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CLAS
CLASSICS AND ANCIENT HISTORY
Below are brief descriptions for the courses which deal with material in English translation.
Descriptions of Latin and Greek language courses can be found under the GREEK and LATIN course sections.
INTRODUCTORY LEVEL COURSES
1000 and 2000 level courses are designed for students in the first or second year of their programs, and may be taken in any
order. The courses are open to all students.
CLAS 1323
Introduction to Classical Archaeology: Methods and Theory
3 ch (3C) [W]
This course focuses on archaeology as a science. It covers the history of archaeological investigations, presents the
scientific methods used in identifying and excavating a site, and the scientific analysis of the material remains.
Representative examples that illustrate these scientific advancements are drawn from the major Mediterranean
civilizations (Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman) excavated over the last few centuries.
CLAS 1403
The Ancient Greeks
3 ch (3C) [W]
An illustrated introduction to the religion, literature, art and philosophy of the ancient Greeks.
CLAS 1413
The Romans
3 ch (3C) [W]
A survey of the political, military, literary, and architectural achievements of the Romans.
CLAS 1503
Introduction to Mythology: The Gods and Heroes of Greece
and Rome
3 ch (3C)
A survey of the myths which helped to shape the life and thought of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome.
Emphasis will be placed on myths describing the gods and their powers, the beginnings of the world, the earliest
humans, the tales of the heroes, and miraculous experiences in the lives of ordinary persons. Students who have
successfully completed CLAS 3503 may not enrol in this course.
CLAS 2303
Greek Art and Archaeology
3 ch (3C) [W]
A survey of the major monuments of the art and architecture of the Greeks from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic
period.
CLAS 2313
Roman Art and Archaeology
3 ch (3C) [W]
A survey of the major monuments of the art and architecture of the Etruscans and the Romans from the Iron Age to
Late Antiquity.
CLAS 2903
Sports and Recreation in Greece and Rome
3 ch
(3C)[W]
An examination of sport and recreational activities among the ancient Greeks and Romans, the ancient values they
reflect and their influence on modern sport in such matters as organization and policing of events, professionalism,
athletes as celebrities, and 'blood ' sports.
ADVANCED CLASSICS COURSES
CLAS 3003
Ancient History: The Greeks from the Bronze Age to the Persian
Wars
3 ch (3C) [W]
Deleted: enroll
Focuses on the Birth of Ancient Greece and traces its development to the end of the Archaic period. Includes: Greek
prehistory, the early historical period, the origin of democracy and the crucial defeat of the Persian invasions of 490
and 480 B.C.
CLAS 3013 Ancient History: Greece in the Classical Age
3 ch (3C) [W]
Studies the social and political history of Greece in the 5th and 4th centuries B.C., including Athens' rise to cultural
and political brilliance, her rivalry with Sparta, and the Greeks' ultimate failure to resolve their internal conflicts in the
face of the Macedonian threat.
CLAS 3023 Ancient History: Alexander and the Hellenistic World
3ch
(3C)[W]
The social and political impact of Alexander the Great, his empire and his successors on the Mediterranean world,
down to the Roman conquest.
CLAS 3033 Ancient History: The Rise of the Romans
3 ch (3C) [W]
Rome from its village origins to the conquest of the Mediterranean world. Examines the link between Rome's
diplomacy and wars of expansion, and her internal politics--the early kings, the tensions and balances of the Republic,
and the role of Julius Caesar and others in its collapse by 31 B.C.
CLAS 3043 Ancient History: The Roman Empire
3 ch (3C) [W]
Rome as the capital of western civilization, from the emergence of the imperial system under Augustus to its final
decline in Western Europe in the 5th century A.D. Considers the impact of the Roman army, administration, culture
and law on ancient and modern thought.
CLAS 3053 The Roman Army
3ch (3C) [W]
Examines the development of the Roman legions, from their beginnings as a peasant conscript army to their imperial
conquests and fame as a professional fighting force. Topics discussed include: organization, armament, strategy and
logistics, social impact, the Roman navy, auxiliary forces, and the legions' significance as a model for modern armies.
CLAS 3073
Ancient History: Jewish Civilization from the Babylonian Exile to
the Great Revolt
3 ch (3C) [W]
An examination of the social, cultural, intellectual and political history of the Jews during the period of the second
temple (516 BCE - 70 CE).
CLAS 3083 The Byzantine Empire
3 ch (3C) [W]
A historical analysis of Byzantine civilization from its emergence from the Late Roman Empire to its medieval zenith
under Basil II (r. 976-1025). Topics include the development of a distinctive Byzantine culture, its interaction with
Western Europe, confrontation with Islam and its civilizing role in Eastern Europe.
