Description: Our objective is to help you gain a greater understanding of the ancient Greek world, in which so many of our own humanistic values and ideas found their earliest expression. We especially want you to know some of the story as it is presented by the ancient Greeks themselves--in their literature, written history, philosophy, art, and artifacts. The course is interdisciplinary by design, both in WHAT is studied and HOW it is studied.

Texts: Available in Bookstore:

ANCIENT

Homer, The Odyssey

Herodotus, The Histories (W.W. Norton, abridged text with commentaries)

Aeschylus, The Oresteia

Thucydides, On Justice, Power, and Human Nature

Spiridakis & Nystrom, Ancient Greece, Documentary Perspectives

(S & N)

 

MODERN

Amos and Lang, These Were the Greeks (A & L) #

Bruit Zaidman & Schmitt Pantel, Religion in the Ancient Greek City (BZ) *

Susan Woodford, Greece and Rome

David Turner, Byzantine Age* THIS IS THE TEXT FOR AMC 204--YOU

MUST HAVE YOUR OWN COPY ON SITE!

 

* Have available for on-site courses in Greece and Turkey

# Helpful (but not required) for on-site courses in Greece and Turkey

Requirements:

(1) The class is not large, and we shall expect everyone to participate in discussion. The reading is sizable in quantity, often challenging in difficulty. Students are expected to complete the readings before the class session for which they are listed; keep up to date with your reading so you can discuss it intelligently!

(2) Through weekly brief quizzes, we shall encourage you to fashion a basic framework of information from materials provided in your readings and highlighted during the class sessions. This weekly test will have three parts: (1) identification of key terms and myths, (2) chronology, (3) paragraph responses to questions about the readings and lectures.

(3) Because of the substantial amount of reading, there will be only a modest--8 to

10 pp--outside research project. Topics and guidelines will be provided.

(4) For the three-hour final examination, you will be provided with the questions in advance. The examination will consist of essays which analyze, compare, and integrate course materials from the lectures, discussions, and readings.

Grading: Course grades will be based on the following: (1) class participation--15%, (2) weekly tests--25%, (3) research paper--30%, and (4) final examination--30%. In discussion, papers and the final exam weight will be given to relevant and searching questions, critical comments, and--notably in your writing--clarity, organization, and argumentation.