LLT 325 Greek Civilization Fall 2011
Dr. Edwin Carawan http://courses.missouristate.edu/ECarawan
office hours: 10:30 MWF; 12:30 TTh, Siceluff 115
ECarawan@missouristate.edu ph. 836-4831
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. See also Policy Statement regarding Essays and electronic submissions.
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); also online at sacred-texts.
Sophocles, Four Tragedies (Ajax etc.), Meineck & Woodruff trans.
Aristophanes I Clouds, Wasps, Birds, Meineck transl.
Readings from Thucydides and Xenophon (linked to this
syllabus)
Further materials will be provided in handout and online.
Additional resources can be found at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu
Aug. 23 . . .Introduction: a scene from Odyssey 2 Unit I. The Persian Wars and the Rise of Athens
Aug. 25 . . . Background:
birth of the polis. Reading: Herodotus intro.
pp. vii-xviii, and 1-17 Herodotus 1.1-71 -- 'Croesus and Cyrus' Persian Empire (map) Aug. 30 ... Cyrus and the
Conquest of Asia pp. 17-50 ( 1.72-216) Custom and the
Egyptians Sept. 1 ... Fall of Cambyses,
Rise of Darius: pp.51-89 (books
2-5) Sept. 6 ... Miletus to
Marathon: pp. 90-118 (books 5- 6) Battle at Lade A
tale of 3 cities: evolving government much simplified Spartans at Thermopylae. Book
7, pp. 119-51 Sept. 8 ... Salamis and Plataea, Bks. 8-9, pp.
151-82. Sept. 13 . . . Quiz 1 guide -- Practice Quiz-- In-class
exercise in drawing national character Sept. 15 ... Quiz 1 Unit II. The New World
Order Sept. 20 . . .
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 Sept. 22
. . . Sophocles' Ajax fragment of song: from a classical chorus on Ajax
(?) Sept. 27 . . . Sophocles' Trachiniae ('Women of Trachis') Sept. 29 . . . 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. 4 ...Preview your Essay: Brief thesis
statement and Outline, listing key passages; send
your outline as e-mail attachment 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. 11 . . .
Essay 1:
End of the Heroic Ethos Submit your Essay as e-mail attachment Unit III. The Invention of Athens Oct. 6-20 ... Readings from Thucydides, 1-10 Chronology
Oct. 6 ...Study
questions on Thuc. 1 & 2. [1] 'Thucydides
on the early History of Hellas' Oct. 11... (essay due) Study questions on Thuc. 3-5 Oct. 18 ... Study
questions on Thuc. 6-7 [6] Civil
War on Corcyra [7]
Melian Dialogue
Oct. 20 ... Study
questions on Thuc. 8-10 [8] Debate
on Sicily Map [9] Alcibiades
in Sparta [10] Disaster
in Sicily Map Oct. 25 ... Sophocles' Electra Oct. 27 ...Acropolis
made plain.....Later
Acropolis Buildings Gorgias' Helen ....Protagoras and Gorgias on Reality Nov. 1 . . . Review
and discussion for Quiz 2 (link below) Nov. 3. . . . Quiz 2 Nov. 8 ... Aristophanes Wasps: comedy and social commentary snapshot
from Acharnians: Megarian comes to market Nov. 10-15 ...... Birds and Lysistrata [full
text] Agon
& End Chronology 411-322 Attica (map) Nov. 17 . . . Sophocles' Philoctetes Nov. 22… Fall of Athens:
Readings 11-12 Study
Guide The
Restoration of Democracy Art at the End of
Empire Nov. 29 … Essay 2: Deciding
Identity or Quiz 3 Epilogue: Individual and Polis Dec. 1 . . . Aristophanes Clouds Dec. 6 . . . Plato, Apology of
Socrates ... (Text
online) Dec. 8 . . . Review and
Discussion: Final
Guide Art
after Empire (cont.)
One last
democratic reform. Dec. 15 (Thur.) 11
am . . . Final Exam
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