Greek & Roman Studies

Writing at the turn of the millennium, the Roman author Livy published a monumental work now known as Ab urbe condita. Livy chronicled the history of Rome from its foundations to his own day in 142 books. Students in this class will read a large portion of this history’s first book, which recounts the origins of the Roman people, Rome’s mythical foundation, its rule by seven legendary kings, and the establishment of the Roman Republic. Over the course of the semester, students will examine in detail Livy’s style as a prose author, his theory of history, his use of evidence, and the utility of his narrative for understanding this long-past period of Roman history.