Greek_Civilization

Classics 227: Greek Civilization
Fall 1999

Instructor: Dr. Victor A. Leuci

Office Hours:

Link: Web resources for Greek Civilization

Texts:

Biers, W.R., The Archaeology of Ancient Greece, 2nd ed., Ithaca and London 1996 (Biers)
von Staden, H., Western Literature, Vol. I, New York 1971 (von Staden)
Pomeroy, S. B., Burstein, S. M., Donlan, W., and Roberts, J. T., Ancient Greece: A Political, Social, and Cultural History, Oxford, 1999 (Pomeroy)

Objectives: The course is a survey of ancient Greek life and thought. Our goals are to:

establish a basic understanding of ancient Greek culture and daily life;
understand how everyday life was affected by politics, economics, societal norms, and the culture;
appreciate the literature and art produced by Greece and its significance;
understand the evolution of political and religious systems in Greek history;
understand how the political, economic, religious, cultural, and social aspects of ancient Greece were related and integrated;
appreciate how ancient Greek culture is similar to and different from contemporary culture, providing roots for much of our modern Western culture; and
learn to reach and defend positions based on careful analysis of primary sources and thoughtful and judicious use of secondary sources (with an awareness of how and why the secondary sources agree and disagree).

Relationship to the General Education Curriculum: Greek Civilization 227 satisfies one of the two courses required within the Historical Perspectives Context of Tier II. As stated in the course objectives, Greek Civilization 227 provides students with opportunities to immerse themselves in the ancient Greek culture and daily life, learning how it evolved politically, socially, culturally, and economically over time. Mastering an understanding of a culture’s art, architecture, literature, philosophy, science, economics, politics, and religion offers opportunities for reflection on varying cultural, social, and historical traditions including work, family, voluntary associations, government. The course will also foster an awareness of the role of values in decision making, search for meaning and identity, and the ethical issues of society. Students should also gain insight into ways their culture is similar to and different from the ancient Greek culture. It is intended that students will acquire a deeper understanding of the breadth of our human experience and heritage over the expanse of Greek history. Also intended is the understanding of the interrelationships of the political, social, artistic, cultural, intellectual, religious, and scientific aspects of life in ancient Greece. Finally, it is expected that students will gain a greater respect for other peoples and cultures because of their study of ancient Greek civilization. Through this course, students will develop a propensity for historical methods of study that lead to an understanding of patterns and meaning in history. The teaching and use of historical methods will be key for much of the above discussions, examinations, and analysis. It is expected that the students will be able to reach and defend their own positions based on careful analysis of primary sources (keeping in mind that many of our ‘primary’ sources for this time period are, in fact, secondary to varying degrees) and thoughtful and judicious use of secondary sources.

Writing-Intensive Option: Several different types of writing will be part of the course: microthemes, three exams that are predominately essay, and a long paper. Four to six microthemes will be assigned as a means to help participants come to a better understanding of important themes, ideas, and concepts. One to three of the microthemes and the paper will be revised on the basis of a conference with me. Through conference sessions each student will develop and refine the paper topic. A critique and conference after the completion of the paper may also occur. In addition to meeting with me, the first microtheme will be revised on the basis of a conference with a member of the Writing Lab. In general, participants in the class should highly consider using the services of the Writing Lab and especially the Lab tutors, who can be of tremendous assistance.

Format: The course will consist of both lectures and discussion. The class will occasionally be divided into small groups to treat discussion topics that will most often be based on readings from ancient authors. Microthemes may be assigned based on the results of the small group discussions. The microthemes are especially designed to facilitate the learning of important details and concepts of the course. Often the microthemes will represent the first opportunity to come to grips with an important block of material or ideas which we will treat from several different perspectives or in several different contexts.

