Aquí teniu l´entrevista que ens va concedir el conegut historiador britànic Adrian Goldsworthy. En col·laboració amb els companys del projecte trilíngüe " Seccions Europees", us la oferim en el seu dioma original. Próximament tindreu la traducció al català. Que disfruteu!
We have the honor to present you to Professor Adrian Goldsworthy. He is a British historian specialized in military historiy of the classical world.
He has taught at several universities, but today is dedicated to writing principally. We do not have enough space in this blog to explain his resume but we can tell you that is one of the most knowledgeable person in the ancient world. He has been very kind and has agreed to answer a few questions for our project.
1. Reconstructing history from archaeological remains and reading ancient texts must be difficult. To what extent can we reconstruct the life and mindset of 2000 years ago?
We need to look at all the different types of evidence. Society was very different 2,000 years ago, but human beings were still essentially the same in many ways as they are today. You can read Cicero´s letter and lots of other sources from the ancient world and immediatelly understand the emotions. We do need to work out where they differed, and sometimes it is obvious. No one then bothered to question the idea of slavery- something we would never imagine was acceptable today. So the past wasn´t exactly the same as today, but in the end people were not so very different.
2. What can you see of fascinating in the Punic- roman world?
So much is fascinating. Hannibal´s achievement is remarkable, taking an army from Spain to Italy, and winnig all those battles. It´s a very dramatic story and the bravery of the Romans in standing up to him is just as impressive. These wars involved lots of dreadful events and we must be glad to live in a time of peace, but the stories of those times are worth telling and understanding.
3. Do you think that archeology could reveal us more about Hannibal Barca, one of the most famous characters of old?, or possibly everything´s has been said about this topic?
Archaeology may tell us more about Hannibal´s world- the images people saw on coins and the buildings they lived in and gods they worshipped. It may help to find the places where events occurred, particularly some of the battles and so help us to understand them.
4. Have you ever been to Ibiza? What was the role of the island in the ancient times?
No, I am afraid I have not been to Ibiza. Hopefully I will get there one day. The Mediterranean was the quickest way to travel and linked together the lands around it in ancient times. An island like Ibiza was always part of it- it´s people knew about the sea and ships and had contact with many of the other peoples because of this. Carthaginians and Romans passed through. As a historian it would be fascinating to go back and ask the people who lived on Ibiza in each century how they thought of the world.
5. What do you prefer, the history books or historical novel? How about your new adventure in this genere?
I really enjoy reading a writing both. At the moment, I am working on the Romans again, and writing a biography about Caesar Augustus. Later in the year I expect that I will write another novel- some of set in Cadiz in 1810-1811 so it will be nice to research the background to that. A good historical novel can give a very good flavour of a period in history.
We hope you have enjoyed the interview. Before finishing we would like to recommend to you some Adrian Goldsworthy´s book that sure you will be charmed with. Unfortunately not all his works are translated into Spanish. Nonetheless, you can find in your favourite library the following treasures:
1. Las guerras púnicas, Editorial Ariel ( 2002)
2. La caída del Imperio Romano, el ocaso de Occidente. Esfera libros ( 2009)
3. César, la biografía definitiva. La esfera libros ( 2011)
4. El ejército romano, Akal (2005)