BROOKLYN COLLEGE
CLASSICS 16
ROME: CITY OF EMPIRE
The Middle Republic
Cato the Elder (234-149 BC)
In the following questions, the numbers in parentheses are references
to paragraphs in Plutarch's Life of Cato the Elder. In answering
the questions that require one of a one (or more) paragraph answer, give
examples from Plutarch's text to illustrate your points. Send your answers
to the following questions to me by e-mail: rdunkle@brooklyn.cuny.edu.
QUESTIONS
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What is a "new man?" (1) Briefly describe how viewed Cato as a new man
(16). What is the ius imaginum (see footnote on p. 119)? Cato's
career was typical of republican aristocrats. Briefly describe his career
(1)
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What virtue did Cato admire in Manius Curius (2)? Despite various Greek
influences on Cato as a youth and as an old man, to what other Roman ideals
was he attracted (2-3)? Note Cato's public offices: military tribune, quaestor,
consul, and censor (3). See Shelton, p. 211-12 for the functions of these
magistracies. Write a paragraph or two on the functions of censor as outlined
by Plutarch (16). Briefly describe how men of the most ancient families
felt about Cato's censorship (16). Give two examples of Cato's acts as
censor (17, 18). Why did Cato and Fabius Maximus oppose Scipio (3)?
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How and why was Rome changing in Cato's day (4)? How was Cato different
from most of his fellow Romans (4)? Write two paragraphs on how Cato treated
his slaves (4,5,21).
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Give one example of Cato's self-restraint (6). Describe briefly his behavior
as governor of Hither Spain and his attitude toward plunder (10). What
is Cato's attitude toward kings (8) (cf. the legend of Tarquinius Superbus
in Livy and the fall of the monarchy) ?
-
What was Cato's attitude toward Greek culture (12)? Write a paragraph describing
Cato's reaction to the presence of the philosophers, Carneades the Academic
and Diogenes the Stoic in Rome (22-23). Why did Cato warn his son not to
study Greek literature (23)? What is Plutarch's view of Cato's anti-Greek
attitude (23).
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Why didn't Cato entrust the education of his son to his slave Chilo, who
was a schoolmaster (20)? Briefly describe the education that Cato personally
provided for his son (20).
-
What was Cato's opinion about Carthage (27)? Why did Publius Scipio Nasica
think that Carthage should be spared (27)?
Note that Cato is the great-great grandfather of Cato Uticensis (he committed
suicide in Utica in north Africa), the last champion of republicanism at
Rome (see footnote on p. 151).
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