Guglielmo Ferrero

Born July 21, 1871, in Portici; died Aug. 3, 1942, in Geneva. Italian historian and publicist.

Ferrero was a professor at the universities of Turin and Florence. In 1922 he served as a minister in Mussolini’s cabinet. He later became an anti-Fascist and in 1930 emigrated to Geneva, where he obtained a professorship.

Ferrero was the author of a number of works on the history of ancient Rome. Denying the regularities of the historical process, he believed that history was determined by destiny. He gave a more modern interpretation of the economic and social life of antiquity. Much of his research was concentrated on the political struggles in Rome. Ferrero idealized Rome’s expansionist policy in the Mediterranean region.