CLASSICAL STUDIES /
HISTORY 205
– ANCIENT GREECE
|
Professor Radcliffe G.
Edmonds III Office: Thomas 245 Office Phone: 526-5046 redmonds@brynmawr.edu |
Thomas 111 MW 1:00-2:30 Office Hours: MWF 10-11 or by appointment |
Required Texts:
Buckley,
Terry, Aspects of Greek History 750-323 BC
Herodotus,
History, trans. Grene
The
Landmark Thucydides, ed. Strassler
Greek
Lyrics, trans. Lattimore
Plutarch,
The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek Lives, trans. Scott-Kilvert
(optional)
Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece
Course Description:
This
course traces the rise of the city-state (polis) in the Greek-speaking world
beginning in the seventh-century BC down to its full blossoming in classical
Athens and Sparta. We will discuss the formation and development of Greek
identity, from the Panhellenic trends in archaic epic and religion through its
crystallization during the heroic defense against two Persian invasions and its
subsequent disintegration during the Peloponnesian war. The class will also explore the ways in
which the evolution of political, philosophical, religious, and artistic
institutions reflect the changing socio-political circumstances of Greece. The latter part of the course will
focus on Athens in particular: its rise to imperial power under Pericles, its
tragic decline from the Peloponnesian War and its important role as a center
for the teaching of rhetoric and philosophy.
Since
the study of history involves the analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of the
sources available for the culture studied, this course will concentrate upon
the primary sources available for Greek history, exploring the strengths and
weakness of these sources and the ways in which their evidence can be used to
create an understanding of ancient Greece.
In
addition to the texts required for the course, readings will be available through
the electronic reserves on the Blackboard site. The handouts for each week can
also be reached on the blackboard site or from the on-line version of the
syllabus at: http://www.brynmawr.edu/classics/redmonds/csts20508.html.
Course Requirements:
Class
participation:
Participation,
of course, includes attendance, since you cannot participate if you are not in
class. If, for some reason, you
cannot attend class, please inform me in advance. Each student should be prepared to discuss and answer questions
on the material covered in the lesson for the week. Coming prepared with questions on the material is even
better than coming with answers to the basics. If, for some reason, you cannot prepare for class, please
attend anyway - you will be better prepared for the next class. A number of unannounced map quizzes
will be included in the participation grade.
Written
Assignments:
There
will be four short written assignments designed for the students to demonstrate
their understanding of specific materials covered in class. These projects may require some out of
class research in addition to the readings assigned for the class. These
assignments are due by the beginning of class on the designated day, and any
late assignments will be penalized by one grade for each 24 hour period they
are late (including weekends).
Extensions are negotiable only if the student discusses the situation
with me no less than 24 hours in advance.
Examinations:
There
will be a Midterm and a Final Examination for this class on all the materials
covered to that date in class. The
Midterm will be a closed-book take-home exam, to be completed after the Midterm
review on Wednesday of the ninth week and before the Monday of the tenth
week. The Final Exam will be
self-scheduled during Exam Week.
Both exams will consist of identification questions and short essays in
which the students will be asked to analyze and synthesize material from the
primary and secondary sources covered in class.
Students who think they may need
accommodations in this course due to the impact of a learning, physical, or
psychological disability are encouraged to meet with me privately early in the
semester to discuss their concerns. Students should also contact
Stephanie Bell, Coordinator of Access Services (610-526-7351 or
sbell@brynmawr.edu), as soon as possible, to verify their eligibility for
reasonable academic accommodations.
Early contact will help to avoid unnecessary inconvenience and delays.
Grade Distribution:
Class
Participation 20%
Written
Assignments 40%
Midterm
Examination 15%
Final
Examination 25%
Week I: September 3 - Introduction
Topics:
Why
Study Ancient Greece?
