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…

Presents a syllabus, developed by the Exeter University Department of Classics, for a degree course designed to do justice to both the literary and the historical aspects of the ancient world. The course is called "Latin and Ancient History." (Author/KM)

Discusses My Dream, a short autobiographical piece written by Lucian of Samosata (ca. 120-195 A.D.). (Editor)

The classics abound in meaning for our own time and especially for men of science and medicine. (Editor)

Comments are made in response to a critique of ancient history courses by Dr. J. K. Davies. The proper context for the study of the history of ancient Greece and Rome is discussed. (RM)

This article outlines the classics courses offered at four New Zealand universities and the philosophies directing their progress. Both language courses and courses taught in translation are discussed, along with the question of advanced study and research. (CHK)

Explores the ancients' perspective of speech communication as an art bonded by common origins, techniques and processes. Suggests that a contemporary aesthetic approach to the speech field should be considered. (MH)

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…

A consideration of classical study as an evolving profession includes discussion of classical content and methodology and an examination of the role of women both as objects of classical inquiry and as classical scholars. Material is arranged in three parts. In part A, classical content and scope are defined. The interdisciplinary and elitist…

A university Latin instructor demonstrates the use of motivation techniques in teaching Caesar's account of the Gallic wars, the "Bellum Gallicum." Brought into play in order to show the work's sense and balance, its structural analysis, and its literary and historical context, are literary masterpieces of other periods, the essentials of literary…