Roman Literature

      In this course we are going to be studying some of the literary classics from Roman civilization and a few from Greek civilization which influenced the Romans. You should be able to find many of the documents you will need for this course in cyberspace. We will try to point you in the right direction. You can check your local public library to find hard copies of these works. Inexpensive copies of these classics are also widely available. You might like investigate the reference books which are available in cyberspace while you are cruising the net. This page will develop into our course syllabus. Material will be added in three week blocks throughout the semester. Each academic quarter will consist of three of these blocks. Visit often and find your work for the week -- along with suggested projects and required assignments.

      The unit studies we offer at Eagle Academy and Eagle High integrate the political, social, economic, religious, cultural, philosophical, and technological aspects of the ancient world. Computer programs that might help you get the "feel" of the times include Ancient Lands from Microsoft and Wrath of the Gods. If you know of any other nice programs, please let us know.


      Quarter I: Weeks I through III

      The following selections are taken from Reading About the World, Volume 1, edited by Paul Brians, Mary Gallwey, Douglas Hughes, Michael Myers, Michael Neville, Roger Schlesinger, Alice Spitzer, and Susan Swan.

      This anthology prints short selections focused on major topics of interest to beginning students of World Civilizations. It combines traditional historical sources with literary and philosophical selections. By clicking on the hotlinks below you can access samples from Reading About the World, Volume 1. The book is temporarily out of print.

      For the first three weeks of this quarter you should read one of these selections each day. You could print the selection on your printer, three-hole punch it, and add it to your notebook for reference. Or you can save the selection electonically to a file for future reference. After you read each selection, you should address questions raised by the editors of the anthology by writing a one or two paragraph response in your journal.

      The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with an overview of documents written by men who lived long ago. You should consider their world views and how they may have differed from your own.

    • Judaism
      • Song of the Suffering Servant: Isaiah 42:1-9

    • Greece
      • Herodotus: The Histories: Xerxes at the Hellespont
      • Socrates' Defense, from Plato's Apology
      • Plato: The Allegory of the Cave

    • Rome
      • Horace: We All Must Die
      • Juvenal: On the City of Rome
      • Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: The Meditations
      • Tacitus: Nero's persecution of the Christians
      • The Apostles' Creed
      • St. Augustine
        • The Changeable and the Permanent
        • The Problem of Evil
        • The Two Cities

    • Early Christianity
      • The Baptism of Jesus
      • A Miracle based on faith (Mark 5: 25-34)
      • On Forgiveness, Sermon on the Mount
      • The Beatitudes
      • The Golden Rule
      • Salvation and Damnation linked to Deeds (Matthew 7: 13-23)
      • The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus
      • Living Bread
      • Paul on Salvation by Faith
      • The Last Judgment
      • Hypertext project for Early Church History

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