The Best Books of Ancient Rome: Virgil, Marcus Aurelius, and Augustine

Video from Memoria Press

The Best Books of Ancient Rome: Virgil, Marcus Aurelius, and Augustine

"In this episode of Classical Et Cetera we continue our series on the best books of each era by turning from ancient Greece to ancient Rome. From Virgil’s Aeneid and Cicero’s orations to Roman historians, poets, philosophers, and early Christian writers, we consider the works that reveal Rome’s ideals of order, duty, virtue, and piety—and the world-changing arrival of Christianity.

Whether you’re new to Roman literature or looking to revisit the classics, this conversation offers guidance on what to read, why it matters, and how these books help us understand the foundations of Western civilization. Join us as we explore the essential works of ancient Rome, from empire to Augustine, and consider where to begin your reading." from the video introduction

00:00 Introduction 01:50 What We're Reading 10:45 Listener Question: Philosophy - Where To Start? 15:21 Topic: 1st Century Reading List

Reading List for Ancient Rome

Virgil

Aeneid

Other poetry

Cicero

Catilinarian Orations

The Republic

The Laws

On Duties / On Obligations

Pro Archia Poeta / For Archias the Poet

Lucretius

De rerum natura / On the Nature of Things

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations

Julius Caesar

Gallic Wars

Roman Historians

Works by Livy

Works by Tacitus

Works by Suetonius

Plutarch - Parallel Lives

Roman Poetry

Works by Ovid

Works by Horace

Other poetry by Virgil

Early Christian Writings of the Roman Era

Didache

Writings by Clement of Rome

Writings by Ignatius of Antioch

Writings by Polycarp

Writings by Justin Martyr

Writings by Irenaeus

Writings by Tertullian

Writings by Origen

Writings by Eusebius

Augustine

Confessions

On Catechizing the Uninstructed

City of God

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