Grading: 4 Exams (100 points each); 1 essay [1800-2400 words long] (70 points); 3 to 6 microthemes [each 530-1000 words long] (15 points each). In addtion 10% of your grade will be based on class participation, attendance, web discussion, etc. No late papers will be accepted without prior permission. A hard copy and an electronic copy of papers are due at the beginning of the class period. I expect you to abide by Westminster’s honor code. Let me repeat, no make-up work will be accepted for unexcused absences. A hard copy and an electronic copy of papers are due at the beginning of the class period.

Exams: The exams will be a combination of fill-in the blank or short answer with essays. Usually there will be 10-15 fill in the blank questions worth 2 points each and two essays (300 to 400 words each) worth 35 points each. The essays should be well written in standard paragraph format and replete with pertinent facts to support your thesis (or theses). A review sheet will be typically available on-line one week before the exam as an aid in your preparation.

Microthemes and Essays:

Content:

Microthemes: The microthemes will focus on a specific question based on your readings or possibly on a web site. The questions will be narrow in focus, and your paper should be corresponding narrow. The thesis you maintain in your paper should be supported with facts from the readings and from quotes where appropriate. The paper, however, should not be one long quotation.

Essays: For both essays you will be given several topics to choose from. The topics will naturally be of a broader nature than that of the microthemes, but the importance of a central thesis and supporting facts will be the same. Neither essay is intended to be research in nature; rather they are intending to be opportunities for you to examine certain topics and to come up with reasonable responses, i.e. responses that are based on reason and that can be supported by the information you have covered in this class.

Formatting:

Should be double spaced with one inch margins.
Start with a simple heading at the top of the page giving your name, etc.--i.e. dont start the text of page one halfway down the page!
Use a basic font such as Times, Arial, Bookman, Palatino, etc; however, dont use Courier.

Attendance: Regular attendance and participation are essential for the success of the whole class. More than three unexcused absences will be considered excessive, and no make-up work will be accepted for unexcused absences.

TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS (tentative)

Aug. 31

Tu
General Introduction.

Sept. 2

Th
The Minoans and the Mycenaeans. Biers Ch. 2; Pomeroy Ch. 1, 1-17

7

Tu
The Mycenaeans, cont. Biers Ch. 3; Pomeroy Ch. 1, 18-40

9

Th
The Mycenaeans, cont. Biers Ch. 3; Pomeroy Ch. 1, 18-40

14

Tu
The Dark Age, Pomeroy Ch. 2, 41-70 Microtheme #1 due; Topic.

16

Th
The Dark Age: Art & Archaeology, and intro. to Homer and the Heroic World. Biers Ch. 4-5

21

Tu
The Iliad, von Staden 46-89.

23

Th
Finish the Iliad. Begin The Odyssey, von Staden 90-124. Microtheme #2 due; Topic.

28

Tu
Finish the Odyssey. von Staden 124-149.

30

Th
Finish the Odyssey

Oct. 5

Tu
NO CLASS. School Holiday

7

Th
EXAM I; Review Sheet for Exam (click here)

12

Tu
The End of the Dark Age; Pomeroy Ch. 2, 71-81. Archaic Greece. Pomeroy Ch. 3

14

Th
Archaic Greece. Pomeroy Ch. 3

19

Tu
Sparta. Pomeroy Ch. 4

21

Th
Athens; Archaic Art. Biers Ch. 7; Pomeroy Ch. 5, 159-177

26

Tu
Herodotus and the Persian Wars. von Staden 152-160; handout; Pomeroy Ch. 5, 178-200, and Ch. 7, 260-262

28

Th
EXAM II; Review Sheet for Exam (click here)

Nov. 2

Tu
Fifth Century Life; Intro. to Greek Drama. Pomeroy Ch. 6, 201-225, 233-244, and Ch. 7, 262-264

4

Th
Greek Drama. Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. von Staden 226-266

9

Tu
Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. von Staden 310-351; Microtheme #3 due; Topic.

