Unbeknownst to most people, the monks did more than pray and read scripture in seclusion. Beneath the world’s eyes, the monasteries secretly held the world together after Rome collapsed. Through the Classical Period and into the Middle Ages, the monks’ contributions permeated Europe. This essay is about those contributions. Monasticism developed when zealous … More The Monks and Their European Contributions
Livy and Ovid were Roman historians who lived under the reign of Octavian Augustus. I use the word “historian” loosely, as Livy’s sections on how Rome was founded are dubious at best. Ovid is on another matter entirely. Regardless, they are still Roman classics, recommended under Dr. Gary North’s literature course, not Tom Wood’s history … More Livy and Ovid on Roman Optimism and Mass Bloodshed
The Christian condition worsened as Roman emperors escalated their persecutions. History remembered Nero and Domitian unfavorably as bloodthirsty tyrants, but their persecutions were dwarfed by Diocletian. For the first time in Roman history, he launched an empire-wide, proactive campaign to smite every Christian and run the religion into the ground. However, in some respects, the … More God’s Providence in Rome’s Emperors
Catiline launched his famous conspiracy in Rome to consolidate personal power. After losing the consulship to Cicero, he assembled an army to march on the Republic’s capital. In response, Cicero gave four orations to the Senate. All of them were masterful works of rhetoric. Through speech alone, Catiline was persuaded to leave Rome. He … More Cicero and the Power of Fear
Cicero was the most renowned orator in Rome. When Catiline launched a conspiracy to overthrow the Roman government, Cicero attacked him vehemently. His first speech against Catiline was before the Roman Senate in the Temple of Jupiter. It became one of his most famous orations, forcing Catiline to flee Rome. Dr. Gary North asked the … More A Defense For Catiline
Rome inherited the Greek’s polytheistic religion, but in the first century AD, a new religion emerged. Christianity took the world by storm. Eventually, it made the ancient Greek religion obsolete. Nero, Titus, and Domitian were a few of the emperors who persecuted the Christian Church because it undermined their gods. Eventually, Rome, Christianity’s biggest persecutor, … More Conflicting Religions: The Difference Between Christianity and Greek Religion
The Roman philosopher Seneca was often considered Nero’s leash. The psychotic and blood-thirsty maniac emperor was most reasonable in the first five years of his reign when Seneca’s influence as an advisor permeated Nero. As the Roman monarch lost his mind, Seneca distanced himself more. But while we mostly remember the Stoic philosopher because of … More Man’s Unique Good According to Seneca
Rome peaked after Augustus idealized a proven method for emperors to maintain power. The Julio-Claudian and Flavian dynasties contained some of the most notorious, insane, delusional, and erratic emperors in history. This essay seeks to answer whether all were the same or how they differentiated their lunacy. Octavian was very strategic in maintaining a colossal … More Julio-Claudian and Flavian Dynasties
The Orestia Trilogy is a story about the death, curses, and misfortune haunting one family. Over time, it became a classic Greek play because of its poetry and tragic quality. This essay is about the final play in the trilogy and will answer whether the outcome was just. It will also compare how future hope … More Orestia Trilogy
The Libation Bearers is Aeschylus’ play following Agamemnon. While I already wrote an essay about Agamemnon, here is a quick review of the play before delving into The Libation Bearers: Agamemnon went on a campaign against Troy as a personal vendetta against its king. In the process, he offered his daughter as a human sacrifice … More Orestes and Counterfeit Justice
Asher Sisneros 