Roman Philosophy  In this course we will seek to answer the question of what is Roman philosophy - philosophia togata. Is it simply Greek philosophy in Roman dress? Or, while based in its Greek origins, does it grow to have a distinctive and rigorous character of its own, designed and developed to focus on uniquely "Roman" questions and problems, in particular, ethical, social, and political questions?  We will investigate how some of the main schools of Hellenistic Greek thought came to be developed in Latin: Epicureanism (Lucretius), Academic Skepticism (Cicero), and Stoicism (Seneca).  As we read we will investigate how each school offers different answers to crucial questions such as what is the goal of life?  What is the highest good?  Should one take part in politics or not?  What is the nature of the soul?  What is the nature of Nature itself?  Is there an afterlife?  Can we ever have a certain answer to any of these questions?

Readings in Greek Literature I Readings in major authors. Students should have had some formal study of Greek and should consult with the instructor during the first week of classes to determine whether or not the class is at the appropriate level.

Roman Philosophy  In this course we will seek to answer the question of what is Roman philosophy - philosophia togata. Is it simply Greek philosophy in Roman dress? Or, while based in its Greek origins, does it grow to have a distinctive and rigorous character of its own, designed and developed to focus on uniquely "Roman" questions and problems, in particular, ethical, social, and political questions?  We will investigate how some of the main schools of Hellenistic Greek thought came to be developed in Latin: Epicureanism (Lucretius), Academic Skepticism (Cicero), and Stoicism (Seneca).  As we read we will investigate how each school offers different answers to crucial questions such as what is the goal of life?  What is the highest good?  Should one take part in politics or not?  What is the nature of the soul?  What is the nature of Nature itself?  Is there an afterlife?  Can we ever have a certain answer to any of these questions? 3hrs. lect.

Shakespeare's Rome Throughout his career, William Shakespeare wrote several plays set in ancient Rome. Why did he and his contemporaries find the dramatization of events from Roman history so appealing? Why do we continue to do so today? In order to address these questions, we will read Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, and Coriolanus. We will also consider Shakespeare’s ancient sources, such as Senecan drama and Plutarch’s biographies, as well as contemporary stage and film adaptations. In addition to exploring the complex ways in which Rome has served as a mirror for later cultures, we will pay close attention to the relationship between republic and autocracy, public and private life, and drama and history.

Beginning Latin I The course offers an intensive introduction to the Latin language that prepares students to read the major authors of ancient Roman literature. In addition to their systematic study of grammar and syntax, students translate excerpts from Vergil, Seneca and the Vulgate Bible. This course is designed for students who have had no previous experience with Latin, as well as those who have had some Latin but want to review the fundamentals of grammar.

The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic  This course is an introduction to the literature, politics, culture and history of the Roman Republic (c.509-31BCE) - a period which saw Rome grow from a small city on the Tiber to the supreme power in the Mediterranean, and also saw the development of Latin literature.  Our readings cover a broad variety of literary genres and authors: comedy (Plautus and Terence), lyric (Catullus), epic (Ennius), political speeches and letters (Cicero), history (Caesar, Sallust, Polybius), and didactic philosophy (Lucretius).  As we read we will be careful to investigate how these texts present different and often conflicting ideas of what it means to be Roman, as well as how different ideologies of Rome compete throughout each work.

Advanced Readings in Latin III Readings in major authors. Students should have had some formal study of Latin and should consult with the instructor during the first week of classes to determine whether or not the class is at the appropriate level. 3 hrs lect.

Apocalypse When? Reason and Revelation in the Ancient World Apocalypse: why does this word, originally meaning “revelation,” hold such power today? In this class we will investigate the origins of apocalyptic and eschatological thought in order to understand Greek, Roman, Jewish, and Christian ideas about the end of the world in their historical context and to see how they shape contemporary visions of the end. We will read and discuss a wide range of texts, including Hesiod, Plato, Lucretius, Cicero, Seneca, and Daniel and Revelation from the Bible. The ways in which globalization and political leaders have shaped apocalyptic thought from ancient times to today will be an area of particular focus.

Readings in Latin Literature II: Vergil’s Aeneid* Readings in major authors.

Christopher Star

Reviews and ratings for Christopher Star at Middlebury College.Christopher Star teaches Roman Philosophy, Readings in Greek Literature I, Seminar in Classical Lit Sem in Classical Lit:Medea and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Christopher Star good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

The course was very fun. The professor is very passionate about the work he does. The only homework assignments we had for the class were readings. However, the readings could be a lot at certain times. The class can be boring, but it was fun to learn about Rome.

I took this class as my FYS in spring 2023. Even though I wasn't interested in Shakespeare, it was a great intro to college writing with a focus on short, 1-3 page papers interspersed with long 5-6 page papers. The final is a 7-9 page research paper. 

There's reading for every class, but you can easily get away without doing it. The midterm was super easy. You only need to do one short presentation, and two very short papers and most students got an A or A-. 