Old Western Culture · Year Two

The Romans

Vergil and the Roman historians, then the early Church, from the apostolic fathers to Augustine.

Old Western Culture: The Romans

Old Western Culture: The Romans is a full-year literature and history curriculum for high school students (and above). Guided by storyteller and veteran teacher Wesley Callihan, travel through Vergil’s Aeneid, the masterpiece of epic literature which has shaped story for centuries. Learn how Rome was founded, and how its culture and technology prepared the way the spread of the church. In the second unit, The Historians, watch the rise and fall of the Roman Empire through the eyes of its historians. In the third unit, Early Christianity, come alongside the early church fathers as they struggle with a collapsing empire and terrible persecution. In the fourth unit, Nicene Christianity, experience the struggle against heresy and the fight for proper doctrine through the creeds and councils of the early church, and meet St. Augustine, one of the greatest theologians.

4 units · 48 lessons (video lectures and curriculum) · Grades 9–12+

The year’s four units

Most families buy the year. Any unit can also be bought on its own.

Unit 2 · Reader Vol. 6

The Historians

Livy: The Early History of Rome; Sallust: The Jugurthine War, The Conspiracy of Catiline; Julius Caesar: The Gallic Wars; Tacitus: Annals; Plutarch: Lives; Cicero: Against Verres, Against Antony, On Duties; Suetonius: Life of Augustus; Pliny and Trajan: Letters; Quintilian: Institutio Oratoria

This unit alone · $74.75 ›
Unit 3 · Reader Vol. 7

Early Christianity

The Didache; Clement of Rome: First Letter of Clement; Ignatius and Polycarp: Letters; Athenagoras, Epistle to Diognetus; Justin Martyr: First Apology; Irenaeus: Against Heresies; Clement of Alexandria: Exhortation to the Greeks; Eusebius: Church History

This unit alone · $74.75 ›
Unit 4 · Reader Vol. 8

Nicene Christianity

Athanasius: On the Incarnation, Life of Anthony; Basil the Great: On the Holy Spirit; John Chrysostom: Baptismal Lectures, Paschal Homily; Gregory of Nazianzus: Funeral Oration; Augustine: Confessions, City of God; Boethius: The Consolation of Philosophy

This unit alone · $74.75 ›
You’re buyingOld Western Culture: The RomansThe complete digital year, four units
$299
Included
  • 48 video lectures. Stream or download videos in the Roman Roads app, yours for life
  • The four Readers (Vols. 5–8) as eBooks, in the app
  • Four Workbooks (PDF) with answer keys
  • A and B exams for every unit, with teacher guides
How will you read the books? choose one
The workbooks choose one

Prefer discs? , while supplies last.

Total$299

Readers or workbooks for a second student: Readers · Workbooks
Co-ops and schools: group licensing

The lectures

48 lectures, unit by unit

Each lecture opens with a short review, then summary, commentary and connections across history, art and theology. The first lecture of each unit is free. Taught by Wesley Callihan.

Unit 1 · The Aeneid · 12 lectures · 7 h 10 min
  1. 1Introduction to The RomansFree37 min
  2. 2Introduction to the Aeneid32 min
  3. 3Rome is an Idea36 min
  4. 4The Fall of Troy and The Wanderings of Aeneas41 min
  5. 5The Tragedy of Dido35 min
  6. 6The Underworld36 min
  7. 7The Broken Truce and the Shield of Aeneas28 min
  8. 8The Tragedy of Nisus and Euryalos27 min
  9. 9Camilla, Juno's Surrender, and the Death of Turnus32 min
  10. 10Metamorphoses I37 min
  11. 11Metamorphoses II50 min
  12. 12The Epics of Lucretius, Lucan, and Statius37 min
Unit 2 · The Historians · 13 lectures · 7 h 40 min
  1. 1Lesson 1a: Philosophy of History and the MonarchyFree29 min
  2. 2Lesson 1b: Philosophy of History and the Monarchy (Continued)12 min
  3. 3The Beginning and Heroes of the Republic47 min
  4. 4Threats to the Republic44 min
  5. 5The Republic in Decay29 min
  6. 6The Gallic Wars32 min
  7. 7Philosophy of History and Tiberius58 min
  8. 8Claudius32 min
  9. 9Nero42 min
  10. 10Demosthenes and Cicero34 min
  11. 11Alexander and Caesar41 min
  12. 12Cicero29 min
  13. 13Other Historians and Review of Roman Historians32 min
Unit 3 · Early Christianity · 12 lectures · 6 h 29 min
  1. 1The Roman Background of Christianity30 min
  2. 2The Jewish Background of Christianity32 min
  3. 3The Didache24 min
  4. 4The First Letter of Clement31 min
  5. 5The Roman World in the Second and Third Centuries29 min
  6. 6Ignatius and Polycarp29 min
  7. 7The Apologists36 min
  8. 8Justin Martyr24 min
  9. 9Irenaeus35 min
  10. 10Clement of Alexandria and Origen26 min
  11. 11Eusebius 150 min
  12. 12Eusebius 244 min
Unit 4 · Nicene Christianity · 12 lectures · 7 h 58 min
  1. 1Constantine and The Council of Nicaea40 min
  2. 2The Nicene and Post-Nicene Age39 min
  3. 3Athanasius's On the Incarnation41 min
  4. 4Athanasius's Life of Anthony36 min
  5. 5John Chrysostom45 min
  6. 6Augustine's Confessions I42 min
  7. 7Augustine's Confessions II41 min
  8. 8Augustine's City of God I46 min
  9. 9Augustine's City of God II45 min
  10. 10Augustine's City of God III35 min
  11. 11Augustine's City of God IV34 min
  12. 12Boethius32 min
Play Lecture 1 · Introduction to The Romans · 37 min · freeLecture 1 · Introduction to The Romans · 37 min · free

