Great Books of the Ancient World

We have lost the skill of reading a book. This course focuses on using the tools in the literature tool box to maximize understanding of what we read, which results in a deeper love of the material. The particular time period is the ancient world. We will examine key works of Babylonian, Greek and Roman literature in an effort to better understanding the world and context in which portions of the Old Testament were written. Reading works of the time period in between the Testaments will offer insights on the world that Jesus entered in the first century.

Objectives

Students will:

• learn how to use the tools in the literature tool box in an effort to better understand what they read.
• grow to appreciate and love what they are reading due to increased understanding of how to read a book.
• better understand the tremendous impact of Plato on the philosophical environment of the Western world.
• begin to formulate a Christian response to secular perspectives.

Required Books

• The Epic of Gilgamesh
• The Odyssey
• The Histories of Herodotus
• The Last Days of Socrates, Plato
• The Oresteia by Aeschylus
• The Oedipus Plays by Sophocles
• The Early History of Rome by Livy
• The Aeneid

Credits

This course is worth 1 credit in Literature, 1 credit in Bible /Theology, and .5 credit for History. Diploma Track students will need an additional .5 credit of History to meet the DT requirement.