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A survey of Ancient Greece from the Mycenaean Bronze
Age to the Alexandrian Conquests. This survey will emphasize the political,
social, cultural, and economic institutions and values that Hellas created
to revolutionize the Ancient Mediterranean history.
Learning Objectives:
1. To study the development of the Hellenic Polis
as it developed in Athens. To accomplish this the course will include
these topics: Mycenaean Linear B, Bronze
Age Social and Economic Structures, Archaic
Political and Social Institutions, Homeric Poetry as
cultural guides, Hellenic religious practices, Integration of the Peasant
into the Polis System, Status of Women within
the Varied Poleis, Slavery and the Ancient
Economy, Socrates and the Sophistic Revolution,
Art and Architecture as Cultural Reflections,
the Hellenic Value System, Athenian
Democratic Values and Structures, Thucydides
and the Peloponnesian Wars and how the polis disintegrated under the strains
of war in the late Fifth and Fourth Centuries.
2. Most importantly, the course will address the
historical factors that explain the unique revolution in ancient history
that was Classical Greece. Why did Greece redirect historical culture?
The answer lies in the polis. What was it and why did it develop so? This
term students will study carefully the development of Ancient Greek Democracy.
3. The course will improve student writing skills
through two formal papers and two essay exams. Students will advance their
computer skills by accessing notes, assignments, email, and grades via
WebCT.
Syllabus
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I. Introduction to Hellenic History: Geography and
Historic Periods.
Structure of Course and Assignments
Major Regions and Sites
Realities of Economic and Geographic Limitations
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Test Out WebCt
Readings: Morris, THE GREEKS,pp.1-39.
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Sept 4-6 |
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II. Bronze Age Greece: Minoans, Mycenaeans, and Troy
Minoan and Near Eastern Religious/Artistic Inheritances
Mycenaean Palace Warehouse Economies
Linear B Texts: Peasant Landholding Systems
Troy and the Collapse of Mycenaen Society
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Readings: GREEKS, pp. 42-69.
READINGS IN GREEK HISTORY, pp. 1-7
WebCt Files on Linear B
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Sept. 11-13 |
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III. Archaic Hellas and the Homeric Tradition
Homer as Shaper of Hellenic Culture
Hellenic Tribal Society and the Oikos: "Synoikism" -
Peasant Social Structures
Near Eastern Cultural Influences Upon Archaic Greece: Egypt, Assyria,
Phoenicia, and Anatolia
Colonization and Early Pottery
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Readings: GREEKS, 72-145.
READINGS: pp. 10-24.
Quiz #1: Bronze Age Greece
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Sept. 18-20. |
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IV. Archaic Poleis and Culture
Variant Versions of the Polis. Why?
What Constitutes a Polis? City-State-Community! Peasant Landholder
into Polis Citizen
Archaic Social Structures: Aristoi Tribal Leaders, Peasant, and
Slave
Sparta: Oligarchy or Peasant Integration
Archaic Cultural Values in Its Poetry
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Readings: GREEKS,148-203.
READINGS: pp. 28-54..
Selected Lyric poets. (Web Ct Contents)
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Sept 25
Sept. 27.
Oct. 2
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V. Archaic Athens.
Solon's Justice
Kleisthenes' Integration of the Peasant
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Readings: GREEKS, 204-219.
READINGS: pp. 55-66.
Solon:Selections (WebCT Contents).
Quiz #2: Archaic Greece
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Oct. 4
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VI. The Persian Wars as the Crucible of Hellas
Sparta, Athens, and the Defense of Hellas
Peloponnesian and Delian Leagues
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Readings: GREEKS, 221-265.
READINGS: 67-97.
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Oct. 9 |
| VII. Examination |
WebCt Bulletin Board Study Sessions |
Oct. 11 |
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VIII. Athenian Society. What Made a Citizen?
Athens as an Imperial Ruler: the Empire
Political, Social, and Economic Values
Citizen as Peasant
How Did the Demos Function: Nuts and Bolts?
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Readings: GREEKS ,268-285.
READINGS, 145-168.
Quiz #3: Athenian Democracy
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Oct. 16-18. |
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IX. Social Classes
Family and Clan
Metics, the Resident Aliens
Legal and Social Status of Women
Slave Classes in Athens: Rights and Realities
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GREEKS, 314-332.
READINGS, 98-130.
