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:

1. What made Livy unique among historians in his time?
2. Why does the story of the Sabine women hold such a prominent place in Roman memory?
3. 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:

1. How are Rome’s founding legends indicative of Rome’s character as a whole?
2. What led to the Punic Wars and how did Rome win?
3. 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:

1. How did Jewish life shift following the conquest of Alexander the Great and the spread of Greek culture?
2. How did the translating of the Torah into Greek pave the way for the development of western civilization?
3. 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:

1. How does Greek sculpture try to depict human nature?
2. Why are Greek columns so compelling that they have been consistent in the world of architecture for thousands of years?
3. 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:

1. What was Aristotle’s goal in studying different forms of government?
2. To Aristotle, what was the mutual need that grounded the relationship between master and slave?
3. 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:

1. What are the differences between Plato’s and Aristotle’s philosophical schools of thought, and why are both important to western philosophy?
2. If Aristotle’s scientific discoveries have been overturned by modern science, why is he still important to that field?
3. How did Aristotelian philosophy become the barometer for religion in later periods?

Socrates had another student who, unlike Plato, has been relegated to the dusty shelves. As we learn about Xenophon, we’ll explore the following questions:

1. Who was Xenophon, and why did he fall out of favor such that he is far less known than Plato?
2. How does Xenophon define excellence, and how is his view unique?
3. To Xenophon, what is justice? How similar is that Plato’s understanding of justice?

The questions that animate the spirit of the west can be found in Plato’s dialogues. As we discuss five of them, Rabbi Rocklin will walk us through the following questions:

1. How is Socrates’ refusal to escape an act of justice?
2. According to Socrates, how does the philosophic life prepare someone for death
3. What is the difference between the Greek and Jewish notions of love?