It is assumed that the average student in this course has no prior
knowledge of the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome. Classics
majors and those students who have already had the equivalent of a
Latin Literature in Translation course or a Roman history course will
have some familiarity with the subject matter but, in the opinion of the
instructor, they will not have a significant advantage over those students
without such a background since the "Classical material" will be
considered from a rather novel perspective, and quite different
from its presentation in traditional Classics courses.

    The objective of this course will be to expose the student to some of the
literature and history of Classical Antiquity, especially that of Ancient
Rome, and to examine, within a modest scope, the influence of Classical
Antiquity on the educational, literary, artistic and architectural culture
of early America. The primary areas of influence which will be examined are:

    1. the "Classical" educational background of early America and Americans
    2. the appearance of that educational background in the writings and
        actions of some of America’s Founders
    3. the reflection of ancient art and its architectural traditions in our
        own colonial and post-revolutionary art and architectural
        traditions.

    It is the expectation of the instructor that through an examination of
these rather broad and important cultural influences, which were brought
to bear on individuals like ourselves 200+ years ago, both in isolation
and in collective units, that we will acquire a knowledge of and greater
sensitivity to the legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome as one of the
important, intellectual sources in the American intellectual and cultural
heritage.