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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