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I think Crassus would trade places with the average middle class person in the modern world if given the chance. The level of luxury, safety and health we take
by danieltillett 9y ago
I think Crassus would trade places with the average middle class person in the modern world if given the chance. The level of luxury, safety and health we take for granted was beyond the emperors of Rome.
- lmm 9y ago> The level of luxury, safety and health we take for granted was beyond the emperors of Rome. This is objectively true, but what if being satisfied with your life has more to do with being better off than your neighbours than with being objectively wealthy?
- danieltillett 9y agoThis is true when you have a comparison to make. Imagined we asked a Roman emperor if he wanted to trade his position for what we have - I doubt he would hesitate for long to say yes. I know I would not trade my admittedly slightly above average life for the life of any Roman.
- lmm 9y ago> Imagined we asked a Roman emperor if he wanted to trade his position for what we have - I doubt he would hesitate for long to say yes. I don't feel so confident he would take that decision - not if he knew he would become one peasant among millions - and I certainly don't feel so confident that he'd be happy with that decision five or ten years on.
- danieltillett 9y agoHe may regret his decision, but if the offer was what we have, not where we rank, I am sure he would be very interested. We take for granted so much that was beyond the richest and most powerful people in history. Just being able to sleep safely in bed without fear of being killed while you slept was something that was beyond almost all emperors.