HIST 308
ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME

1. Catalog Entry

History 308. Ancient Greece and Rome (B)
Three hours lecture (3).

Prerequisite: 3 hours of History at the 100-level

A study of the cultural, intellectual, and political development of the Hellenic and Hellenistic traditions and Republican and Imperial Rome.

2. Detailed Description of Content of Course

I. Ancient Greece

A. The Greek Renaissance or New Age

1. Colonization
2. Military developments
3. Tyranny
4. Development of the city-state

a. Athens
b. Sparta

5. Cultural aspects

a. Religion
b. Philosophy
c. Literature
d. Architecture and sculpture

B. The Fifth Century and Classical Greek Civilization

1. The Persian Wars
2. The Athenian Empire
3. Pericles and the height of Athenian democracy
4. The Great Peloponnesian War
5. Greek society in the classical age
6. Cultural and intellectual accomplishments of the classical age

a. Sculpture
b. Architecture
c. Literature
d. Philosophy

C. The History of the Fourth Century Until the Rise of Macedonia

1. The period of transient hegemonies
2. The trial of Socrates

D. The Rise of Macedonia

1. Philip II
2. Alexander the Great

E. Hellenistic Civilization

II. Ancient Rome

A. Geography of Italy
B. Early People of Italy
C. Origin of Rome
D. The Early Monarchy
E. The Republic

1. Conquest of the Italian peninsula
2. Domination of the Mediterranean

a. The Punic Wars
b. Wars with the Hellenistic kingdoms

3. Governmental development
4. Society and religion in the early Republic
5. Economic conditions in the Republic
6. The Roman army
7. Provincial system
8. Changes in Roman culture in the Middle Republican Period
9. The rise of Latin literature
10. The last century of the Roman Republic or the Roman Revolution

a. The Gracchi
b. The Social War
c. The First Triumvirate
d. Death of Caesar
e. Second Triumvirate

F. The Empire

1. Augustus
2. Julio-Claudians
3. Flavian Dynasty
4. The "Good" emperors
5. Military monarchy
6. Military anarchy
7. Diocletian and Constantine
8. Roman Law
9. The mystery religions and the rise of Christianity
10. Reasons for the fall of Rome
11. The barbarian migrations

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of the Course

The class meets three hours a week. The course is taught primarily using a lecture format with considerable time devoted to discussion of ideas from the lectures. All students are required to read several (usually four) textbooks. The class discussions of the books are an important element of the course.

4. Goals and Objectives of the Course

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the historical background of ancient Greece and Rome.
2. Students will describe the geographical setting of the Mediterranean world.
3. Students will study other cultures and develop an awareness of the complexity of cultural change.
4. Students will discuss the relationship of the past to the present by showing the influences of ancient Greece and Rome on today's world.

5. Assessment Measures

Assessment of the student's success in the course is based on the grades for written book reviews, two major tests, and a comprehensive final exam.

6. Other Course Information

None.

7. Review and Approval

Date Action Reviewed by
January 2005 Reviewed and Approved by Charles McClellan