Ancient History
Ancient Greek and Roman polities and empires stretch thousands of years into the past, but they continue to affect and inform ideas and events in the modern world. The languages, beliefs, and societies of these Mediterranean civilizations have left a deep footprint on modern philosophy, political science, sociology, architecture, aesthetics, linguistics, and the scientific method. And yet many beliefs held among members of these polities about love, social organization, identity, gender, and spirituality would sound quite alien to a modern observer. In this course, we work to gather an accurate picture of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, not only from the perspective of political leaders and social elites, but from the perspective of the laborers, artisans, soldiers, and slaves who made up the majority of these societies.
Pre-approved Topic List
- How was slavery classified in the Greco-Roman world? What alternative forms of bondage existed alongside it?
- What were the conditions of the slave systems during this time? How might we imagine the lives of those under bondage?
- To what extent were slave able to express their autonomy?
- How was love expressed among people in the Greco-Roman world? Are there any compelling cases in other eras that merit further comparisons?
- What components were used to help develop a shared ethnic identity? Against whom was this ethnic identity juxtaposed?
- What were some of the accepted gender roles in the Greco-Roman world? In what ways did people push against or defend these societal norms?
- In what ways did religion influence the decisions and lives of the people of the Greco-Roman world?
- How was the Greco-Roman family and household organized? What roles were available to the various members?
- What was the culture of militaristic nations, such as Sparta and Rome, like? How did warfare shape their lives on and off the battlefield?
- What were the opportunities available to women in the Greco-Roman world? How might we imagine their lives and treatment?
- How can one utilize ancient literary sources as a means to better understand the history of the Greco-Roman world?
- What messages can we gather from the mythology of this era to better understand the religious and personal beliefs of the Greco-Roman world?