Latin History-Writing

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This third-year course builds on CLLA 20003 and CLLA 20004, and offers close reading of passages from the works of Roman historical writers such as Caesar, Sallust, Livy and Tacitus. Particular authors and themes will be emphasized according to the needs and interests of the class. Latin historiography is a sophisticated instrument for narrating past events, for showing how notions of cause and effect and change over time develop in historical thinking, and for indicating the relevance of the past to the present. The political and social conditions of Rome that informed the historical writings of Roman authors are discussed, and the compositional techniques of their works are examined. The course prepares students for advanced offerings in Latin literature.