Courses

208. Ancient Mediterranean World I. ClCiv 208, along with ClCiv 209 and 210, fulfills the general education requirement in civilizational studies. This course surveys the social, economic, and political history of Greece, concentrating on the period from the Persian Wars (480 B.C.) to the death of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.). The main topics considered include the development of the institutions of the Greek city-state, the Persian Wars and the rivalry of Athens and Sparta, the social and economic consequences of the Peloponnesian War, and the eclipse. Students read ancient sources in translation and selected modern views. Staff. Autumn.

209. Ancient Mediterranean World II. ClCiv 209, along with ClCiv 208 and 210, fulfills the general education requirement in civilizational studies. The following themes in the history of the Roman Republic (527-509 B.C.) are considered: the evolution of Roman political institutions, Rome's conquest of the Mediterranean lands, the consequences of imperialism for Roman society and economy, and the "Roman revolution" and the fall of the republic. Relevant ancient sources in translation and selected modern views are read. R. Saller. Winter.

210. Ancient Mediterranean World III. ClCiv 210, along with ClCiv 208 and 209, fulfills the general education requirement in civilization studies. This course covers the five centuries between the establishment of imperial autocracy in 27 B.C. and the fall of the Western empire in the fifth century after Christ. Themes include the organization of imperial rule and administration; the developing social, political, and administrative unity of the empire; the victory of Christianity over the traditional state religion of the Romans; the hierarchy of social rank and classes; and the economic organization of the empire. R. Saller. Spring.

226. Books in the Roman World. This course traces the adaptation by people living under the Roman empire to the ever-widening use of books. Topics covered include the way ancient books were made, the influence that the book format exerted on literary forms such as poetry collections, anthologies, and acrostics. Problems such as circulation and storage are examined, as well as plagiarism and censorship. P. White. Spring.

230. Women in Ancient Greece. This course examines the portrayal of women in ancient Greek literature; their literary roles as compared to their actual social status; and gender roles in ancient Mediterranean cosmologies. We look at readings from epic and lyric poetry, drama, history, oratory, and philosophy; ancient historical documents and medical texts; and contemporary sociological and anthropological studies that help to analyze the origins of Western attitudes toward women. L. Slatkin. Autumn.

234. Hellenistic Philosophy. This course deals with Greek and Roman philosophy after Aristotle to the time of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The main focus is on the two new philosophical systems developed in the Hellenistic period, Stoicism and Epicureanism ethics. Special attention is given to Stoic and Epicurean political thought. In addition, theories of knowledge are discussed, in particular, the interplay between dogmatism and skepticism. Readings include selections from Epicurus, Cicero, Lucretius, Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. E. Asmis. Winter.

237. Fantastic Voyages in the Ancient World (=Geog 237, Hum 237). This course surveys ancient Greek and Roman geographical literature that describes actual and imaginary lands and journeys. Readings (in translation) are drawn from the mythological and fictional travel narratives of Homer, Pindar, Appolodorus, and Lucian; philosophic utopias and cosmogonies of the pre-Socratics, Plato, and Plutarch; and the ethnography of Herodotus, Hanno, Tacitus, Pliny, and Strabo. Discussion emphasizes the psychic as well as physical dislocation of fictional travelers, the methodological considerations of abstract speculation versus regional exploration, changes in schematic representations of the world, and questions of bias, ethnocentrism, and geographical determinism. A. Mori. Autumn.

241. Narrators and Focalizers in Homer, Virgil, Tolstoy, and Flaubert (=ComLit 387). This course studies representative passages by four writers using Genette's system, with a view to testing the system's adequacy and to establishing a given author's characteristic strategies. W. R. Johnson. Spring.

250. History of Philosophy I: Ancient Philosophy (=Philos 250). PQ: Common Core humanities sequence. This course offers a study of some major texts and problems of the classical period. Readings are by the pre-Socratics, Plato, and Aristotle. M. Forster, Summer; I. Mueller, Autumn.

259. Roman Cities of the East and their Patrons (=Class 359). This course offers a study of local patrons and rulers in Greece and the Greek east, including images of their power as seen in public works and foundations of civic institutions and festivals. We cover cities such as Athens, Corinth, Sparta, Ephesos, Aphrodisias, and Perge. Inscriptions and historical accounts are considered in relation to architecture, sculpture and coins. Readings in English. E. Gebhard. Spring.

