Classical Latin was not only the language used by the ancient Romans, but also by a rich variety of great authors from the early Middle Ages up to the 19^th century, such as Boethius, Alcuin, Petrarca, Luther, Erasmus, Spinoza, Descartes, Newton, David Ruhnken and David van Lennep. Learning Latin therefore enables students to communicate with authors from most diverse historical periods and thus to transcend the confines of their own time.
 
The study of Latin literature has been the central focus of Liberal Arts Education from the Middle Ages and Renaissance up to the early 20^th century. UC’s Latin courses are therefore the continuation of one of the basic educational traditions of Western civilisation.

 
Format
Latin Language and Culture II follows on Latin Language and Culture I, starting with advanced Latin grammar, which is studied through simplified versions of original Latin authors, such as Livy and Vergil. In its second half, the course transitions into a first introduction to original Latin literature, offering accessible readings from classical and neo-classical Latin authors, such as Cicero, Horace, Pliny the Younger, Seneca, Pico della Mirandola or Erasmus – all of whom are of constitutive importance to the Latin literary heritage.