Plays here on the page.

Taught byWesley Callihan
The books

What your student reads this year

Every assigned text is in the four Readers, printed or as the eBooks that come with the course. Students are welcome to use other editions of the great books they already own with this course. The video lectures reference Latin or Greek line numbers, which allows a broader use of editions for those who prefer to bring their own.

The Aeneid

Vergil: Aeneid; Ovid: Metamorphoses; Lucretius, Lucan, Statius: from the other Roman epics

The Historians

Livy: The Early History of Rome; Sallust: The Jugurthine War, The Conspiracy of Catiline; Julius Caesar: The Gallic Wars; Tacitus: Annals; Plutarch: Lives; Cicero: Against Verres, Against Antony, On Duties; Suetonius: Life of Augustus; Pliny and Trajan: Letters; Quintilian: Institutio Oratoria

Early Christianity

The Didache; Clement of Rome: First Letter of Clement; Ignatius and Polycarp: Letters; Athenagoras, Epistle to Diognetus; Justin Martyr: First Apology; Irenaeus: Against Heresies; Clement of Alexandria: Exhortation to the Greeks; Eusebius: Church History

Nicene Christianity

Athanasius: On the Incarnation, Life of Anthony; Basil the Great: On the Holy Spirit; John Chrysostom: Baptismal Lectures, Paschal Homily; Gregory of Nazianzus: Funeral Oration; Augustine: Confessions, City of God; Boethius: The Consolation of Philosophy

Good to know

Questions

Is The Romans right for a younger student?

Old Western Culture is intended for mature and discerning students; we recommend it for ages 14 and up. The course deals with mature themes such as paganism, sexual immorality, battle scenes (mostly in the reading) and classical paintings, and is meant to equip your child with a Biblical lens for them. We assume a working knowledge of the Bible and basic Christian doctrine.

How much credit is it?

Two high-school credits: an integrated humanities credit, or one literature and one history credit. The credit assumes the lectures, the reading, the daily questions and the four unit exams.

How much time does it take?

Four nine-week units; plan on one to three hours a day, with 30–40 pages of reading. The Honors schedule reads everything; the Essentials schedule reads a shorter selection and still watches every lecture.

Do we need the printed Readers?

No. The Reader eBooks are in the app with the course, and the editions already on your shelf work too. We do recommend reading in print; the Readers’ advantage is every assigned text in one volume per unit.

Workbook or Companion?

Both work with the lectures. The Workbook (PDF included with the main curriculum; printed edition available as add-on) holds the questions for every lecture and reading with an answer key. The Companion is the fuller book: schedules, more questions at four levels, and the Digressios. Use it beside the workbook or in its place. The The Romans Companions follow from 2027; until then this year uses the Workbook.

Can a co-op or school use it?

Yes. Students watch at home and discuss in class, or a teacher lectures live. Ask us about group licensing.

Is it a subscription?

No. You buy it once and it is yours for life.

Old Western Culture: The Romans

The complete digital year, from $299. Add the printed Readers and workbooks above.