Classical Antiquity and the Modern World

Catalog description

The ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, whether individually, together, or in relation to other ancient civilizations, have frequently been seen as ancestors of the modern world. This ancestry has been seen both as a common and unifying heritage and as one that divides. This course will consider the relationship between Classical Antiquity and the modern world in the light of different themes, including those of Civilization, Empire, Race, Ethnicity, Simplicity and Complexity, Morality, Religion, and Universality. Classes will focus on discussion of readings with an emphasis on coming to grips with multiple and conflicting points of view. Students will write a research paper related to one of the themes mentioned above or to another one of similar importance.