The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind

The Roman Empire will find its destiny rooted in Virgil’s epic, The Aeneid. As we explore the poem, Rabbi Rocklin will help us address the following questions: How is Virgil’s storytelling in The Aeneid different than Homer’s storytelling in The Iliad and The Odyssey? What was Virgil’s goal in telling the story of The Aeneid? Why is Aeneas seen as a more compelling hero than the Homeric heroes? Recommended Reading: Virgil. The Aeneid. Translated by Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Classics, 2008.

Creating the Roman Empire was no easy task, and Octavian Augustus was the man for the job. On today’s episode, we’ll explore the following questions: How did Augustus manage to successfully change Rome from a republic to an empire? Why was Rome’s trade system important towards Augustus consolidating his power? How did Augustus successfully appeal to the common people to gain their support?

In the tumult of the late Roman Republic, Cicero rose to greatness and glory. Today, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: Why is Cicero considered so important among the great Roman orators? How does Cicero frame the liberal arts to make them appeal to the Roman concerned with valor? According to Cicero, why should we do the right thing? Recommended Reading: Cicero. Cicero’s Political Speeches. Translated with Introductions and Notes by D.H. Berry. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.  Cicero. Selected Works. Translated by Michael Grant. New York: Penguin Classics, 1960.

The great Roman Republic eventually came crashing down in a series of civil wars and revolts. As we learn about its final gasps, we’ll address the following questions: How did the Gracchi brothers’ land reforms lay the groundwork for change within the Republic? What set off the first civil war? How did Julius Caesar and his two fellow generals gain enough power to bring down the Republic?"

The Rome that lives on in memory owes its legacy to one of its greatest historians: Livy. As we read some of his writings, we’ll discuss the following questions: What made Livy unique among historians in his time? Why does the story of the Sabine women hold such a prominent place in Roman memory? How does Livy narrate the Roman sense of honor? Recommended Reading: Livy. Stories of Rome. Translated by Roger Nichols. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1982.  Livy. The History of Rome, Books 1-5. Translated by Valerie M. Warrior. Indiana: Hackett Publishing Company, 2006.

The next great power in western civilization will rise as Rome takes its place on the world’s stage. As we learn about Rome’s rise to power, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: How are Rome’s founding legends indicative of Rome’s character as a whole? What led to the Punic Wars and how did Rome win? Why does Greece’s culture live on if Rome conquered it?

The Hellenistic era will open the door for Greek and Jewish thought to finally meet and begin to wrestle with each other. On today’s episode, we’ll explore the following questions: How did Jewish life shift following the conquest of Alexander the Great and the spread of Greek culture? How did the translating of the Torah into Greek pave the way for the development of western civilization? What were the different schools of thought that were established in the Hellenistic era, and why did they develop?

No discussion of Ancient Greece is complete without talking about its influence in the worlds of art and architecture. Today, we’ll address the following questions: How does Greek sculpture try to depict human nature? Why are Greek columns so compelling that they have been consistent in the world of architecture for thousands of years? Why did Jews accept and adopt Greek architecture?

To Aristotle, moderation is the key to happiness, both for the individual and in the political arena. As we explore Aristotle’s Politics, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions: What was Aristotle’s goal in studying different forms of government? To Aristotle, what was the mutual need that grounded the relationship between master and slave? How does Aristotle explain the gods of the Greek myths? Recommended Reading: Aristotle. Politics. Translated by T.A. Sinclair and T.J. Saunders. New York: Penguin, 1992.

The next great thinker in the world of philosophy was Plato’s greatest student, Aristotle. On today’s episode, we’ll explore the following questions: What are the differences between Plato’s and Aristotle’s philosophical schools of thought, and why are both important to western philosophy? If Aristotle’s scientific discoveries have been overturned by modern science, why is he still important to that field? How did Aristotelian philosophy become the barometer for religion in later periods?