The Ancient World

Catalog description

An introduction to the world of heroes like Odysseus and Romulus, gods like Athena and Bacchus, rulers like Cleopatra and Augustus, historians like Herodotus and Livy, martyrs like the seven Jewish brothers and Perpetua. The Greco-Roman world saw the beginning of history and philosophy, tragedy and comedy, epic and epigram. It laid the foundations of democracy. If the Greeks lived around the Mediterranean Sea like frogs around a pond, as Plato said, the Romans conquered the pond and then some. Yet for all these achievements, millions of people in this world lived and died in slavery, and the average life expectancy was 35 years, due to an appallingly high infant mortality rate. This course will introduce students to this diverse and influential world, paying particular attention to how we know what we know, resources (print, electronic, material) for studying the classical world, and connections between the classical world and our own. Satisfies Historical Thought requirement. Satisfies Classical Languages and Literature major requirement. Satisfies Classical Studies major and minor requirement Satisfies History major and minor requirement. Prerequisites & Notes Students at all levels welcome. Offered annually in the fall.