11

Th
Fifth Century Art & Architecture. Biers Ch. 8; Pomeroy Ch. 6, 225-233, and Ch. 7, 274-283

16

Tu
Thucydides and the Peloponessian War. Pomeroy Ch. 6, 265-267, and Ch. 8, 319-323, 326-330 von Straden 208-223

18

Th
The Fourth Century; the Trial and Death of Socrates. Pomeroy Ch. 7, 267-274 and Ch. 8, 323-326; von Straden 354-381; OPTIONAL ROUGH DRAFT OF PAPER DUE; Topic

23

Tu
EXAM III; Review Sheet for Exam (click here)

25

Th
NO CLASS Thanksgiving

30

Tu
The Fourth Century. Pomeroy, Ch. 9; Biers Ch. 9; Microtheme #4 due; Topic.

Dec. 2

Th
Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World. Pomeroy, Ch. 11 and Ch. 12, 427-431, 446-471

7

Tu
Hellenistic Age: Art. Biers Ch. 10

9

Th
Everyday Life. PAPER DUE; Topic.

14

Tu
12:00 Noon. FINAL EXAM; Review Sheet for Final Exam (click here)

Aug. 31	Tu	General Introduction.
Sept. 2	Th	The Minoans and the Mycenaeans. Biers Ch. 2; Pomeroy Ch. 1, 1-17
7	Tu	The Mycenaeans, cont. Biers Ch. 3; Pomeroy Ch. 1, 18-40
9	Th	The Mycenaeans, cont. Biers Ch. 3; Pomeroy Ch. 1, 18-40
14	Tu	The Dark Age, Pomeroy Ch. 2, 41-70 Microtheme #1 due; Topic.
16	Th	The Dark Age: Art & Archaeology, and intro. to Homer and the Heroic World. Biers Ch. 4-5
21	Tu	The Iliad, von Staden 46-89.
23	Th	Finish the Iliad. Begin The Odyssey, von Staden 90-124. Microtheme #2 due; Topic.
28	Tu	Finish the Odyssey. von Staden 124-149.
30	Th	Finish the Odyssey
Oct. 5	Tu	NO CLASS. School Holiday
7	Th	EXAM I; Review Sheet for Exam (click here)
12	Tu	The End of the Dark Age; Pomeroy Ch. 2, 71-81. Archaic Greece. Pomeroy Ch. 3
14	Th	Archaic Greece. Pomeroy Ch. 3
19	Tu	Sparta. Pomeroy Ch. 4
21	Th	Athens; Archaic Art. Biers Ch. 7; Pomeroy Ch. 5, 159-177
26	Tu	Herodotus and the Persian Wars. von Staden 152-160; handout; Pomeroy Ch. 5, 178-200, and Ch. 7, 260-262
28	Th	EXAM II; Review Sheet for Exam (click here)
Nov. 2	Tu	Fifth Century Life; Intro. to Greek Drama. Pomeroy Ch. 6, 201-225, 233-244, and Ch. 7, 262-264
4	Th	Greek Drama. Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. von Staden 226-266
9	Tu	Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. von Staden 310-351; Microtheme #3 due; Topic.
11	Th	Fifth Century Art & Architecture. Biers Ch. 8; Pomeroy Ch. 6, 225-233, and Ch. 7, 274-283
16	Tu	Thucydides and the Peloponessian War. Pomeroy Ch. 6, 265-267, and Ch. 8, 319-323, 326-330 von Straden 208-223
18	Th	The Fourth Century; the Trial and Death of Socrates. Pomeroy Ch. 7, 267-274 and Ch. 8, 323-326; von Straden 354-381; OPTIONAL ROUGH DRAFT OF PAPER DUE; Topic
23	Tu	EXAM III; Review Sheet for Exam (click here)
25	Th	NO CLASS Thanksgiving
30	Tu	The Fourth Century. Pomeroy, Ch. 9; Biers Ch. 9; Microtheme #4 due; Topic.
Dec. 2	Th	Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World. Pomeroy, Ch. 11 and Ch. 12, 427-431, 446-471
7	Tu	Hellenistic Age: Art. Biers Ch. 10
9	Th	Everyday Life. PAPER DUE; Topic.
14	Tu	12:00 Noon. FINAL EXAM; Review Sheet for Final Exam (click here)