Course Description
The expanding world of Greek culture in the period from 750 to 480 BC, including consideration of the many new and influential developments in art, literature, history, political science, and philosophy, and their interrelationships.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to direct seminar sessions and write more extensive research papers.
Athena Title
Archaic Greece
Prerequisite
CLAS 1000 or CLAS1000E or CLAS 1000H or CLAS 1010 or CLAS1010E or CLAS 1010H or CLAS 1020 or CLAS 1020E or CLAS 1020H or CLAS 3000 or CLAS 3010 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015 or CLAS(ANTH) 3015E or CLAS 3030 or CLAS 3040 or CLAS 3050 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. STUDENTS WILL BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH WAYS IN WHICH THE DIFFERENT CULTURAL ASPECTS OF A GIVEN ERA - LITERARY, HISTORICAL, ARTISTIC, PHILOSOPHIC - MAY WORK TOGETHER TO CHARACTERIZE AND DEFINE THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF A CIVILIZATION. 2. STUDENTS WILL ACQUIRE A CLOSER UNDERSTANDING OF DIFFERENT ETHICAL SYSTEMS AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH A SOCIETY MOVES FROM AN EMPHASIS ON SELF TO AN EMPHASIS ON COMMUNAL VALUES. 3. STUDENTS WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE LITERARY TRENDS OF THE PERIOD, AND IN PARTICULAR WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTEREST IN THE INDIVIDUAL AS A VALID LITERARY TOPIC. 4. STUDENTS WILL LEARN ABOUT THE BASIC DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFERENT POLITICAL SYSTEMS, AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THESE TO GENERAL GREEK POLITICAL THEORY. 5. STUDENTS WILL LEARN ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ARTISTIC FORMS, AND HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPLORE IN PARTICULAR THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REALISM AND OTHER FORMS OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IN SCULPTURE. 6. STUDENTS WILL OBTAIN AN INTENSIVE, DETAILED VIEW OF VARIOUS FACETS OF AN ERA IN WHICH THE GREEK WORLD WAS UNDERGOING A TREMENDOUS EXPANSION OF CONSCIOUSNESS, AND ABSORBING AND RESHAPING A TREMENDOUS BODY OF NEW KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS. 7. STUDENTS WILL READ ORIGINAL WORKS OF GREEK LITERATURE IN ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND WILL ENGAGE IN CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF THE TEXTS AND OF THE EVIDENCE THEY PROVIDE FOR ARCHAIC GREECE. 8. STUDENTS WILL PRODUCE WRITING WHICH IS STYLISTICALLY APPROPRIATE TO THE COURSE AND APPROPRIATE TO THE DISCIPLINE OF CLASSICS.
Topical Outline
I. BACKGROUND - THE MYCENAEAN, DARK AGE, AND GEOMETRIC PHASES OF GREEK CIVILIZATION. II. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS - COLONIZATION, TRADE, THE RISE OF TYRANTS AND NEW MILITARY SYSTEMS. III. LITERARY DEVELOPMENTS - THE EMERGENCE OF LITERACY, THE EXPRESSION OF THE INDIVIDUAL THROUGH LYRIC POETRY, THE BEGINNINGS OF PHILOSOPHIC INQUIRY. IV. ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENTS - THE EMERGENCE OF SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE AS MAJOR ART FORMS, AND THE RESPONSE TO THE INFLUENCE OF EASTERN ART.