CLAS 3303 Classical Archaeology
3 ch (3C) [W]
A study of the material culture of Ancient Greece within a mythological, political, social and economic context.
Prerequisite: CLAS 2303, or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 3313 Field School in Classical Archaeology
3 ch (3C) [W]
This course is an introduction to archaeological field techniques through participation in a field research project in the
Classical lands. It introduces students to survey methods, excavation techniques, documentation/recording of field
procedures, recovery of artifacts, and their preparation for storage.
CLAS 3323 Byzantine Art and Archaeology
3 ch (3C) [W]
This course presents an overview of the principle monuments and artistic forms of Byzantium from AD 324 to the fall
of the empire in AD 1453 and examines how these cultural manifestations reflect contemporary political and religious
attitudes.
CLAS 3373 Pompeii and Herculaneum
3 ch (3C) [W]
A study of the physical remains of the area around Mt Vesuvius, concentrating on Pompeii, Herculaneum and the
nearby villas. Topics discussed include: town planning, architectural development, local politics, Roman wall painting,
domestic and public space.
CLAS 3403 The Comic Theatre of Greece and Rome
3 ch (3C) [W]
The development of comedy from the kômos in Greece; the reading, in English translation, of an Old Comedy by
Aristophanes, a satyr-play by Euripides and a New Comedy by Menander; the development of comedy in Rome
through the reading of plays by Plautus and Terence. The history of the theatre, its changing structure, conventions,
the production of plays and their performance and the festivals at which they were performed.
CLAS 3413 The Tragic Theatre of Greece and Rome
3 ch (3C) [W]
The history of the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens and a survey of the origins of Greek tragedy; the reading in English
translation of a representative sample of the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides; the dramatic festivals at
which they were performed, the production and performance of the plays, the dramatic conventions. The role of the
serious theatre in Rome; a tragedy of Seneca, in English translation, is read. Prerequisite: CLAS 1503, or permission
of the instructor.
CLAS 3423 The Hero in Ancient Epic
3 ch (3C) [W]
An exploration of the hero through a survey of Greek and Latin epic, including the works of Homer, Apollonius, Virgil
and Statius. While the emphasis is on a literary appraisal, aspects of history, religion and society will also be used to
examine the changing nature of the hero and heroism in ancient society. Prerequisite: CLAS 1503, or permission of
the instructor.
CLAS 3463
History of Modern Greece
3 ch (3C)[W][O]
An introductory survey course of the history of Modern Greece beginning with the Greek War of Independence in 1821
to World War II. Special attention will be paid to various events and themes (such as the Asia Minor Catastrophe in
1922 and the Greek Diaspora etc.) by utilizing literature and other historical sources and documentaries in order to
present the society, culture and politics of Greece and gain a better understanding of the modern Greek identity.
There are no prerequisites.
CLAS 3473
Introduction to Modern Greek Literature
3 ch (3c) [W][O]
An introductory survey course of Modern Greek literature in translation. Emphasis will be placed on the history and
development of literature from the 19th and 20th centuries by examining a selection of poetry, short stories and
novel/s. Included in this survey are the Nobel prize winners George Seferis and Odysseas Elytis. There are no
prerequisites. CLAS 3503 The Greek Gods and Their Cults
3 ch (3C) [W]
The Greek myths of creation and the Greek gods and their mythology. The historical origins of the gods, the
development of Greek religion from pre-historic times. Parallels are adduced from Middle Eastern mythologies. Major
Greek religious sites are illustrated. Prerequisite: CLAS 1503, or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 3513 The Trojan War: Myth and History
3 ch (3C) [W] [A]
Fought over the theft of a woman, the Trojan War has been a part of popular culture for 3000 years. It has been told
and retold by poets since Homer, depicted in the arts of ancient Greece through the Middle Ages and Renaissance into
modern times, sparked the romantic imaginations of early archaeologists, and most recently been interpreted on the
screen in films such as Unforgiven and Troy. This course will explore the Trojan War through literature, historical
texts, archaeology, the visual arts, drama and film.
CLAS 3523 The Mythology and Religion of the Romans
3 ch (3C) [W]
A study of the legends surrounding the foundation and growth of early Rome and of the Italian gods. Roman religion is
studied under such headings as prayer, sacrifice, divination, the religious year and calendar, priests and emperorworship. [Not open to students who received credit for CLAS 4023.]
CLAS 3703 Socrates
3 ch (3C/S) [W]
Examines the central intellectual, political, religious and social controversies of the Golden Age of Greece (450-350
BC), by focussing on Socrates in conflict with both the citizens of Athens and the new professional teachers, the
“Sophists”.
CLAS 3723 Ancient Science
3ch (3C) [W]
An examination of the development of scientific theory and practice among the ancient Greeks and Romans.
