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Classics 111/ History 111
MWF 11:30-12:20 in Mather Memorial 125
Office hours in Mather House 112:
MW 10:15-11:15 & by appointment
Fall Semester 2011
Professor Sternberg
Phone: 368-2251
[email protected]
GREEK CIVILIZATION
What was the "glory that was Greece"? How did the great flowering of Greek civilization
occur? What are the connections between that civilization and our own? This course explores
the history of ancient Greece from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period with an
emphasis on Athens in the classical period. It surveys not only political and military events, but
also the economy and society of the Greeks together with their artistic, literary, and scientific
achievements. We focus especially on the Greek concepts of heroism and freedom and on the
figure of Socrates. The culminating class exercise for Greek Civilization will be (fates
permitting) a week in Athens over Spring Break 2012. Students who excel in their class work
will be eligible to apply for this enjoyable study trip.
Course goals:
+ To master the significant political and military events of Greek history.
+ To examine multiple facets of Greek society such as literature, art, and daily life.
+ To understand the nature of archaeological and textual evidence for this lost world.
+ To sample contemporary scholarship in the sub-fields of history and archaeology.
Course policies:
Students must attend class faithfully. The only excused absences are documented sicknesses
and emergencies. Your final grade will drop precipitously if you miss class for any other
reason. Please maintain a Case e-mail account and check regularly for messages pertaining to
class. Students must meet deadlines for all reading and writing assignments. Please remember
that the success of our discussions depends largely on your thoughtful preparation and
participation. To this end, I will assign informal essays from time to time. These are designed to
help you get the most out of your reading. No single essay will count much toward your final
grade, but if you do all of them you will be in a good position to participate in class discussions
and excel on the short exams and the final. Please attempt (at least) the optional readings, as
one of these may help you with your research paper. Paper proposals and preliminary
bibliographies must receive professor’s approval.
Students who encounter undue difficulties should consult promptly with the professor. Those
with any sort of disability that inhibits learning under usual circumstances should ask for
adjustments and should also contact Susan Sampson, the Coordinator of Disability Services,
Kelvin Smith Library, Room105, 368-5230 ([email protected]).
Plagiarism or cheating in any of your academic work is a serious violation of ethical conduct,
will be dealt with severely, and is grounds for an F for the entire course. Such violations
include turning in another person’s work as your own, copying from any source without
proper citation, going beyond what is allowed in a group project, and lying in connection with
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your academic work. You will be held responsible for your actions. If you are unsure as to
what is permissible, please consult the instructor or visit www.plagiarism.org.
The breakdown of the final course grade will be as follows:
Class attendance, participation, quizzes, informal essays, BB discussion - 30%
Two short exams – 20%
Research paper (5-8 pages) – 30%
Final exam – 20%
Required texts:
Arrian. Campaigns of Alexander. Trans. A. de Sélincourt. Penguin, 1958.
Grene, D., and R. Lattimore, eds. Greek Tragedies, Vol. 1. University of Chicago Press, 1991.
Herodotus. The Histories. Trans. D. Grene. University of Chicago Press, 1987.
Thomas B. West and Grace Starry West. Four Texts on Socrates: Plato’s Euthyphro, Apology,
and Crito and Aristophanes’ Clouds. Cornell University Press, 1998.
Pomeroy, Sarah, et al. A Brief History of Ancient Greece, second edition. Oxford UP, 2009.
Thucydides. The Peloponnesian War. Trans. R. Warner, Penguin.
Recommended/optional:
Homer. The Iliad. Trans. R. Fagles. Penguin, 1990.
Additional readings at KSL: (And more may be posted as we go along.)
Aeschylus, Persians, trans. A. Podlecki. London: Bristol Classical Press, 1991.
Aristophanes. Frogs.
Aristotle. The Poetics.
Borza, Eugene. In the Shadow of Olympus. Princeton UP, 1990.
Davidson, James. Courtesans and Fishcakes. NY: St. Martin’s 1997.
Demosthenes, “Against Neaera,” in Kathleen Freeman, The Murder of Herodes and Other
Trials from the Athenian Law Courts. Hackett, 1991.
--------, “First Philippic,” in Demosthenes’ Orations, Intro by John Warrington. London: Dent
& Sons, 1954.
Dover, Kenneth J. Greek Homosexuality. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard UP, 1978.
DuBois, Page. Sappho Is Burning. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995.
Epidaurian Miracle Inscriptions. Trans. L. LiDonnici. Scholars Press, 1995.
Hanson, Victor D. The Western Way of War. Knopf, 1989.
Hunter, Virginia. Policing Athens. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1994.
Hurwit, Jeffrey M., “Space and Theme: The Setting of the Parthenon,” pp. 9-34 in The
Parthenon, ed. Jenifer Neils. Cambridge UP, 2005.
Keuls, Eva C. The Reign of the Phallus. NY: Harper & Row, 1985.
Lacey, W. K. The Family in Classical Greece. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1968.
Richards, Carl J. The Founders and the Classics: Greece, Rome, and the American
Enlightenment. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1994.
Vermeule, Emily. Greece in the Bronze Age. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1964.
