Download Julius Caesar, Man of Letters

Preliminary Syllabus
Christopher B. Krebs
CLA 58
Mondays, 7:00 – 8:50 pm
8 weeks, Apr 10—June 05
Julius Caesar, Man of Letters
Asterix (and Obelix) fight him for Gaul valiantly to this day; and, on Shakespearean
stages all around the world, his tyranny comes to an end, again and again, under the
stabbing by his daggered senatorial assassins. Julius Caesar, a household name, is
remembered as conqueror of Europe and tyrant in Rome; but he was also a man of letters,
who was celebrated by his contemporaries, including enemies, for his various and
influential contributions. And, in fact, his Latin is taught at today’s high schools, a
version of his calendar dutifully partitions year after year, his map of northwestern
Europe underlies modern cartography, and his sketch of a Gallic wall provides guidance
to archaeologists even at the beginning of the 21st century.
In the course of eight weeks, we will read (ancient) biographies of Caesar, his Gallic
Wars, letters between him and Cicero, and Thornton Wilder’s Ides of March. We will
look at his major intellectual contributions in their Roman context, reflect on the
connections between his military and intellectual accomplishments, and discuss the
partial (!) remembrance of him.
Schedule. Readings. Topics:
1.
04/10
‘What
does
Caesar
think
about
my
verse’:
Approaching the intellectual
Please read: Caesar, Gallic War, Book 1; Gelzer, Chapter 1: “The political
World.” If you have time, you might also want to look at
this: https://www.academia.edu/2648309/.
2.
04/17
Lands and Peoples and a Map of the World: Ethno-geography
Please read: Caesar, Gallic War, 4, 5, 6; Wiseman, “Julius Caesar and the
Hereford World Map.” Gelzer, Chapter 2: “Early Political Career.”
3.
04/24
Mind over Matter: Engineering
Please read: Caesar, Gallic War, 4 (bridge), 7 (esp. wall), BC 1-2 esp. tower);
Virtruvius, On Architecture (sel.); Gelzer, Chapter 3: “The Consulship.”
4.
05/01
‘Quirites!’ The Theory and Practice of Caesar’s Speaking
Please read: Caesar, Gallic War 7 (the direct and indirect speeches); BC 2.3133; Suetonius, Julius Caesar; Gelzer, “The Proconsulship.”
5.
05/08
Letters to and fro and about: propaganda?
Please read: Caesar’s extant letters; some Ciceronian letters; Gelzer, Rest.
Preliminary Syllabus
Christopher B. Krebs
CLA 58
Mondays, 7:00 – 8:50 pm
8 weeks, Apr 10—June 05
6.
05/15
Caesar’s Calendar
Please read: Plutarch, Caesar; Feeney, Caesar’s Calendar (sel.). Start reading
Wilder.
7.
05/22
Welding a World Language: Caesar’s Latin
Please read: TBD; continue Wilder
(no class 5/29)
8.
•
•
•
•
•
06/05
Caesar and the Idea of Rome
Please read: TBD; finish Wilder
Mattias Gelzer and Peter Needham, Caesar: Politician and Statesman (ISBN 9780674090019)
Thornton Wilder, The Ides of March (ISBN 978-0060088903)
Julius Caesar and Carolyn Hammond, The Gallic War: Seven Commentaries on The
Gallic War with an Eighth Commentary by Aulus Hirtius (ISBN 978-0199540266)
Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars (ISBN 978-0140455168)
Julius Caesar and J. M. Carter, The Civil War (Oxford World’s Classics) (ISBN 9780199540624