CLAS 3733 Ancient Philosophers
3 ch (3C) [W]
A survey of the various forms of philosophical literature produced in the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome.
CLAS 3803 The Graeco-Roman Background of the New Testament
3 ch (3C) [W]
Examines the social, literary, philosophical and religious milieu in which the writing of the New Testament took place.
CLAS 3813 The Early Church
3ch (3C) [W]
The history of Christianity from the apostles to the fifth century: its organization and doctrinal development, and its
interaction with Roman civil authority and paganism.
CLAS 3903 Women in Ancient Greece
3 ch (3C) [W]
Examines the portrayal of women in ancient Greek literature and the realities of women’s lives as reconstructed from
the historical, legal, and archaeological records.
CLAS 3913 Love and Sexuality in Greece and Rome
3 ch (3C) [W]
A study of Greek and Roman attitudes towards love and sexuality. Literary and artistic evidence will be used to explain
why scenes of erotica were widely on display within the ancient home and in the public realm. Analysis of these
attitudes in their own context will be combined with a discussion of how they relate to modern values and gender
issues. Topics include social morality, homosexuality, marriage and adultery, erotic art, fertility rituals, and
pornography.
CLAS 3923 Roman Law
3 ch (3C) [W]
A survey of the development and practice of the Roman legal system, upon which all modern civil law systems are
based. Topics include: sources of Roman law and legal institutions; legal procedure; Roman legal concepts (persons,
property, obligations, succession); equity and social change in legal reform; survival and modern revival.
CLAS 4063 Caesar Augustus: Architect of the Roman Empire
3 ch (3CS) [W]
A seminar dealing with the controversial career of Caesar Augustus, from his unexpected rise to power to his
establishment of the Imperial system of government at Rome, through systematic analysis of the primary sources,
using the Res Gestae, Augustus' own public statement of his achievements, as a starting point. Prerequisite: CLAS
3043, or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 4303 Topography and Monuments of Athens
3 ch (3S) [W]
A seminar on the topography and monuments of Athens and environs from the Bronze Age to late Antiquity, based on
the archaeological, literary and epigraphic sources. Prerequisite: CLAS 2303, or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 4313 Topography and Monuments of Rome
3 ch (3S) [W]
A seminar on the topography and monuments of Rome from the Iron Age to Late Antiquity, based on the
archaeological, literary and epigraphic sources. Prerequisite: CLAS 2313, or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 4333 Greek & Roman Housing
3 ch (3CS) [W]
This course examines the Greek and Roman dwelling from the Iron Age to Late Antiquity by studying the architectural
developments in plan, construction techniques and adornment through the material remains and literary evidence. A
special emphasis is placed on the socio-political and economic factors that influenced domestic design, as well as the
current methods of analyses of material remains that shed light on the function and distribution of space within the
household, the relationship between gender and space, domestic cult practices, household economy, and regional
diversity in domestic organization. Prerequisites: CLAS 2303 and CLAS 2313.
CLAS 4353 Greek Sculpture
3 ch (3CS) [W]
This course examines Greek sculpture, free-standing and relief, from the Archaic period through the Classical and
Hellenistic. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of the human form and the representation of pose, as
well as the problems of pedimental construction. Material from contemporary arts, such as pottery, will also be used to
illustrate the course. Prerequisite: CLAS 2303.
CLAS 4363 Roman Sculpture
3 ch (3CS) [W]
This course looks at free-standing and monumental sculpture of Ancient Rome, both as an art form and as a sociopolitical phenomenon. Special attention is paid to imperial portraiture and questions of ideology in both the public and
private realms. Prerequisite: CLAS 2313.
CLAS 5003 Directed Studies in Classics
3 ch (3C) [W]
A detailed study of a specific area of Classical Studies. Uses primary sources (in translation) to illuminate the chosen
topic. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor.
CLAS 5013 Directed Studies in Archaeology
3 ch (3C) [W]
A detailed study of a specific area of Greek or Roman archaeology. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor.
OVERSEAS COURSES
Deleted: /
CLAS 2643
Rome: the Eternal City I
3ch
An introduction to the history of Rome from ancient times to the Renaissance. Taught on location in Italy. Students
may not receive credit for both CLAS 2643 and 3643. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3603
The Art and Architecture of Greece I
3 ch [W]
A study of the art and architecture of Greece organized around visits to important archaeological sites and major
museums in Greece. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3605: Ancient Athens
3ch [W]
A practical workshop introducing students to the Greek and Roman remains found at archaeological sites and
museums in and around Athens. Taught on location.
