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HI361F Alexander the Great
TuTh 3.40-5.00
Prof. Michael Arnush
Ladd 209 x5462
Email the class
Off. hrs. M9 TuTh11

Overview

OVERVIEW
Alexander the Great, King of Macedon, champion of the Greeks and conqueror of the world, was a complex and fascinating figure who has captivated the interest of historians and romantics since his death in 323/322 BCE. Alexander’s legacy is profound, for it was with him that the “harvest of Hellenism” spread throughout the known world. He has come to symbolize worldly glory and conquest, and modern critics have viewed him as a dashing adventurer, a ruthless tyrant, and a self-aggrandizing, superhuman living god. We will examine the life and career of Alexander through the eyes of his contemporaries and later classical biographers and historians and arrive at an assessment of his efforts to conquer and unify the known world.
GOALS

Students in HI361F will demonstrate the ability to

  • read critically and assess the literary, historical, archaeological and art historical sources for the life and times of Alexander the Great
  • gain a comprehensive perspective on 4th century BCE Greco-Persian history
  • present critical assessments of the sources and of various aspects of Alexander's career in oral presentations individually and in small groups
  • conduct research into aspects of Alexander's career through print and electronic media and write an analytical term paper of 5000 words drawing upon primary and secondary sources