"The great intellectual and material creations that have elevated human civilization are not the work of bureaucrats, but of often unknown, obscure, exploited, mistreated Producers.
The true leading characters of human civilization are not emperors, kings, presidents, ministers, or generals who usually fill the pages of history books, but farmers, artisans, entrepreneurs or merchants who have improved the arts, techniques, and crafts.
The bravest of these producers have defended freedom and civilization with weapons in hand, refusing to submit to the powers of their time."
(Guglielmo Piombini)
#gm #freedom #history #grownostr
Replies (2)
Great quote. I recently read "The World: A Family History" by Simon Sebag Montefiore, which is a great, lengthy narrative of what has been going on in the world for the past several millennia, but it focuses on the "emperors, kings, presidents, ministers, or generals" through the lens of looking at great or famous families in history at times. But I found myself wishing I could read a good history of the world in terms of technological advancements and even the history of ideas, not so much empires and states rising and falling. Does any know of such a book?
#bookstr #asknostr
None that I know of. I do know that there are, at least for the middle ages, many chronicles written by "common folks" (mostly merchants).
