Brief Biography Of Marcus Quintilian Rhetoric

Marcus Fabius Quintilianus, better know as Quintilian today, is know as one of the greatest teacher’s of rhetoric from the roman time. In 35 CE, Quintilian was born in Calagurris in the Roman Province of Hispania Tarraconensis, the region we call Spain today. Not much is known of Quintilian’s youth, but around 50 CE his father, who was also a rhetorician, sent him to Rome for education. When in Rome, Quintilian studied under Remmius Palaemon for grammar and Domitius Afer for rhetoric. Along with being a rhetorician, Afer was also a consul, or high-ranking politician in Rome. Quintilian had high regards for Afer and continued to have an attachment with him until his death in 59 CE.

After Afer’s death, Quintilian traveled back to Calagurris where he stayed for eight years. During his time back in Calagurris, it is believed that he practiced law and taught rhetoric. At some point during his return home, he connected with and became acquainted with Galba, the governor of Spain at the time.

Quintilian then returned back to Rome in 86 CE when Galba became emperor and brought Quintilian along with him. In his return to Rome, he continued his law practice and continued teaching rhetoric. While there

In book II of the Institutio oratoria, Quintilian outlines what we would consider “elementary school times”. Quintilian borrows the idea of an ideal orator being widely educated on various topics from Cicero, an older Roman rhetorician. In this section, he brings up the idea of studying music, geometry, and logic. These topics are still embedded in the American education system today. The idea of having a wide variety of knowledge over a number of subjects is reflected in our general education classes in college. Today, students choose a major to master, however along with major classes, the curriculum incorporates supplemental learning from other fields in through general education