281. Aristotle's Posterior Analytics and Galen's Proctology. This course will be a comparative study of this most sensitive of subjects. We shall rely heavily on both medieval Islamic commentaries and modern interpretations, such as those of Yeshayahu Meisels and Ely Pinto. D. Easley. Spring,.

287. Ancient Greek Religion (=GS Hum 297/397). This course surveys the history of Greek religion from Homer to the early Hellenistic period and includes inquiries into religious practices (such as animal sacrifice, divination, purifications, and burial rites) and beliefs about fundamental issues such as the proper relationship between the human and the divine, the creation of the cosmos, and the nature of human existence after death. Sources include literary texts and inscriptions (all in translation) as well as archaeological materials, especially Greek vase painting. C. Faraone, B. Lincoln. Winter.

298. Preparation for Bachelor's Paper. PQ: Consent of faculty sponsor and director of undergraduate studies. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course form. In consultation with a faculty member, students devote an independent study course to preparing a bachelor's paper. The grade for this course is that of the bachelor's paper. Staff. Autumn, Winter.

299. Reading Course. PQ: Consent of faculty sponsor and director of undergraduate studies. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

101-102-103. Introduction to Attic Greek I, II, III. This course sequence covers the introductory Greek grammar in twenty-two weeks and is intended for students who have more complex schedules or believe that the slower pace will allow them to better assimilate the material. Like Greek 111-112-113, this sequence prepares students to move into the second-year sequence (Greek 204-204-206) and fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement.

101. Introduction to Attic Greek I. PQ: Knowledge of Greek not required. This course introduces students to the basic rules of ancient Greek. Class time is spent on the explanation of grammar, translation from Greek to English and from English to Greek, and discussion of student work. C. Faraone. Autumn.

102. Introduction to Attic Greek II: Prose. PQ: Greek 101. The remaining chapters of the introductory Greek textbook are covered. Students apply and improve their understanding of Greek as selections from Xenophon are read. L. Slatkin. Winter.

103. Introduction to Attic Greek III: Prose. PQ: Greek 102. This course fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement. Students apply the grammatical skills taught in Greek 101-102 by reading a continuous prose text by a classical author such as Lysias, Xenophon, or Plato. The aim is familiarity with Greek idiom and sentence structure. Staff. Spring.

111-112-113. Accelerated Introduction to Attic Greek I, II, III. This course sequence covers the introductory Greek grammar in fifteen weeks. Like Greek 101-102-103, this sequence prepares students to move into the second-year sequence (Greek 204-204-206) and fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement.

111. Accelerated Introduction to Attic Greek I. PQ: Knowledge of Greek not required. This course introduces students to the basic rules of ancient Greek. Class time is spent on the explanation of grammar, translation from Greek to English and from English to Greek, and discussion of student work. Staff. Autumn.

112. Accelerated Introduction to Attic Greek II. PQ: Greek 111. The remaining chapters of the introductory textbook are covered. Students then apply and improve their knowledge of Greek as they read selections from Xenophon. J. Redfield. Winter.

113. Accelerated Introduction to Attic Greek III. PQ: Greek 112. This course fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement. Students apply the grammatical skills taught in Greek 111-112 by reading a continuous prose text by a classical author such as Lysias, Xenophon, or Plato. The aim is familiarity with Greek idiom and sentence structure. Staff. Spring.

204. Plato: Gorgias. PQ: Greek 103 or equivalent. Selections from Plato's Gorgias. Attention is given to syntax, style, and content. Assignments include grammatical exercises based on the text as well as stylistic analyses. Discussion centers on the use of speech as a political tool. E. Asmis. Autumn.

205. Sophocles: Antigone. PQ: Greek 103 or equivalent. The course includes close analysis and translation of the Greek text, in addition to a discussion of Sophoclean dramatic technique and relevant trends in fifth-century Athenian intellectual history. D. N. Rudall. Winter.

206. Introduction to Homer. PQ: Greek 103 or equivalent. An introduction to the Homeric dialect and to the convention of oral epic through a study of the Iliad. P. White. Spring.

221/321. Herodotus. PQ: Greek 206 or equivalent. Selections from several books are read, and the historical methods and aesthetic principles that shape the Histories are discussed. J. Redfield. Winter.

222/322. Aristophanes. PQ: Greek 206 or equivalent. A play is read in detail and discussed as a literary work and as a document in the history of philosophy. C. Faraone. Autumn.

