By the time of Julius Caesar was murdered during the Ides of March, the Romans had been living through almost a century of civil wars marked by massacres, betrayal, and upheaval. During the first century BC, the Republic had begun to break down under the pressures of expansion and ambition. In this class, we will cover the cataclysmic end of the Republic and the formation of imperial rule under Emperor Augustus and his successors. Despite its blood-soaked beginnings, the Empire ushered in a golden age of Roman peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana.
Instructor: Dr. Laura Michele Diener
Facebook Event
Recommended Reading for the series:
- Aegean Bronze Age Art: Meaning in the Making by Karl Knappett
- Antony and Cleopatra by Adrian Goldsworthy
- Creators, Conquerors, and Citizens by Robin Waterfield
- A History of Ancient Greece in 50 Lives by David Stuttard
- The Odyssey by Homer, Emily Wilson’s Translation
- Phillip and Alexander: Kings and Conquerors by Adrian Goldsworthy
- Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt by Barbara Mertz
- SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard
- When Women Ruled the World by Kara Cooney
Novels: - Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
- Circe by Madeline Miller
- Mythos by Stephen Fry
Note: Search the OCPL’s Catlog HERE.
The Library is in the process of acquiring as many of the above titles as possible. If you see a book above in our catalog that you’d like to check out that’s on hold, please send us an email.
The new People’s University series being offered at the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling on Thursday evenings beginning January 5 will explore the ancient world, including Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The eight classes begin at 7 pm in the Library’s auditorium through February 23. The classes will also be livestreamed on the Library’s People’s University Facebook and People’s University YouTube channels.
What is the People’s University?
In 1951, the Ohio County Public Library’s head librarian, Virginia Ebeling, referenced British historian Thomas Carlyle, who said, “the public library is a People’s University,” when she initiated a new adult education program with that name. Miss Ebeling charged the Library with the responsibility of reaching “as many people in the community as possible.” In keeping with that tradition of public libraries as sanctuaries of free learning for all people, the Ohio County Public Library revived the series in 2010.
The People’s University is a free program for adults who wish to continue their education in the liberal arts. It features courses—taught by experts in each subject—that enable patrons to pursue their goal of lifelong learning in classic subjects such as history, philosophy, and literature. Patrons may attend as many classes as they wish. There are no tests of other requirements and all programs are free and open to the public.
For more information about the People’s University Ancient History or other Library programs, call 304-232-0244 or stop by the Reference Desk.
