Classical Studies

Chris Bungard

The legends of Rome's early beginnings embrace the idea that one is not Roman by birth but rather by culture. Embracing immigrants from across central Italy, the Romans came to incorporate the knowledge, skills, and cultural achievements of cultures across the Mediterranean. This course is designed to give you an overview of Roman civilization, spanning the perspectives of several disciplines within the Liberal Arts. In particular, we will look at the Roman achievement through historical, cultural, and literary perspectives. We will trace the development of Rome from a small town of mud huts along the Tiber River to the mistress of the Mediterranean, influencing the lives and cultures of people from Britain, France, Spain, Northern Africa, and the Mediterranean East. This course will follow a roughly chronological development with detours into the literature and cultural practices of the developing empire. Throughout this course, we will be concerned with the idea of what it means to be a Roman at different points in Rome's development. As part of this exploration, we will also be concerned with what keeps Rome a point of interest and importance to our modern world.

Bill Gilmartin

"The knowledge of Latin illuminates the study of English and the humanities. Valuable in itself as a way to become acquainted with the ancients whose thinking and practices have so greatly influenced Western civilization, it is also a most useful tool in the study of the sciences." -- Clifford P. Case

This course is designed to introduce Latin through the writings of ancient authors, with excerpts from history, philosophy, and a variety of literary genres. In its scope and complexity Latin demands and strengthens analytical thinking, generates a deeper understanding of English grammar, and yields a significantly enriched vocabulary--all of which sharpens one's ability to communicate effectively.

Whether a springboard to further language studies (Latin provides linguistic insights into not only its Romance derivatives, but its Indo-European cognates as well) or a prelude to studies in medicine, law, or the arts and sciences in general, Latin offers a broad interdisciplinary foundation for such pursuits.

Chris Bungard

The lands under the influence of Rome encompassed a wide swathe of peoples, languages, and cultures. This course is an intermediary language course that will provide you the opportunity to further your grasp on the Latin language. We will focus on the prose style of the Roman orator Cicero, an ardent promoter of the liberal arts. In doing so, you will have the opportunity to not only better understand Latin, but also to develop skills in critically evaluating the arguments and style of political speeches. Through Cicero, we will have the opportunity to discuss topics that span several disciplines, fitting nicely into the Liberal Arts curriculum.

Chris Bungard

The lands under the influence of Rome encompassed a wide swathe of peoples, languages, and cultures. This course is an intermediary language course that will provide you the opportunity to further your grasp on the Latin language. We will focus on Vergil's epic poem, the Aeneid, which drew on the poetry of the past and inspired the poetry of the future. In doing so, you will have the opportunity to not only better understand Latin, but also to develop an appreciation for epic poetry. Vergil will help us raise concerns about how we understand the way that we live our lives, incorporating our own class discussion into larger discussions you are having here at Butler.

Chris Bungard

The Roman poet Ovid was a prolific poet, writing about everything from love to women's cosmetics to exile to the calendar. This is an advanced course in Latin, and in order to help you further your abilities in Latin, we will focus on Ovid's Metamorphoses. In this poem, Ovid challenges established ideas about what epic poetry could be. Focusing on the love affairs of mortals and immortals, Ovid attempts to open up new space in a genre dominated by heroic warriors and the pursuit for glory. Through Ovid's poem of transformations, we will have the opportunity to question where there is room within established disciplines for new forms. By exploring other works of Ovid, we will have the chance to also think about what it means to be a poet inspired by a broad swathe of human experience.