223/323. Euripides. PQ: Greek 206 or equivalent. A play is translated and discussed, both as text and as dramatic performance, with more general consideration given to the modes and purposes of tragedy, as well as to the religious background of the play. L. Slatkin. Spring.

299. Reading Course. PQ: Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

344. Greek Prose Composition. PQ: Consent of instructor. This course is intended to strengthen and refine a student's understanding of Greek syntax and style. Students translate a variety of passages from English to Greek. Greek texts are analyzed according to style, and neal students emulate these styles in their own writing. E. Asmis. Winter.

101. Introduction to Classical Latin I. This course includes discussion and drill in the rudiments of Latin grammar, with practice in translating English into Latin, as well as readings from various Latin authors. R. Kaster. Autumn.

102. Introduction to Classical Latin II: Prose Writings. PQ: Latin 101. This course begins with the completion of the basic text begun in Latin 101 and concludes with readings in Latin from Cicero, Caesar, or other prose. P. White. Winter.

103. Introduction to Classical Latin III: Cicero. PQ: Latin 102. This course involves the reading of a complete speech by Cicero. The course seeks to consolidate knowledge of Latin grammar and syntax and to increase the ability to read Cicero's prose, which has had a lasting influence on European literary expression. Staff. Spring.

204. Livy. PQ: Latin 103 or equivalent. This course fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement. The purpose of this course is twofold: to review Latin grammar, and to give students experience in reading portions of the thirty-fourth book of Livy. There are weekly grammar quizzes related to Latin readings in class. Students are expected to conduct their own grammar review but with specific directives from the instructor. They are asked to read a certain amount of modern material concerning Roman Republican history in order to give the Latin reading a more intelligible context. Staff. Autumn.

205. Virgil: Selections from the Aeneid. PQ: Latin 103 or equivalent. This course fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement. A reading of selections from the first six books of the Aeneid. Emphasis is on Virgil's language and versification. Students are also required to read in English translation those books of the poem that are not read in Latin. R. Kaster. Winter.

206. Horace and Catullus. PQ: Latin 103 or equivalent. This course fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement. Selected poems of Catullus and Horace are read, with special emphasis on style and form. Staff. Spring.

221/321. Lucretius: De Rerum Natura. PQ: Latin 206 or equivalent. This course consists of translation and discussion. Selections from the six books are read in Latin. W. R. Johnson. Autumn.

222/322. Roman Satire. PQ: Latin 206 or equivalent. Readings include Horace, Satires 1.1, 1.4, 1.6, 1.10, 2.1, 2.5, and 2.7; Persius 5; and Juvenal 1, 3, and 6. The object of the course is to study the evolution of satire as a literary genre with a recognized subject matter and style. P. White. Winter.

223/323. Roman Oratory: Cicero. PQ: Latin 206 or equivalent. This course entails a close reading of one or two orations of Cicero, with special attention to the styles and poses of the orator, the implied values and exceptions of the audience, and the historical context. R. Kaster. Spring.

277/278-377/378. Medieval Latin Literature. May be taken in sequence or individually. This two-quarter survey traces the developments and continuities in Latin literature from the late fourth to the thirteenth centuries, with attention paid to how and where literature was cultivated. Christianity played a determinate role in the transformation of the Ancient World. We examine new Christian literary idioms, such as hymnody, hagiography, and the theological essay, as well as reinterpretations of classical forms of poetry, epistle, biography, and historical writing. There is also an introduction to the peculiarities of "medieval" Latin. The first quarter covers ca. 400-900; the second covers ca. 900-1200. M. Allen. Autumn, Winter.

285/385. Cicero's De Officiis. This work was for centuries the central ethical guide for practical politicians and statesmen, in nations as far removed as England and India, Ghana and Germany. Its ideas of world citizenship and universal obligation to humanity have exercised a pivotal influence on (among others) Grotius, Kant, the United Nations Charter, and modern international law. We study the text closely against the background of Stoic ethics, asking how it transforms Greek concepts to meet Roman reality. M. Nussbaum. Autumn.

299. Reading Course. PQ: Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

344. Latin Prose Composition. PQ: Consent of instructor. This is a practical introduction to the styles of classical Latin prose. After a brief and systematic review of Latin syntax, the course combines regular exercises in composition with readings from a variety of prose stylists. The course is intended to increase the students' awareness both of the classical artists' skill and their own command of Latin idiom and sentence structure. Not offered 1996-97; will be offered 1997-98.

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