ABSTRACT
Any systematic attempt to investigate the role of Cicero within rhetoric instruction in 16th- and 17th-century Europe will uncover an overwhelming amount of relevant source material in printed and manuscript form extant in hundreds—if not thousands—of European archives and libraries. Melchior Adam distinguishes between Cicero’s rhetorical and philosophical writings. Editions of Cicero’s complete extant writings, editions of his philosophical, rhetorical, and ethical works, and editions of his orations and letters appeared frequently during the period. The theoretical part of rhetoric instruction was devoted to the formal discipline of rhetoric. 16th-and 17th-century rhetoricians appear to have organized their own theoretical treatises eclectically. Numerous other questions could be raised concerning the manner in which, and the reasons for which, Cicero’s writings were studied within 16th- and 17th-century rhetoric instruction. Bartholomew Keckermann believes that the study of rhetoric must be preceded by instruction in grammar, history, ethics, family life, politics, Greek, Hebrew, physical education, and logic.
