CLASSICAL STUDIES / HISTORY 205
– ANCIENT GREECE
|
Professor
Radcliffe G. Edmonds III Office:
Thomas 245 Office
Phone: 526-5046 redmonds@brynmawr.edu |
Carpenter 25 MWF 12:00-1:00 Office Hours: MWF 10-11 or by appointment |
Required Texts:
Buckley,
Terry, Aspects of Greek History 750-323
BC
The
Landmark Herodotus, ed. Strassler
The
Landmark Thucydides, ed. Strassler
Greek Lyrics, trans. Lattimore
Plutarch,
The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek
Lives, trans. Scott-Kilvert
Recommended Texts:
Penguin
Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece
The
Landmark Xenophon's Hellenika ed.
Strassler
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. Students should gain an understanding of 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, students 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/csts20511.htm.
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 in 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: (January 19 & 21) 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: (January 24-28) 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:
(January 31 -
February 4) 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, February 7
Week IV: (February 7 - 11) 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: (February 14 - 18) 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:
(February 21 - 25) 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), 39 (Harmodius)
Greek
Lyrics: Solon (pp. 18-23); Harmodius skolion (pp. 47-8)
Thucydides
on Athens (II.15) and Pisistratids (VI.54-59)
assembly
assignment due Friday, March 4
Week VII: (February 28 - March 4) Cleisthenes
and Democracy
Topics:
CleisthenesÕ
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 VIII: SPRING BREAK (March 7-11)
Week IX:
(March 14 - 18) The
Persian Wars
Topics:
Herodotus
and history
Prelude
in Ionia
DariusÕ
Invasion - Marathon and the Athenian Moment
XerxesÕ
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 due by Monday, March 21
Week X: (March 21 - 25) The Delian League and
the Rise of the Athenian Empire
Topics:
Thucydides
and History
Delian
league and Athenian imperialism
EphialtesÕ
reforms
tragedy: Aeschylus and Sophocles
sophistic
revolution
Readings:
Buckley
ch. 10 – 15
Thucydides
Book I
Plutarch
– Cimon
Fornara # 95
(Peace of Kallias)
Week XI: (March 28 – April 1) Periclean
Athens and the Beginnings of the Peloponnesian War
Topics:
The
Causes of the Peloponnesian War
PericlesÕ
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
assembly
assignment due Friday, April 8
Week XII:
(April 4 - 8) 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
Week XIII:
(April 11 - 15) 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
Hellenika 1.1-2.3 (fall of Athens; reign of the Thirty)
Xenophon,
Hellenika 6.4.4-21 (Battle of Leuctra)
Plutarch
– Lysander
Week XIV: (April 18 - 22) 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, April 29
Week XV:
(April 25 - 29) 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