if sarmiento viewed himself as civilized, rosas was barbaric. historian david rock argues that "contemporary opponents reviled rosas as a bloody tyrant and a symbol of barbarism". sarmiento attacked rosas through his book by promoting education and "civilized" status, whereas rosas used political power and brute force to dispose of any kind of hindrance. in linking europe with civilization, and civilization with education, sarmiento conveyed an admiration of european culture and civilization which at the same time gave him a sense of dissatisfaction with his own culture, motivating him to drive it towards civilization.