Class schedule:
Week 1. Aug. 29- Sept. 2 Bronze Age Civilizations (to c. 1200 BC)
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M
W
F
Introduction & the Minoans
Pomeroy pp. 3-26
The Mycenaeans
Pomeroy pp. 26-40
Vermeule, pp. 90-110 (optional)
Introduction to Homer
Pomeroy pp. 41-69
Iliad, Book 1.1-303 (pp. 77-87 in Fagles)
Week 2. Sept. 5-9
M
W
F
Homer (c. 1150-700 BC)
LABOR DAY
Hector and Andromache
Iliad, Book 6.237-529 (pp. 203-213 in Fagles)
The slaying of Hector
Iliad, Book 22, all (pp. 541-558 in Fagles)
Week 3. Sept. 12-16 Archaic Greece (c. 700-480 BC)
M
W
F
Homeric and hoplite warfare
Hanson pp. 55-88, “Burden of Hoplite Arms and Armor”
Tyrants, temples, games
Pomeroy pp. 70-101
DuBois, pp. 31-54 (optional)
Case Community Day
Discussion on community and social justice in U.S. (cf. Solon)
Week 4. Sept. 19-23 The development of Sparta and Athens
M
W
F
Sparta's mixed constitution and warrior elite & MAP QUIZ
Pomeroy pp. 102-123
The emergence of Athens
Pomeroy pp. 124-139
SHORT EXAM #1
Week 5. Sept. 26-30 Confrontation with Persia (490 and 480-479 B.C.)
M
W
F
Herodotus on tyranny
Pomeroy pp. 139-150
Herodotus 7.5-56 (pp. 467-490 in Grene)
Thermopylae and Salamis
Pomeroy p. 151-155
Herodotus 7.206-228 (pp. 543-552 in Grene)
Herodotus 8.1-99 (pp. 557-592 in Grene)
Aeschylus, Persians (excerpt; optional)
Guest Appearance: Prof. Andrea DeGiorgi
DUE: Paper proposal with 4-item preliminary bibliography
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Week 6. Oct. 3-7
M
W
F
Everyday life
Oikos and polis
Lacey, pp. 84-99, 151-176
Hunter, pp. 154-184 (optional)
More on social structure; the Athenian elite
Davidson, pp. 213-249 (optional)
Demosthenes [pseud.], “Against Neaera” (optional)
Greek healing: religion; magic; early science
Epidaurian Miracle Inscriptions
Week 7. Oct. 10-14
M
W
F
The Athenian Empire
Delian League
Pomeroy pp. 156-164
Thucydides 1.96-117 (pp. 92-103 in Penguin)
The Age of Pericles
Pomeroy pp. 164-187
Thucydides 2.34-46 (pp. 143-151 in Penguin)
The exercise of power
Thucydides 3.36-50 and 5.84-116 (pp. 212-223, 400-408)
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Week 8. Oct. 17-21
M
W
F
The “Golden Age” of Athens – I - Greek art
Jenifer Neils (taped)
Pomeroy pp. 181-223
Jenifer Neils (taped)
The Acropolis and the Parthenon
Hurwit, “Space and Theme,” pp. 9-34 in Neils.
Week 9. Oct. 24-28 The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC)
M
W
F
FALL BREAK
The Archidamian War
Pomeroy pp. 224-238
The Sicilian expedition and the defeat of Athens
Pomeroy, pp. 238-253
Thucydides 6.8-32 and 7.59-87 (pp. 414-429, 516-537 in Penguin)
Week 10. Oct. 31 – Nov. 4
M
W
Th,
F
Euripides, The Trojan Women
The Trojan Women continued
Film screening in Inamori Center (Crawford lower level) 4:30 pm (optional)
Aristophanes’ Frogs (read excerpt)
Pomeroy, pp. 235-238
Week 11. Nov. 7-11
M
W
Th
F
W
F
Film screening in Inamori Center (Crawford lower level) 4:30 pm (optional)
Aristotle’s Poetics (read excerpt)
SHORT EXAM #2
Fourth Century (404 - c. 350 B.C.)
Athens, Sparta, Thebes
Pomeroy, pp. 254-256, 260-265
Persuasion and Philosophy in fourth-century Athens
Pomeroy pp. 265-287
Plato’s Apology, in Four Texts
Athens on trial: the death of Socrates
Pomeroy, 256-260
Aristophanes, Clouds, in Four Texts
Week 13. Nov. 21-25
M
The “Golden Age” of Athens – III – more tragedy
Sophocles, Oedipus the King
Oedipus the King continued
Week 12. Nov. 14-18
M
The “Golden Age” of Athens – II - tragedy
The rise of Macedon (c. 360 - 336 B.C.)
Threat from the North
Pomeroy pp. 288-305
Borza, pp. 253-276 (optional)
Demosthenes, First Philippic
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W
F
Alexander the Great
Pomeroy pp. 306-330
Arrian pp. 64-76, 104-106, 129-143, 148-155, 376-398
THANKSGIVING BREAK
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Week 14. Nov. 28 – Dec. 2 The Hellenistic Period (323-30 B.C.)
M
Disorder and splendor
Pomeroy pp. 331-347
W
Art, literature, and philosophy for a new age
Pomeroy, pp. 347-363
Developments in Greek science
F
Week 15. Dec. 5-9
M
W
F
Enduring Legacies
Rome
Pomeroy, pp. 364-368
Constantinople
Paris… and Philadelphia
DUE: RESEARCH PAPER
FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Please note that class schedule and assignments are subject to revision.