Current Course Outlines

This course focuses on relations between the Greeks and the Achaemenid Persian empire from the 6th century to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.  Problems of sources, the structure of the Persian empire and Greek states, warfare and diplomacy, cultural contacts and influences will be discussed in addition to the continuing impact interpretations of the “Persian Wars” have had on western civilization.

Civil war, political intrigue, and subterfuge are all present in Roman history and in the cultural imagination of its writers. In this course, we will survey select Roman civil wars ranging from the Republic through to the Late Empire to discover similar themes and ancient attempts at understanding, explicating, and sometimes justifying civil conflict.

We will try to unravel the dichotomy of Rome’s politics, the ensuing tensions, and the resulting hostilities that sometimes ushered in new political and military eras. We will do so by analyzing ancient sources that speak of these conflicts and by further questioning how their contemporary world may have influenced their perspectives.

But beware – a civil war may also be brewing in our classroom. Will you survive?

We examine the form and function of the sanctuary in Greek culture focusing on the Archaic to Classical period (roughly 800-300 BC). Archaeological evidence (art and architecture) is used to reconstruct this essential element of ancient city-states. History of excavation, religious ideology and practice will also be addressed. Ancient sources will be read in English and discussed where relevant.

This lecture course focuses on the archaeology and art of the Italian Peninsula from about the 8^th century to the 3^rd century BCE. Our focus will be the Etruscan civilization, largely because the material evidence from Etruria is vast and varied and English-language resources are many. When possible, however, we will also consider other pre-Roman cultures in Italy. We engage especially with art historical and archaeological evidence.

This course is ultimately tasked with considering: How does the material record of the Etruscans reveal aspects of their society and culture? What are the limitations of the material record? How do scholarly biases and historical anchoring affect how we approach marginal classical civilizations? How and when did Greeks and Italians interact? How do we understand multiculturalism in the ancient world? How do we understand Rome’s place in Italy, given what we can learn about the Etruscans?

One of the great historical puzzles of the late classical world is how the Roman Empire was transformed from a relatively inclusive and traditionally polytheist religious outlook to and an exclusively Christian monotheist worldview. This radical cultural and religious shift is one of the key factors that define the period known as “Late Antiquity.”

This course will examine this process through a close reading of some key sources from both a “pagan” and Christian perspective. Special attention will be placed on the social, political, philosophical, and theological factors that influenced rival religious identities in the period.

*CLCV 4210 will be of interest to students in Greek and Roman Studies, Religion, and Medieval
Studies.

This course examines the state of Athens from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman period.  We will discuss both archaeological and written evidence in order to reconstruct a picture of the politics (especially democracy), culture and ideology of the people over time.  I am especially interested in addressing the question of how material remains augment our written record for Athenian history.  The “state of Athens” is construed broadly to include the city of Athens, its territory of Attica, and the areas into which the state projected its power.  Students should expect to do a large amount of reading and research, present topics in seminar, and to participate actively in class discussions.