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Oct. 23-25 |
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X. Hellas As Intellectual Revolutionary
Sophistic Revolution
Socrates and the New Sophos
Herodotus, Thucydides and the Creation of Historia
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Readings: Morris, 266-311.
READINGS, 189-208.
Quiz #4: Hellenic Social and Intellectual Conditions
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Oct 30-Nov 1-6.
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| Paper on Selected documents |
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Nov 6 |
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XI. The Peloponnesian Wars: Causes and Early Stages
Athens' Imperial Expansion, 478-434 BC
Athens as a New Form of Dunamis
Nous as the Psyche of Athens
Corcyra, Potidaea and Megara as Causes for Conflict
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Readings: Morris, 334-362.
Thucydides, WebCt Content files
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Nov. 8-13. |
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XII Athens and the Moral Dilemma of War
Hellenic Oratory and Sophistic Analysis under the Pressures of
War
Pericles' Funeral Oration and the Plague
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Quiz #5: Thucydides Analysis of the War.
Web Ct Content files for Thuc. selections.
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Nov. 15 |
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XIII. War and the Destruction of the Polis
Melian Dialogue: Justice and Power
Nature of Empire: Syracusan Expedition
Athenian Defeat: Failure of Nous
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.READINGS, 168-182.
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Nov. 20 |
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XIV. Hellas as Cultural Revolutionary
Greek Art and Architecture: Order and Proportionality
Sculpture , Temples, and Pottery
Acropolis Temples and Marbles
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Quiz #6: Greek Art and Architecture
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Nov 27 |
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XV.Fourth Century Polis Collapse: Greek and Persian Struggles
Fourth Century Culture: Plato and Aristotle
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Readings: GREEKS, 342-398.
READINGS: 183-188, 209-229, 7-10.
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Nov 29-Dec 4-6.
Second paper due. Dec. 6.
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XVI. Macedonian Dominance: Philip and Alexander
Alexander as Visionary, Military Genius, or Historical Accident?
Integration of Eastern Mediterranean into an Hellenic World. How
extensive?
Continued Near Eastern Social and Economic Institutions
Rome as the Final Hellenic Conquest
Hellenism and Christianity: Institutionalization of the Classical
Tradition.
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Readings: GREEKS, 401-534.
READINGS: 238-266, 301-303.
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Dec 11-13.
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Assignments
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Assignment
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Percentage
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Due Date
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Students who submit papers as attached documents should retain
copies of the papers until all grades have been posted at course
conclusion. Electronic papers oftentimes have transmission problems
arriving at the instructor's computer. So be aware of this possibility.
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Exam I -Essay and Short Answer (Bluebook)
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25%
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Oct 10
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Exam II - Essay and Short Answer (Bluebook)
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25%
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Thursday, December 20 |
| Five Quizes from Six Taken |
10% |
Various |
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Paper I on Selected documents (Five pages)
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20%
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November 6
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Paper II from selected documents
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20%
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December 6
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Grades
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A
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100-90 points per assignment
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B
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80-89 points
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C
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70-79 points
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D
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60-69 points
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F
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0-59 points
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Reading Materials
- Ian Morris and Barry Powell. THE GREEKS. Pearson/Prentice-Hall, 2005.
- Readings In Greek History. Oxford Press, 2007..
- Class Notes. WebCt Course Site
- Powerpoints. WebCt Site
Other Materials
Students must have a Saclink account with CSUS and access to a computer
with a web navigator. Campus computers are available to those who may
not have their own computers. Netscape works best with the materials.
Ancient Greece has a WebCt site where class notes, powerpoint presentations,
email and a bulletin board are available. Students access WebCt via
their web navigator with their saclink account number and password.
The address for WebCt is -- http://online.csus.edu/
Examinations will consist of one essay to be answered from two choices
for 50% of an exam. Ten short answers to items selected from a choice
of fifteen constitute the remaining 50% of each exam. Study questions
and short answers will be available on
WebCt about ten days before both exams. It is expected that the class
will prepare for the exams in an electronic study group on the WebCt.
Six multiple choice quizes with ten questions each will be available
for a week or so during the term to assure students keep up with the
readings and lectures. Students may take each quiz twice with the highest
grade posted on the WEbCt site. The four highest grades will be counted
for 10% of the course grade.
Papers: Two five page papers on topics from selected documents. Cribbing
information or worse still direct quotes without citation violates University
policy and will not be tolerated..
Updated August, 2007 AD
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