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Do you teach Latin *and* Roman history?


amyco
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I'm not familiar with Latin programs other than Memoria Press, Latina Christiana. It includes Roman history, but I have always blown it off. (shhhh...don't tell!) I know (um, I think) that the National Latin Exam has questions about Roman history. So, my question is--what do you do? Do other Latin programs include the history, and do you teach it? Is it possible to be a decent Latin scholar--maybe defined as one who can translate Virgil-- with only a rudimentary knowledge of ancient Rome?

 

Now that I think about it...in high school Spanish we did study Spanish history, and the history of other Spanish speaking countries.

 

Ack! I just don't think I have time or energy or desire to include one more thing! What would Tracy Lee Simmons say?

 

Opinions?

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Absolutely.

It is possible to learn a language without learning much about the culture it's related to, but it's also pretty pointless. The knowledge of morphology or syntax was never - and should never - be a goal for itself; rather, the purpose of studying classical languages has always been to enable a student for a diachronic understanding of a text and a civilization it belongs to.

 

One cannot accomplish that goal without a decent grounding in Roman history, periodization of Roman literature (which includes reading its works, maybe not all in original, but at least translation), Roman culture and civilization in general. My Latin classes always included those, and I teach that too.

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I'm not familiar with Latin programs other than Memoria Press, Latina Christiana. It includes Roman history, but I have always blown it off. (shhhh...don't tell!) I know (um, I think) that the National Latin Exam has questions about Roman history. So, my question is--what do you do? Do other Latin programs include the history, and do you teach it? Is it possible to be a decent Latin scholar--maybe defined as one who can translate Virgil-- with only a rudimentary knowledge of ancient Rome?

 

Well, if you're going to be studying Vergil (or Caesar, or Cicero) it really helps to have some Roman history because the history provides some contextual information that will help you read the Latin more fluently. Usually, when you get to the point you're reading authors like Caesar and Vergil, that background information will be introductory to the course.

 

Yes, there are some questions on the NLE relating to Roman history and culture. The syllabus for the NLE will give you a general idea of what these questions entail. Many Latin teachers in schools do try to weave in some history and culture with the language study. Depending on the course book you use, it may or may not be a problem. You probably don't want to spend TOO much time worrying about these history and culture questions: if you go over the sections on history and culture with your students, they'll probably pick up what they need, but you shouldn't get too overwhelmed by it. Use the NLE syllabus as your guide and look over past questions on the sample tests they have on their site.

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So if we agree that it is important to learn Roman history while learning Latin, how much is enough? My 6th grader has studied the Ancients twice now, and will once more in the trivium. Today she was able to explain the basic plot of the Aenied when one of our Latin phrases was from Virgil--"Arma virumque cano". Do we need the nitty gritty of which emperor did what and when, like in "The Emperor's Club" (one of my favorite movies of all time, btw) or will a more general knowledge suffice?

 

My other question, probably purely rhetorical, is why didn't I think about this sooner?

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I'm not familiar with Latin programs other than Memoria Press, Latina Christiana. It includes Roman history, but I have always blown it off. (shhhh...don't tell!) I know (um, I think) that the National Latin Exam has questions about Roman history. So, my question is--what do you do? Do other Latin programs include the history, and do you teach it? Is it possible to be a decent Latin scholar--maybe defined as one who can translate Virgil-- with only a rudimentary knowledge of ancient Rome?

 

You might first consider taking a look at the Standards for Classical Language Learning, published by the American Classical League.

http://aclclassics.org/pdf/standards.pdf

There is consideration there for making connections between the language study and the culture of the Ancient Romans.

 

Next, you'll get a general idea of what the NLE is looking for with regard to history and culture by taking a look at their syllabuses:

http://www.nle.org/syllabi.html

 

Also see the 2009 exams from last March:

http://www.nle.org/pdf/Latexams_2009.pdf

 

And previous exams from other years:

http://www.nle.org/exams.html#exams_previous

 

And more practice questions here:

http://www.nle.org/pract.html

 

There are some good online books with Roman history:

A Smaller History of Rome

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19694/19694-h/19694-h.htm

 

Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome:

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22381/22381-h/22381-h.htm

 

Young Folk's History of Rome:

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16667/16667-h/16667-h.htm

 

Of course, you'll find more current books at the library.

 

The American Classical League has inexpensive teaching materials on Roman history and culture: http://www.aclclassics.org/tmrc/

 

Rose Williams has some good history books that aren't overwhelming: From Romulus to Romulus Augustus. A Primer History of Rome by Mandell Creighton is also good.

 

For the purpose of the NLE, you're more likely to get questions that are fairly general. There is some memory work involved, such as who the first seven kings of Rome were, what the parts of a Roman house include, the general time frame of the monarchy, the Republic, and when the Empire fell, that sort of thing. (Drew Campbell's Living Memory book lists a lot of these sorts of things.)

 

Having this bank of cultural and historical knowledge will help you later if you plan to read Caesar and Vergil.

Edited by latinteach
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