Compare the rise and personalities of American Populist politicians in the first half of the twentieth century to the Populares of the late Roman Republic.

Lucan's circumstances have been repeated more than once in the twentieth century. Compare his experiences with those of writers working under twentieth century dictatorships.

In Book X, Lucan has one of his characters discuss the source of the Nile. Research the search for the source of the Nile up to its discovery in the nineteenth century.

Lucan has both his narrator and Julius Caesar himself mention his reform of the calendar. Research the development of the modern calendar. Look in particular for its importance for the development of mathematics and astronomy.

In Book III, Caesar sends troops to invade Sicily and Sardinia to control the supply of grain. Grain from these two islands and later from Egypt...