21H.301 | Fall 2004 | Undergraduate

The Ancient World: Greece

Readings

Textbooks

Osborne, Robin. Greece In the Making, 1200-479 BC. London and New York, NY: Routledge, 1996. ISBN: 9780415035835.

Hornblower, Simon. The Greek World 479-323 BC. 3rd ed. London and New York, NY: Routledge, 2002. ISBN: 9780415153447.

Greek Masterpieces in Translation

English translations of these works are available at: The Perseus Digital Library.

Aeschylus. “The Persians,” “Seven Against Thebes,” “The Suppliants,” “Prometheus Bound.” In Aeschylus, 1 : The Oresteia. Translated and Edited by David R. Slavitt and Palmer Bovie. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1997. ISBN: 9780812216271.

Aristophanes. “Lysistrata,” “The Acharnians,” “The Clouds.” In The Birds and Other Plays. Translated with an Introduction by Alan H. Sommerstein. London and New York, NY: Penguin, 2003. ISBN: 9780140449518.

Aristotle. The Athenian Constitution. Translated with an Introduction and notes by P. J. Rhodes. New York, NY: Penguin, 1984. ISBN: 9780140444315. (Abbreviated as Ath. Pol.)

Herodotus. Histories. Translated by Aubrey de Selincourt with an Introduction by John Marincola. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. ISBN: 9780140446388.

Homer. The Iliad. Translated by Robert Fagles. New York, NY: Penguin, 1990. ISBN: 9780670835102.

Plutarch. Greek Lives. Translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford and New York, NY: Oxford University Press (Oxford World’s Classics), 1998. ISBN: 9780192825018.

Sophocles. “Antigone,” “Oedipus the King,” “Electra.” In Selections. Translated by H. D. F. Kitto. Oxford and New York, NY: Oxford University Press (Oxford World’s Classics), 1998. ISBN: 9780192835888.

Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Translated by Rex Warner. New York, NY: Penguin Classics, 1954. ISBN: 9780140440393.

Plato. Apology (or Defence of Socrates). Translated by Harold North Fowler. Cambridge, MA and London: London Heinemann Cambridge Harvard University Press, 1966.

LEC # TOPICS READINGS
1 Introduction

2 The Myth of Troy: Homer Homer. Iliad. Chapters 1-2, 6, 9. pp. 77-127, 195-213, 251-275.
3 The Archaeology of Troy: Schliemann Homer. Iliad. Chapters 14, 16. pp. 369-386, 412-441.
4 Discussion 1: Myth and History Herodotus. Chapters 1.1-5, 2.112-20. pp. 3-5, 124-128.

Thucydides. Chapters 1.9-12. pp. 39-42.

5 Homeric Society Homer. Iliad. Chapters 18, 22-24. pp. 467-487, 541-614.
6 Dark Age Archaeology: Lefkandi Osborne. pp. 40-51.

Hesiod. Works and Days.

7 Discussion 2: History before History - Homer and Hesiod Osborne. pp. 137-160.
8 The Polis Osborne. pp. 70-104.
9 Exploration and Colonization Osborne. pp. 104-129, 197-202, 8-17.
10 Discussion 3: Greeks and Barbarians - The Importance of Panhellenic Sanctuaries (Delphi) Osborne. pp. 95-100, 202-207.

Herodotus. Chapters 1.46-56, 69-92. pp. 18-22, 28-39.

11 The Age of Tyranny Osborne. pp. 185-197, 271-285.

Herodotus. Chapters 3.39-60, 5.90-96, 6.126-131. pp. 169-178, 311-316, 365-368.

12 Early Sparta Osborne. pp. 170-185.

Herodotus. Chapters 1.65-8, 6.51-60. pp. 25-28, 340-343.

13 Discussion 4: Lycurgus - Sparta’s Legendary Lawgiver Plutarch. Lycurgus. pp. 3-41.
14 Early Athens and the Foundations of Democracy Osborne. pp. 215-225, 292-314.

Ath. Pol. Chapters 1-22. pp. 39-65.

Herodotus. Chapters 1.59-64. pp. 22-25.

15 Archaic Art and Architecture Osborne. pp. 129-136, 161-169, 207-214, 259-271.
16 Discussion 5: Democracy - Solon and Cleisthenes Plutarch. Solon. pp. 42-77.
17 Persia and the Greeks of Ionia Osborne. pp. 318-328.

Herodotus. Chapters 5.28-38, 5.49-55, 5.97-6.32. pp. 289-293, 296-299, 316-334.

18 The Persian Wars Osborne. pp. 328-343.

Herodotus. 6.94-124, 8.1-125. pp. 355-365, 451-490.

19 Discussion 6: Herodotus and Aeschylus, Persians Aeschylus. Persians. pp. 3-44.
20 From Delian League to Athenian Empire Hornblower. pp. 9-38.

Thucydides. Chapters 1.89-117. pp. 87-103.

21 5th Century Athens Hornblower. pp. 124-149.

Plutarch. Pericles. pp. 140-179.

22 Discussion 7: Athenian Democratic Culture Sophocles. Antigone. pp. 3-45.

Thucydides. Chapters 2.34-46. pp. 143-151.

23 The Origins of the Peloponnesian War Hornblower. pp. 103-123.

Thucydides. Chapters 1.23-88, 118-146. pp. 48-87, 103-123.

24 The Peloponnesian War Hornblower. pp. 150-183.
25 Discussion 8: Thucydides and the Rhetoric of History Thucydides. Chapters 1.1-23, 2.55-65, 3.36-50, 5.25-26, 5.84-116. pp. 35-49, 156-164, 212-223, 363-364, 400-408.
26 Effects of the Peloponnesian War Hornblower. pp. 184-209.

Ath. Pol. Chapters 29-69. pp. 72-114.

27 Discussion 9: Philosophers and the City Aristophanes. Clouds. pp. 65-130.

Plato. Apology (a.k.a. Defence of Socrates).

28 The New Spartan Order Hornblower. pp. 210-245.
29 Classical Art and Architecture

30 Discussion 10: Boston Museum of Fine Arts

31 Boeotia and Fall of Spartan Hegemony Hornblower. pp. 99-102, 246-260.

Plutarch. Agesilaus. pp. 260-305.

32 The Rise of Macedon Hornblower. pp. 261-282.
33 Alexander the Great Hornblower. pp. 283-312.
34 Discussion 11: Plutarch’s Alexander Plutarch. Alexander. pp. 306-381.
35 The Appeal of Alexander

36 Ancient Greece Today

Course Info

Departments
As Taught In
Fall 2004
Learning Resource Types
Written Assignments with Examples