CLAS 3613
Mythology and Archaeology I
3 ch [W]
The mythology and cults of the Greek gods, seen in the context of the archaeological remains of some of their major
cult centres, and the Mycenaean origins of the sagas of the Greek heroes from the focus of this course. Travel costs
not included in tuition.
CLAS 3623
The Art and Architecture of Greece II
3 ch [W]
Directed study of selected topics in Greek art and architecture undertaken through visits to important monuments,
archaeological sites and museums in Greece. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3633
The Art &Architecture of Imperial Rome
3 ch [W]
A study of the art and architecture of Classical Rome organized around visits to important monuments, archaeological
sites and museums in Italy. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3643
Rome: from Ancient Times to the Renaissance
3ch (3C)
A study of the ancient and mediaeval history of the city of Rome, through on-site examination of the material remains.
Students may not receive credit for both CLAS 2643 and 3643. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3653
Mythology and Archaeology II
3 ch [W]
Directed study of selected topics in the mythology and cults of the Greek gods undertaken through study of the
archaeological remains of major cult centres in Greece. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3663
Religion in Ancient Rome
3 ch [W]
A study of religion in Rome from its pagan origins to the rise of Christianity in the late Empire, based on first-hand
examination in Rome of temples, altars, churches, sculpture, inscriptions and other material in situ and in museums.
Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3673
Ancient Cities and Civilizations of Western Turkey: Myth, Cult and History
3 ch [W]
A study of the history and civilizations of western Asia Minor, in particular the Hittite, Lydian and Graeco-Roman.
Myth, cult and history are introduced in varying degrees as appropriate to the various sites visited during the tour.
Particular attention is paid to the Greek cities of the Aegean coast, their sanctuaries, public buildings and theatres.
Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3683
The Art and Architecture of Asia Minor: Hellenistic, Roman and Early Christian
3 ch [W]
A survey of the art and architecture of Asia Minor, organized around visits to important archaeological sites and major
museums in Turkey, and studying selected remains from the Hellenistic, Roman and early Christian periods, including
sculpture, temple architecture, and examples of the early Christian basilica. Travel costs not included in tuition.
GRK
GREEK
Ancient Greek
GRK 1203
Introductory Greek I
3c
An introduction to Ancient Greek which presupposes no previous knowledge of the language.
GRK 1213
Introductory Greek II
3c
Prerequisite: GRK 1203 or 1223.
GRK 1223
Introduction to Ancient Greek I: Independent Study
An introduction to Ancient Greek which presupposes no previous knowledge of the language. Students work independently rather than in regularly scheduled classes. This course is designe
motivated students who are not able to attend the regularly scheduled introductory class. Students can be registered only after consultation with the Department of Classics & Ancient Hist
GRK 1233
Introduction to Ancient Greek II: Independent Study
Formatted Table
A second term of Ancient Greek, in which students work independently. This course is intended for motivated students who are not able to attend the regularly scheduled introductory class
Students can be registered only after consultation with the Department of Classics & Ancient History. Prerequisite: GRK 1203 or GRK 1223.
Deleted: GRKM 1003
3c
) Greek I
Deleted: Modern
Deleted: .
3c
Intermediate Greek II
Deleted: Introduces language
skills which will enable students to
speak, read and write the
language of modern Greece.
GRK 3203
Advanced Greek I
Deleted: GRKM 1013
3c
GRK 3213
Advanced Greek II
Deleted: Modern Greek II
3c
GRK 3223
Reading Greek Authors I
GRK 3233
Reading Greek Authors II
3c
GRK 4203
Directed Reading in Greek
Deleted: Further develops Modern
Greek language skills as
introduced in GRKM 1003.
Prerequisite: GRKM 1003
GRK 4204
Directed Reading in Greek
GRK 4213
Greek Prose Composition
GRK 2213
Prerequisite: GRK 2203.
3c
3c
3c
This term course provides the basic skills of composing Attic Greek prose. Its purpose is to convert passive reading ability into positive control of the language in both grammar and style.
Prerequisite: 3 ch course of advanced-level Greek.
Modern Greek
GRKM 1003
Modern Greek I
3 ch (3C)
Introduces language skills which will enable students to speak, read and write the language of modern Greece.
GRKM 1013
Modern Greek II
3 ch (3C)
Further develops Modern Greek language skills as introduced in GRKM 1003. Prerequisite: GRKM 1003.
GRKM 2003
Intermediate Modern Greek I
3 ch (3C)
A course designed to build and develop reading, writing, listening and oral skills acquired at the introductory level.
Prerequisites: GRKM 1013 Modern Greek I or equivalent.
GRKM 2013
Intermediate Modern Greek II
3 ch (3C)
A course designed to further develop comprehension and oral skills and improve speaking and writing ability.
Prerequisites: GRKM 2003 Intermediate Modern Greek I or equivalent.