A younger contemporary of Cicero and partisan of Julius Caesar, the historian Sallust witnessed first-hand the chaos of the civil war that brought an end to the Republic.  But when he decided to turn to writing history, instead of offering an account of Caesar and Pompey, he zeroed in on a few key episodes in the previous decades: the conspiracy of Catiline (during Cicero's consulship), and a late second-century war in North Africa, that saw the rise of Marius. Through his narration of these earlier periods, Sallust conveys his understanding of aristocratic Roman culture and the breakdown of the Republic. In this class we will read extensive excerpts from his two extant works, paying special attention to how he translates broad historical changes into compelling characters, scenes, and speeches. Classes will be taught synchronously; in each session, we will work on understanding the Latin text in detail, and also explore the implications of what we're reading.  There will be some translation quizzes (both prepared and at sight) and other written assignments that require you to show an understanding of the Latin grammar, Sallust's style, and the conceptual issues in the text. A 7-8 page paper will be required near the end of the semester, with several stepping-stone assignments leading up to the final draft.  There will also be a written final exam.