The Romans: Old Western Culture

This course utilizes lectures and readings from the Old Western Culture curriculum. As an integrated humanities class, it offers the student an overview of the history, theology, philosophy, poetry and art produced by the culture of the Romans. The achievements of the Romans continue to affect our world in countless ways and form an essential part of the background of the New Testament. Students will watch lectures by master teacher and story-teller Wes Callihan. They will read timeless texts, learn from some of the brightest minds in history, and complete assignments in a Workbook to guide them through their journey. In weekly recitations with Dr. Soderberg, students will discuss the weekly material, share insights, and pursue wisdom together.

Note: this course counts for the 8th grade “Classical” Integrated Humanities credit required by the Kepler Education Diploma Track.

Special Needs: This course is open to Spellers. “Spellers” are individuals who use a letterboard to communicate. They have apraxia, which limits their ability to speak reliably. Apraxia is common with Autism and Down Syndrome, and various other diagnoses. Frequently, people with apraxia are thought to have cognitive deficits. However, these individuals routinely demonstrate normal and higher than normal cognition once they are fluent on their letterboards. For more, see this FAQs on what this option entails for families, and how this might affect the overall class experience.

Course Objectives:

1. To be able to think Christianly about perennial human questions.
2. To cultivate an appetite for learning as a way of life (the life of the mind).
3. To cultivate a desire to pursue the highest things in opposition to the modernist worldview.
4. To become proficient in the conversational approach to learning: close readings, interpretive questions, and Socratic discussions of the texts.
5. To develop lateral thinking skills by analyzing and synthesizing themes and motifs.
6. To gain a grasp of the main historical figures and the overall cultural framework of the Romans.
7. To learn from both the mistakes and triumphs of the past, to help us live more faithfully in the present.
8. To be proficient in writing the persuasive essay.

Texts: (students will read all, or selections from the following)

*Through the Old Western Culture Readers, students can easily access a print edition or e-book of the works covered in each unit. (Note: Roman Roads Media offers a special 25% discount on all Old Western Culture lectures, Workbooks, and Readers for students at Kepler Education.)

Quarter 1 - The Aeneid

• The Aeneid by Virgil
• Metamorphoses, books I, VIII, X, XI, XV by Ovid
• De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things) by Lucretius
• Pharsalia by Lucanus
• Thebaid by Statius

Quarter 2 - The Historians

• History of Rome by Livy
• The War of the Jugurtha by Sallust
• The War with Catiline by Sallust
• The Gallic Wars by Julius Caesar
• The Annals by Tacitus
• Lives by Plutarch
• Verres, Antony, On Duties by Cicero
• The Lives of the Twelve Caesars by Suetonius
• Correspondence by Pliny & Trajan - Institutes of Oratory by Quintillian

Quarter 3 - Early Christianity

• The Didache by Unknown
• First Epistle of Clement by Clement of Rome
• The Letters of Ignatius by Ignatius
• Letter to the Philipians by Polycarp
• A Plea to the Philipians by Athenagoras
• Epistle to Diognetus by Unknown
• The First Apology by Justin Martyr
• Against Heresies by Irenaeus
• Exhortation to the Greeks by Clement of Alexandria
• History of the Church by Eusebius

Quarter 4 - Nicene Christianity

• On the Incarnation by Athanasius
• The Life of St. Anthony by Athanasius
• Paschal Homily by John Chrysostom
• Baptismal Instructions by John Chrysostom
• On the Holy Spirit by Basil the Great
• Funeral Oration by Gregory Nazienzen
• Confessions by Augustine
• The City of God by Augustine
• The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius

What Do We Mean by "Old Western Culture"?