Schedule of Meetings
Meeting #15: Friday October 29th at 2pm EST
Readings:
Meeting #14: Friday September 24th at 3pm EST
Readings:
Meeting #13: Wednesday August 25th at 2pm EST
Readings:
Meeting #12: Monday July 26th at 2pm EST
Readings:
Meeting #11: Tuesday June 22nd at 2pm EST
Readings:
Meeting #10: Wednesday May 19th at 1pm EST
Readings:
Meeting #9: Thursday April 15th at 11am EST
Readings:
Meeting #8: Tuesday March 16th at 11am EST
Readings:
Meeting #7: Thursday February 18th at 2pm EST
Readings:
Meeting #6: Monday January 25th at 1pm EST
Readings:
Translation available for free here
Meeting #5: Friday December 11th at 12pm EST
Readings:
Translation available for free here
Meeting #4: Thursday November 12th at 12pm EST
Readings:
Translation available for free here
Meeting #3: Wednesday October 14th 2pm EST
Readings:
Translation available for free here
Meeting #2: Friday September 11th 1pm EST
Readings:
Guiding Questions:
1) How does Columella classify his system of agriculture? Does it change over his prefaces?
2) What Latin terms does Columella use to describe his system (wisdom, knowledge, science, learning) and does this change over the prefaces?
3) Who does Columella bring up again after his main preface in the remaining prefaces of books 2-12 and is this significant?
4) What repeat patterns do you notice across these books intros (themes, words, etc.)?
Meeting #1: Friday August 14th 1pm EST
Readings:
Columella, De re rustica, Praef., I.I.1-20
Varro, De re rustica, I. I-V
Cato, De agricultura I.I.1-7
Pliny the Elder, Naturalis historia XVIII.I-VI
Extra Reading Time Permitting: Palladius, Opus agriculturae, Praef.
Guiding Questions:
1. How are Columella’s aims different from Varro’s or Cato’s?
2. To what degree does the work of past agronomists guide each author’s aims and to what degree does trial and error factor into each author’s prospectus?
3. Does Pliny the Elder’s review of Roman agronomy echo the intents of Cato and Varro, and the contemporary understanding of Columella?
Extra Question (Time permitting):
4. What of Palladius’ short preface (fifth century CE)? What’s changed?
Prospectus Question:
What topics would you like to see covered in future meetings and would you be interested in leading a session?
Meeting 1 Theme: Intros and Prefaces