ROMAN CLASSICS + LATIN

Classics refers to the study of literature, language, history, philosophy, and the culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Classics can therefore involve Latin and Greek, the languages spoken in ancient Rome and Greece. The Classical World was established more than a millennium ago -- roughly from 800-300 CE. Though these boundaries are somewhat arbitrary, the conquests of Alexander the Great and the expansion of Roman power have brought Greek and Roman culture closer. The Greco-Roman lives spread across Eurasia. While started in ancient times, it was later formalized as a field of study during the Renaissance when scholars in Europe discovered an interest in Greek and Roman texts.
The term “Classics” comes from the Latin term "Classicus", meaning “of the highest class”. This phrase originally referred to high-ranking Roman citizens and later applied to exemplary literary works. Over the past 150 years as Classics has been closer studied, our perspectives have shifted significantly. Democratization has broadened a focus beyond the greater attention to the voices and experiences of those historically excluded from a traditional narrative, including women, slaves, children, animals, and intimate objects. Ad Vitam explores all ends of Classics -- whether involving language or historic culture.