attempt to consider the latter in their inherent dignity - long ago providing us with the resources to aspire to Human Rights. It enlightened the citizens of its empire with a belief in freedom and managed the feat of ensuring a reign of peace that would last for centuries throughout an immense territory. We are the upholders of that legacy. French description: La civilisation romaine offre a l'homme moderne un visage original et sans egal. Elle seule a su dominer un empire immense pendant une aussi longue periode elle seule a fait de la paix et de la prosperite de ses provinces sa preoccupation premiere elle seule a reussi a tisser un lien d'egalite entre tous les hommes libres de l'Empire en leur accordant les memes droits qu'aux citoyens de Rome.

L'observateur prend rapidement conscience que les mots utilises pour qualifier le pouvoir romain, ceux d'imperialisme, de colonialisme, de nationalisme..., ne correspondent en rien a la realite historique. Le Romain portait sur les etres et les choses un regard different du notre sa societe ne ressemblait guere a la notre l'homme lui-meme nous apparait etrange, etranger. Et cependant, sa culture a pose les fondements de la notre en Europe. Son souci d'humanite a oriente durablement notre conception moderne des valeurs humaines.

A nous d'en nourrir notre reflexion sur notre identite, car, comme le notait Paul Valery, l'histoire, je le crains, ne nous permet pas de prevoir mais, associee a l'independance de l'esprit, elle peut nous aider a mieux voir.