9781880393352 / 1880393352

A Synoptic History of Classical Rhetoric provides students with a thorough review of rhetorical theory and practices found in ancient Greece and Rome. This third edition integrates new research into the text and adds richer context within which to understand the growth and development of the rhetorical self-consciousness that is so central to western civilization. It considers writing and speaking as critical tools for the educated Athenian or Roman, and recognizes the role that writing played in the development and practice of rhetoric in the classical age. Eight classical texts are also provided for study and discussion. With vivid examples of the rhetorical concepts developed by each theorist, it enables students to understand rhetoric's role in the exchange of knowledge and ideas.