Cassiodorus: Institutions of Divine and Secular Learning

This edition of Cassiodorus: Institutions of Divine and Secular Learning explores the life and influence of Cassiodorus, a key figure in Christian scholarship.

In this new edition, Cassiodorus: Institutions of Divine and Secular Learning sheds light on the life and contributions of Cassiodorus, a pivotal figure in the learned Christian culture of late Latin Antiquity. Once celebrated as a savior of classical civilization, he has often been dismissed as an anachronism in recent discourse. This work offers a fresh perspective, illustrating how Cassiodorus not only navigated the political landscape of his time but also played a crucial role in the preservation and transmission of knowledge through his writings.

As a minister during the Ostrogothic regime under Theoderic, Cassiodorus had an illustrious political career that reflects the complexities of the late Roman Empire. His publication of the Variae around 538 CE marked a significant moment in his life, yet he later withdrew from public life, leaving behind a rich legacy of texts that bridged the secular and sacred realms. His two books, Institutions of Divine and Secular Learning, encapsulate a grand vision for education that would resonate throughout the Latin Middle Ages, influencing monastic scholarship and the study of the Seven Liberal Arts.

The current edition includes the first new English translation of the Institutions in over fifty years, along with the treatise On the Soul, originally part of the Variae. This comprehensive work will engage historians, medievalists, and anyone interested in the classical tradition, revealing the enduring impact of Cassiodorus on the intellectual landscape of his time and beyond.