Cypriano de Soarez facts for kids
Cypriano Soarez y Herrera, S.J. (1524–1593) was a Spanish Jesuit priest from the 1500s. He is famous for writing De Arte Rhetorica, which was the first textbook on rhetoric used by the Jesuits. Rhetoric is the art of speaking or writing in a way that is effective and persuasive.
A Life of Learning and Teaching
Cypriano Soarez was born in Ocaña, Spain. His mother was Lady Francesca de Herrera. His family had a Jewish background and later converted to Christianity. He joined the Jesuit order in Portugal in 1549. He was supported by Fray Luis de Granada.
Soarez taught rhetoric in Jesuit schools. These included the College of Saint Anthony in Lisbon. He also taught at the Royal College of Coimbra. While in Coimbra, he also worked as a cook, porter, and sweeper. He worked with Emmanuel Alvarez, who later wrote the first Jesuit Latin grammar book.
Cypriano Soarez became the Prefect of Studies at the College of Arts. This was an important leadership role. Later, he earned a degree as a doctor of theology. He then became the rector (head) of the College of Braga. In 1580, he moved to Castile.
Soarez was chosen to help review the Jesuit's new education plan. This plan was called the Ratio studiorum. He worked on this with Francisco Suarez. Cypriano Soarez later passed away in Placentia.
His Important Book: De Arte Rhetorica
Soarez noticed that young students in Jesuit colleges found major rhetoric books too hard. These books included works by Aristotle, Cicero, and Quintilian. Students were still learning Latin. Soarez wrote De Arte Rhetorica to make these ideas easier to understand. It was like a summary or "digest" of the older, more difficult works.
He wrote the first version of his book around 1562. Another Jesuit, Pedro Juan Pepinyá, helped revise it in 1565.
The De Arte Rhetorica was published in 1568. It followed the style of Aristotle. However, much of its content came from Cicero. Soarez wanted his book to introduce students to the basics of rhetoric and public speaking. He knew that even if students learned Latin grammar, they might still struggle to read complex authors.
His book became very popular. It was printed more than 75 times between 1460 and 1700. This included printings in Mexico City. The Jesuit education plan, the Ratio Studiorum, made Soarez's De Arte Rhetorica a required textbook. It was used in Jesuit colleges all over the world.
