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Holy Family Academy
Ad Veritatem per Fidem et Rationem
Ancient History
Syllabus 2013-2014
Mr. Thompson-Briggs
[email protected]
Description
This course is an introduction to the Greece and Rome of ancient and classical times. Through
reading works of ancient Greek and Roman history, students will acquaint themselves with the
events, beliefs, and ideas that formed western tradition for millennia.
Objectives
1. To become familiar with the significant events of Greece between the years of 700 and 338 B.C.
2. To understand the ideas and themes that shaped the Greek city-state.
3. To understand the key differences between Athens and Sparta.
4. To explore, explain, and evaluate the historical events and political principles of the Roman
Monarchy, Republic and Empire until A.D. 476.
5. To examine the influence of Greek and Roman ideas concerning government on American
political and social thought.
6. To identify the ancient political and philosophical arguments that the Church has either adopted
or rejected in her theological tradition.
Scope & Sequence
Greek History (August through December)
I. Persian War – Herodotus
II. Peloponnesian War – Thucydides
III. Alexander the Great – Plutarch
Roman History (January through June)
I. Monarchy and Foundation of the Republic – Livy, Plutarch
II. Punic Wars – Polybius
III. Fall of the Republic – Plutarch
IV. Rise of the Empire – Tacitus, Pliny
V. Emperors – student reports
VI. Invasions and Transformations – St. Augustine
Core Texts
Herodotus. The Histories.
Thucydides. The Peloponnesian War.
Plutarch. Greek and Roman Lives. Makers of Rome. Fall of the Roman Republic.
Livy. The Early History of Rome. The War with Hannibal.
Polybius. The Rise of the Roman Empire.
Pliny the Younger. Letters.
Saint Augustine. The City of God.
Supplemental Materials
Xenophon. The Persian Expedition.
Plato. The Republic.
Aristotle. The Nichomachean Ethics.
G. K. Chesterton. The Everlasting Man.
Edith Hamilton. The Greek Way.
John Boardman, Jasper Griffin, and Oswyn Murray, eds. The Roman World. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1986.
Tom Holland. Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic. New York: Anchor, 2005.
Grading (per trimester)
Participation/homework/quizzes
Papers (2)
Paper Presentation
Tests (2)
Final Exam
25%
30%
5%
20%
20%
Participation/Homework/Quizzes
Participation in class presupposes timely completion of all reading and preparatory work. Whenever
reading is assigned, all students should prepare two or three questions or comments based on the
reading to be submitted to the instructor at the start of class. At any time a student may be asked to
pose one of these questions/topics to the class, or to explain some aspect of the assignment. A
participation grade is assigned daily.
The instructor reserves the right to give occasional pop quizzes under the participation
rubric. Their aim is primarily to assure that students are completing and comprehending the reading.
In the third trimester, participation includes reports on the Roman emperors.
Papers
Two three-page papers will be assigned per trimester. Written prompts will be distributed
approximately two weeks before each due date. Papers incur a five percent reduction from the
otherwise merited grade for each school day or portion of a school day they are late.
Students are encouraged to re-work and re-submit graded papers in order to improve their
writing skills (and scores).
Paper Presentation
Each trimester students will select one of their papers for in-class presentation and discussion.
Tests
There will be two tests each trimester. Most questions will be short-answer or essay format.
Please note
The instructor is happy to offer extra help outside of class or via email.
The instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus,
subject to timely notification of enrolled students.