Early Greek History: The Mycenaeans to the Archaic Age
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
Release Date: 10/29/2024
The Dawn of a New Era: Christianity and the New Testament
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
It is impossible to understand the west without understanding Christianity. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: Why is the Book of Matthew considered one of the most Jewish books of the Gospels? How does Christianity fundamentally shift the covenant? What makes Christianity reject Jewish ritual law?
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Plutarch: Honor, Wisdom, and Duty
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
Plutarch’s writings remain just as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. As we survey this great Roman writer, we’ll focus on the following questions: Why are we indebted to Plutarch for the prominence of poetry in our literary canon? According to Plutarch, why should parents invest in the education of their children? How are Plutarch’s guidelines on how to learn as relevant today as they were to the imperial Roman? Recommended Reading: Plutarch, . Plutarch, .
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From Trajan to Marcus Aurelius: Rome at its Peak
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
The height of the Roman Empire will come during the second century of the common era. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions: What caused the Third Jewish Revolt and how did the Romans respond? What made Marcus Aurelius great as a Roman emperor? Why were Jews and Christians persecuted under Rome if the empire was largely tolerant to other religions?
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From Tiberius to Domitian: First-Century Rome in Turmoil
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
The period following the reign of Augustus was a tumultuous one in Rome. As we explore that time period, Rabbi Rocklin will help us with the following questions: Was Nero actually fiddling while Rome burned? What happened in Judea that caused the destruction of the Jewish temple? Why were the Pharisees willing to live under the yoke of Roman rule?
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Roman Poetry: Horace, Ovid, and Seneca
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
The legacy of Roman poetry is one that has stayed with us for generations. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will help us answer the following questions: How did Roman poetry differ from Greek poetry, and how did it come to surpass Greek poetry? What makes Horace the most professional of the Roman poets? Why is Roman poetry and drama so important in the development of western civilization? Recommended Reading:
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Rome Meets the Jews: The First Challenge to Paganism
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
The relationship between Rome and the Jews is critical to the further development of western civilization. As we learn about their clash, we’ll explore the following questions: How did the Jews end up in Rome and how did they deal with Roman paganism? What are the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, and why were the Pseudepigrapha important towards Rome’s relationship with the Jews? How can the relationship between Rome and the Jews be characterized as a rivalry of sorts? Recommended Reading:
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The Aeneid II: Rome will Rise
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
Rome’s founding narrative continues to take shape as we move forward in The Aeneid. Together, we’ll explore the following questions: How does Virgil use the story of the Trojan horse to show that the Romans are more virtuous than the Greeks? Why does Virgil place such an emphasis on the fact that Rome is not new? What role does history play in Virgil’s Aeneid, as contrasted with Homer’s focus on natures? Recommended Reading: Virgil. . Translated by Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Classics, 2008.
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The Aeneid I: The New Hero
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. . Translated by Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Classics, 2008.
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The Pax Romana: Rome Under Augustus
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
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?
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Cicero: Roman Oratory
The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
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. . Translated with Introductions and Notes by D.H. Berry. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Cicero. . Translated by Michael Grant. New York: Penguin Classics, 1960.
info_outlineToday, we step back in time to explore the earliest Greek civilizations. Rabbi Rocklin will help us answer the following questions:
- How did the Olympic games begin, and why did the athletes compete naked?
- Why did the rise of the polis lead to the development of different types of government?
- How did the Greeks develop a culture that valued other cultures?