The
Greek World
History
and Historiography
Readings:
Herodotus
I.1-5
Thucydides I.1-22
Plutarch
-Theseus
Week II: September 8 & 11 - Rise of the Polis
Topics:
From
Mycenaean Palaces through the Dark Ages
Homer
and the Epic Tradition
Formation
of the Polis: Shifting Social and
Political Structures
Defining
Greekness: Panhellenism and Local
Identity
Readings:
Homer,
Odyssey I-II,
XIV-XV;
Iliad
(selections)
Hesiod, Works
& Days, Theogony
Week III:
September 15 & 17 - Colonization and the Expanding Greek World
Topics:
Colony
Foundations
Reasons
for Colonization
Polis
Formation in the Colonies
Lyric
Poetry and Pre-Socratic Philosophy
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 2
Herodotus
IV, esp. 144-159
Thucydides
VI 1-8
Fornara # 5
(Naxos & Megara), 6 (Croton), 9 (Tarentum), 33 (Locrian laws)
Some More
Documents for Colonization
Greek Lyrics: Archilochus (pp. 1-6) Alcman,
Stesichorus, Ibycus, Sappho (pp. 33-42)
colonization
assignment due Monday, September 22
Week IV:
September 22 & 23 - Rise of Tyranny
Topics:
Causes
of Tyranny: Military, Economic, Ethnic
Tales
of Tyrants
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 3
Herodotus
Book I, III (30-90), V.67-68, 92-96, VI.121-140
Fornara # 8
(the word tyrant), 4 (Pheidon), 10 (Orthagoras), 16 (1st Sacred War)
Greek Lyrics: Tyrtaeus and Theognis (pp. 13-16,
26-31); Bacchylides #4 (pp. 75-78)
Week V: September 29 & October 1 - The Spartan
Alternative
Topics:
The
Great Rhetra and the Shape of the Spartan State
The
Spartan Legend
Spartan
Women
The
Expansion of Spartan Power
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 4
Fornara # 12
(Tyrtaeus), 13 (Helots), 27 (Tegea)
Herodotus
VI.50-84
Xenophon, the
Politeia of the Spartans
Week VI:
October 6 & 8 - The Athenian
Revolutions
Topics:
The
Cylonian Conspiracy and the Curse of the Alcmaeonids
The
Reforms of Solon and Athenian Government
The
Tyrannies of the Pisistratids
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 5 & 6
Aristotle,
The Constitution of Athens ¤1-19
Plutarch
– Solon
Herodotus
I.126-7, VI.123-132, V
Fornara # 15
(Drakon), 26 (Panathenaia), 30, 31 (Pisistratids)
Greek
Lyrics: Solon (pp. 18-23)
Thucydides
on Athens (II.15) and Pisistratids (VI.54-59)
assembly
assignment due Monday, October 20
Week VII: FALL BREAK October 13-17
Week VIII:
October 20 & 22 - Cleisthenes
and Democracy
Topics:
Cleisthenes'
reforms of Athenian democracy
Sparta
and Athenian politics
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 7 & 8, 14
Aristotle,
The Constitution of Athens
[Xenophon],
The Athenian Constitution
Herodotus
V.30-38 (Athens & Ionia), VI.54-84 (Spartan Kings)
Week IX:
October 27 & 29 The Persian
Wars
Topics:
Herodotus
and history
Prelude
in Ionia
Darius'
Invasion - Marathon and the Athenian Moment
Xerxes'
Invasion – Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 9
Herodotus
Books VI-IX
Fornara # 34,
35 (Darius), 55 (Themistokles)
Plutarch
– Themistocles and Aristides
Midterm - take-home, closed book, one and a half hours
Week X: November 3 & 5 - The Delian League and the
Rise of the Athenian Empire
Topics:
Thucydides
and History
Delian
league and Athenian imperialism
Ephialtes'
reforms
tragedy: Aeschylus and Sophocles
sophistic
revolution
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 10 – 15
Thucydides
Book I
Plutarch
– Cimon
Fornara # 95
(Peace of Kallias)
Week XI: November 10 & 12 - Periclean Athens and the
Beginnings of the Peloponnesian War
Topics:
The
Causes of the Peloponnesian War
Pericles'
Funeral Oration and the Ideal of Athens
The
Great Plague
Mytilenean
Debate and Democracy at War
Melian
Dialogue and Empire
Readings:
Buckley
ch 16 – 19
Thucydides
Books II-V
Gorgias
– Defense of Helen; Critias
Plutarch
– Pericles
Week XII:
November 17 & 19 The
Peloponnesian War
Topics:
The
Sicilian Expedition
The
Scandals of Alcibiades
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 20 – 21
Thucydides
Books VI and VII
Plutarch
– Nicias and Alcibiades
assembly
assignment due Friday, November 21
Week XIII:
November 24 & 26 - The End of
the Peloponnesian War
Topics:
Oligarchic
Revolutions in Athens
Spartan
Victory and Athenian Defeat
The
Thirty Tyrants in Athens
Spartan
Hegemony in Greece
Theban
Hegemony in Greece
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 22 – 24
Thucydides
Book VIII
Xenophon,
Selections on the Battle of Leuctra
Plutarch
– Lysander
The
Boeotian Constitution
Week XIV: December 1 & 3 - Plato and the Dreams of
Philosophy
Topics:
Political
History in the Aftermath of the War
The
Dream of the Philosopher King
The
Second Sicilian Disaster
Readings:
Plato,
Republic (Book VIII, selections)
philosophic
history assignment due Friday, December 5
Week XV:
December 8 & 10 The Coming of
Alexander - Conclusions
Topics:
The
Rise of Macedon
Phillip
and Alexander
Conclusions
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 25 - 26
Demosthenes,
Philippic II, III
Final Exam - Self-Scheduled