Classical Studies IV

Description: This course is a detailed study of three of the most important works of classical political history and their bearing on Western society. The first-century Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero wrote The Republic, which later became the blueprint of the U.S. government, almost 2,000 years after it was written. In The Laws he defends his understanding of the moral life, becoming the first person outside of Scripture to posit the existence of natural law.  In On Obligations, Cicero tries to provide the politicians of his day with solid principles to live by, even as they drove his beloved Rome down the road of cultural decay.  The influence of Cicero also came to bear on a young man named Aurelius Augustinius, otherwise known as Augustine. Considered by many to be the greatest Christian thinker of the first thousand years of the Church, City of God is often cited as a book that has influenced Western society more than any other book except the Bible, and is the first Christian philosophy of history. Students will study Cicero and Augustine in their historical and philosophical contexts, and the influence their works exerted on Western society. Students will need to devote 45-60 minutes per day for this class, and the grade is based on reading and participation, reading quizzes, exams, and essays.

Grade Level: 9-12 (ages 14-18)

Prerequisites: It is best if students have completed a high school class in Roman history, such as Classical Studies II. If this is not the case, we recommend that students read The Book of the Ancient Romans and Virgil’s Aeneid. Students must be ready for introductory philosophical discussion.

Required Materials: On Obligations, by Cicero, trans. by P.G. Walsh, The Republic and The Laws, by Cicero, trans. by Niall Rudd, City of God (abridged) by Saint Augustine, On Obligations and The Republic and The Laws Student Guides by Memoria Press, and City of God Student Guide by Memoria Press.