Objectives: This course is an introduction to the Classical Greek World with particular emphasis on the rise and fall of Athens, the birthplace of democracy, the cradle of tragedy and comedy, and the showcase for advances in art and architecture. Drawing upon primary sources, we will try to establish a basic understanding of the culture that gave rise to these developments. We focus upon 'The New World Order' that emerged after the Persian Wars; and 'The Invention of Athens' as a national identity.

Requirements: the course grade consists of 2 Quizzes (15pts. each), 2 Essays (20 pts. each) and a Final Exam (30 pts). The quizzes and the Final include short-answer, brief identification, and discussion questions.

The Essays should present a coherent argument (thesis, evidence and conclusion), based upon the readings and class discussions. The assigned readings should be completed for the scheduled date, so that you can make an informed contribution. Class participation will be essential and may be valued as much as a letter-grade.

Any academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions proportional to the offense: no credit for Quiz; F for the course for plagiarism on Essays; XF on Final. See Student Academic Integrity. To make-up missed work or to make special arrangements to take or turn in required work at another time you should have a documented necessity.

Special considerations: We strongly support University policies to accommodate students with disabilities and to prevent or remedy discrimination of any kind. If you have a concern or special need, please advise the instructor. In regard to disabilities, you may also contact Disability Services (836-4192) http://www.missouristate.edu/disability; regarding discrimination, the Equal Opportunity Officer (836-4252) or go to http://www.missouristate.edu/human/eoaa.htm.

Texts:  Herodotus. On the War for Greek Freedom, Shirley  transl. (2003)

Sophocles, Tragedies vol. 2 (Ajax etc.) Grene & Lattimore eds.
Aristophanes Lysistrata and other Plays,  Sommerstein transl.

Readings from Thucydides and Xenophon online (also at CopyThis)
Further materials will be provided in handout and online.

Additional resources can be found at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu

 

Aug. 22 . . .Introduction: a scene from Odyssey  2 	

Unit I.  The Persian Wars and the Rise of Athens	 

Aug. 24 . . .  Background: birth of the polis.  

Scenes from the Bronze Age

Reading: Herodotus intro. pp. vii-xviii, and 1-17
Herodotus 1.1-71  -- 'Croesus and Cyrus'  Attica and Pisistratus
	
Aug. 29-31 ... Cyrus and the Conquest of Asia

pp. 17-50 ( 1.72-216) Custom and the Egyptians

Fall of Cambyses, Rise of Darius:  pp.51-89 (books 2-5)

Sept. 5 ... Miletus to Marathon:   pp. 90-118
		(books 5- 6)	
	A tale of 3 cities: evolving government much simplified

Sept. 7 ... Spartans at Thermopylae. Book 7, pp. 119-51 	
Sept. 12 ... Salamis and Plataea,  Bks. 8-9, pp. 151-82. Artemisia speaks

Sept. 14 . . .      Quiz 1 guide    -- Practice Quiz--

	In-class exercise in drawing national character

Sept. 19 ... Quiz 1
	
Unit II.  The New World Order  
	
Sept.  21  . . .  History and Tragedy: Art Overview:
	 Temple of Aphaia: West Pediment;   East Pediment
	Delian League to Athenian Empire;  Outline, Chronology 479-31
	Aeschylus Persians  759-842 (handout and online) 		
	
Sept. 26-28  . . .  Sophocles' Ajax 	 fragment of song: from a classical chorus on Ajax (?)

Oct. 3  . . .  Sophocles' Trachiniae  ('Women of Trachis')   Note key themes.

Oct. 5  . . .  Trachiniae and Ajax (Discussion).       

Prepare for in-class exercise on key themes,comparing one character from each play, 

2 defining passages for each character.

Oct. 10 ...Preview your Essay: Brief thesis statement and Outline, 

listing key passages

Sophists and speechwriters:  Anaxagoras (precursor of the Atomists) 
	and Antiphon  (Murder by Poisoning), 
Intro, Art of the Empire: Tour of the Parthenon;  Architectural Terms

Myron's Diskobolos (model of rhythmos)

Oct. 17  . . .   Essay 1: End of the Heroic Ethos 	


Unit III.   The Invention of Athens

Oct. 12-26 ... Readings  from Thucydides, 1-10  Chronology

Oct. 12 ...Study questions on Thuc. 1 & 2.
	[1] 'Thucydides on the early History of Hellas'
	[2] Athens Builds an Empire

Oct. 17 ...	Study questions  on  Thuc. 3-5
		[3] Congress at Lacedaemon
		[4] Pericles' Funeral Speech
		[5] The Debate over Mitylene

Oct. 24 ... Study questions on Thuc. 6-7
		[6] Civil War on Corcyra
		[7] Melian Dialogue	

Oct. 26 ...  Study questions on Thuc. 8-10
		[8] Debate on Sicily
		[9] Alcibiades in Sparta
		[10]  Disaster in Sicily

Oct. 31  ... 	Sophocles'  Electra
Nov. 2 . . .  Review and discussion for Quiz 2 (link below)
	Acropolis made plain.....Later Acropolis Buildings

	Gorgias' Helen  ....Protagoras and Gorgias on Reality

Nov. 7 . . . .   Quiz 2
			
Nov.9-14 ...	Aristophanes' Acharnians  

Nov. 14-16 ......	Lysistrata				
		Chronology 411-322   Attica (map)

Nov. 21 . . . Sophocles' Philoctetes

Nov. 28 ... Essay 2: Deciding Identity 

Fall of Athens: Readings 11-12 Study Guide

Art at the End of Empire      The Restoration of Democracy

    
Epilogue:  Individual and Polis

Nov. 30 . . . Aristophanes Clouds  
Dec. 5. . . Plato, Apology of Socrates ... (Text online)
Dec. 7   . . . Review and Discussion:  Final Guide 

Art after Empire (cont.)  One last democratic reform.


Dec. 12 (Tues.) 11 am   . . .  Final Exam  **Schedule for Finals week**