Outlines a brief history of Mesoamerica, a region of Ancient North America which stretches from north central Mexico to the western half of El Salvador. Describes the languages of the region, common traits of the cultures which developed there, the periods, and the geography. (PRA)

Describes the historical approaches to the decipherment of ancient Maya writing. Asserts that Mayan hieroglyphics are recognized as true writing because they represent the sounds and structure of spoken language. Discusses the history of Maya hieroglyphic writing and how it was used in that civilization. (PRA)

States that iconographic investigations of Olmec style art works have produced convincing evidence that rulership during the Early and Middle Formative Period of Mesoamerican prehistory was publicly legitimized by a visual charter. Shows that the charter's naturally derived symbols functioned within a system which stressed the human ruler's access…

Offers an overview of Later Formative period writing in Mesoamerica, and discusses recent findings. Asserts that analysis of the iconographic context of the script reveals considerable interdependence between text and context and provides a glimpse of the importance of cosmological considerations in the display of power. Discusses the importance…

Summarizes the nature of the pre-Hispanic pictorial communication system used by the Mixtec people of Mexico, who were creating manuscripts in which they recorded their histories, genealogies, and religious beliefs long before the Spanish reached the New World. Explains and illustrates the principal pictorial conventions. (PRA)

Surveys the origin and development of the representational conventions of Mesoamerican writing systems. Asserts that writing probably grew out of the iconography of ceremonial celts, and seems to have taken shape during or just before the period in which state-level political organization was emerging. Discusses the representational features of…

Examines the work of the Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus and other evidence for the existence of public libraries in fourth and fifth century A.D. Rome. It is concluded that a number of libraries were still in existence in the early fourth century, and at least one was open as late as A.D. 455. (MES)

Examines epigraphical evidence (written communication inscribed on durable material) to determine how the Amphiareion of Oropos in Greece became a site for rhetorical display, how such rhetorical activities were sustained for centures, and lastly, the nature of rhetorical displays as revealed by the extant written communication. (HOD)

This paper focuses on a short term plan for a computerized multimedia expert system in the field of the classics that is under development at the University of California at Los Angeles. Noting both increased enrollments in classics courses and the problems associated with finding textbooks for courses in ancient civilizations that cover a variety…

Social implications of phonological and morphological variation in Classical Latin is examined. Arguments for the social factor are instances of hypercorrection, private and domestic instances of certain datives and Augustus' use of rural "domos" for "domus." It is understood in terms of the model of urbanization. (35…

Reviews eight textbooks, readers, and books. Topics include Latin America, colonial America, the Carolinians, women in French textbooks, the Vikings, the Soviet Union, nineteenth-century Black America, and Ernest Rutherford. (TRS)

Describes incorporating the classics into the elementary school curricula in a number of public and private schools. Argues bringing classical literature and ancient history to the classroom benefits and challenges students. Presents class projects that successfully apply the classics to critical thinking, creative writing, cultural diversity,…

Assesses the value of VRoma for Latin language learning. In particular, discusses three exercises that were developed that combine Latin language and Roman culture in order to help students reinforce their Latin skills and gain a more in-depth understanding of ancient Roman society. (Author/VWL)