Pompeii

Objectives of the Course

The Course has two major objectives:

1 T o teach comprehension of the Latin language through practice in reading it.

2 T o develop, through these readings, the students' understanding of the social and political history of the Romans, especially during the first century A.D.

The Course does not present the Latin language as an abstract linguistic system or merely as an exercise for developing mental discipline. Instead, it presents the language as the medium of the great culture and literature that molded it.

Principles of the Course

1 The Course attempts to present the subject matter in an intelligent and interesting way. If students find the subject matter worth knowing, their chances of mastering the language increase greatly. They are also less inclined to treat the readings as routine exercises. Students eagerly follow the plot of a story, recognize and react to characters, and distinguish significant details in the socio-historical setting. In short, students take all their readings from the start as communicative sources.

The Course is set firmly in the context of the Roman Empire and frequently introduces historical characters. Its systematic presentation of social, political, and historical aspects of Roman culture is both a valuable part of general education and an essential preparation for the reading of Roman authors. Because the tragic fate of Pompeii is one of the best-known events in the history of the Roman Empire, this Italian city, though small, is a very interesting entry point into the wide world of the Romans.

3 Information about Roman culture is conveyed not only in the text of the Latin stories and the section in English in each Stage, but also by the large number of illustrations. These provide the student with visual evidence of the Roman