Skidmore College Department of Classics
| Gateway to the Major | |
| Latin Language | |
| Greek Language | |
| Research and Writing | |
| Ancient Literature | |
| Ancient History | |
| Ancient Art and | |
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| Classical Civilization |
Course Descriptions /
Ancient History
CC
226: Greek and Roman Historiography. 3 credits Readings in translation
of the great chroniclers of history from the Greek and Roman worlds: Greek,
the works of Herodotus (the father of history), Thucydides and Xenophon;
Roman, the works of Livy, Polybius and Tacitus. The course will focus
on the methodology of writing history, comparative studies and modern
interpretations. Prerequisite: None. Arnush.
HI 201: Greek History. 3 credits A study of Greece from the the Trojan War to Alexander the Great. The course focuses on the heroic age, the development of the city-state, the origins of democracy, the nature of imperialism, intellectual and cultural achievements, economic conditions, and family life. Prerequisite: None. Counts toward the International Affairs minor. Arnush.
HI 202: Roman History. 3 credits A study of Rome from its foundation by the legendary Romulus until the rise of Constantine the Great and the end of antiquity. Students will explore Etruscan civilization, Rome's conquest of Italy and the Mediterranean, the survival of Greece, the evolution of Roman culture and the rise and spread of Christianity. Special emphasis is given to daily life in ancient Italy and the provinces, derived from reading historical accounts and examining archaeological remains. Prerequisite: None. Counts toward the International Affairs minor. Arnush.
HI 361F: Topics in Ancient History: Ancient. 3 credits Selected aspects of ancient Greek or Roman history. Topics vary year to year based upon instructor and student interests. Recent courses have included the "Age of Augustus" and "Alexander the Great." Cross-listed with CL 365: Special Topics in Classical Studies. Prerequisite: None.
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Age of Augustus: "I found Rome a city of bricks, and I leave it clothed in marble." These are the words of Rome's first Emperor, Gaius Octavianus Augustus, who ruled an empire stretching from Spain to Syria, from Britain to Egypt. Students in this seminar will explore the social, artistic, literary and political successes and failures of this "golden age" of Rome's past. Arnush. Alexander the Great: 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 323B.C. 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. Cross-listed with the International Affairs minor. Arnush. |
HI 375G: Colloquium in Ancient History. 3 credits. Periodically the History department offers a colloquium in ancient history. The colloquium requires readings for the weekly discussion meetings, oral reports, and a paper based on the student's research. Recent ancient history colloquia have included "International Affairs in Antiquity." Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. International Affairs in Antiquity: This colloquium will explore the extent and degree of international relations in the ancient Greco-Roman world and will afford the student the opportunity to focus on any one particular set of international connections. Students will select a particular case - for example, Greece and Persia, Rome and India, Gaul and North Africa, etc. - and explore that particular relationship to acquire insights into the origins of the character of contemporary international affairs. Cross-listed with the International Affairs minor. Arnush.
LS2
124: Athenian Democracy: Tradition and Social Change from 560 to 399 BC.
3 credits
The
literary, artistic, political and social climate of the first seat of
democracy from the mid-sixth century until the death of Socrates in 399
BC provides the framework for a multidisciplinary study of the profound
changes in ancient Athens. The theme of the course will focus upon the
representation and self-awareness of the individual in classical Athens
against the background of traditional Greek ways of thought and expression,
and subsequently the changing relationship between the individual and
history's first democracy over a span of 160 years. Prerequisite: None.
Arnush.