HISTORY 3302

HISTORY 3302

Dr. Anson Fall 2009

Office: Stabler Hall, 604C

Office hours: 11-12:00 MW and by appointment: see me before or after class, or contact me by e-mail (emanson@ualr.edu)

Course description

History 3302 is a study of the History of Ancient Greece from the Homeric Age to the collapse of the Athenian Empire.

Course Objectives:

Give students a broad understanding of events.
Give students an understanding of the Greek influence on the development and basic nature of Western civilization.
Involve students in the process by which historians make their determinations of what happened in the past and why it happened.
Hone students’ skills necessary to examine and analyze written information in a critical way.
Sharpen students’ ability to write analytically and cogently.

Required Reading

The following are required for this course and all may be purchased in the University Bookstore or gotten on the web.

Homer, (Penguin 978-0140275360 or on Web-http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/)

Herodotus, (Penguin 978-0140449082 or on Web-http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/)

Thucydides, (Penguin 978-0140440393 or on Web-http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/)

Plutarch, (Lives of Theseus, Solon, Themistocles, Aristides, Cimon, Pericles, Nicias, Alcibiades, Lysander (Penguin 978-0140441024 or on Web-http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/)

Requirements for the Course

There will be two examinations, a midterm and a final. Each will consist of a first section devoted to identifications about which the students will write a brief paragraph. The second portion will be devoted to one or more essay questions. In addition to the examinations, four short papers (6-8 pages typed or equivalent in clear handwriting) are required during the course of the semester. Papers must be entirely based on the assigned primary reading, not translator’s introduction, lecture notes, or material from secondary works; all statements of fact must be accompanied by in text ancient notational references or page numbers [page numbers may be used only when using the assigned Penguin editions]. An example of ancient notational system: Matt. 16. 18-19 (Book of Matthew, chapter 16, verses 18-19). Class discussion is encouraged and 10% of a student’s grade will be based on attendance and participation.

General Information

No make-up exams will be given during the semester. Since the final is cumulative, those who miss the midterm will have their final weighted accordingly. Papers are to be turned in on or before their due dates as noted in the syllabus, and cannot be faxed. Late papers will be assessed grade penalties. Papers may, however, be rewritten and resubmitted for evaluation as often as the student wishes. Highest grade will be the one recorded. All rewrites must be turned in no later than at the beginning of the final exam.

No incompletes will be given unless special arrangements have been made with me prior to December 13, 2009. Incompletes will only be given when circumstances beyond the control of the student prevent the student from completing part of the course requirements. Incompletes will not be given for the entire semester’s work. Moreover, all completed work counts; an incomplete is not a substitute for a failing grade.

CELL PHONES: If you must bring it to class (potential emergences), please turn it off, or at least turn off the ringer. Do not talk or text on the phone in class. If an emergency is signified, please leave class quietly to take the call.

Grades will be computed on the following basis:

10% Attendance and participation

20% Midterm

50% Papers (15% for each paper)

20% Final

All grade computations are on the following basis:

90-100% = A

80-89% = B

70-79% = C

60-69% = D

0-59% = F

CLASS ATTENDANCE: Class attendance is required. 10% of a student’s grade will be based on class attendance and participation. Students are responsible for all information given out in class. Everyone is expected to be present at the time class starts and remain until it is dismissed. If for great and good cause you are either late or have to leave early, please enter or leave quietly and as inconspicuously as possible, i.e. do not walk across the front of the room.

Students with disabilities: It is the policy and practice of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to create inclusive learning environments. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or to accurate assessment of achievement--such as time-limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos--please notify the instructor as soon as possible. Students are also welcome to contact the Disability Resource Center, telephone 501-569-3143 (v/tty). For more information, visit the DRC website at www.ualr.edu/disability.

Cheating

No student may gain undue advantage over his/her classmates by deceptive or dishonest means (as defined in “Cheating”, Student Handbook, p. 30). Anyone who engages in such activity will receive an “F” in the course and will be turned over to the Academic Integrity and Grievance Committee for University disciplinary action.

SYLLABUS

Week 1 Lecture Topics Assignment

August 21 Introduction

Week 2

August 24 Sources of information Begin the Iliad

August 26 Geography

August 28 Minoan Civilization

Week 3

August 31 Mycenaean Civilization

September 2 Dark Ages Plut. Theseus

September 4 The Iliad

Week 4

September 7 The Iliad Paper on Iliad

due

September 9 Greek Colonization Hdts, I. 163-168

III 48-49; IV 147-158, 186; V 94; Thuc. I 13, 15, 25-26, 38, 56; VI 1-5; handout

September 11 Greek Warfare handout

Week 5

September 14 Religion Hdts. 1. 55-56,

65-8, 85; Plut.

Arist. 6, 20;

Cim 8; Nic 13,

23; Alc 18-19

September 16 Greek ethnicity

September 18 Sparta/Peloponnesian League

Week 6

September 21 Solon Hdts. I 30-33,

59-64; Plut. Sol

1-28

September 23 Age of Tyrants Hdts. I 59-64;

V 55-56; 62-65,

90-91, 93-95;

VI 35-39, 103,

108-109, 121,

123; VII 6; Thuc

I 20; III 104;

VI 53-59; Plut.

Sol. 29-32

September 25 Cleisthenes Hdts. V 66, 67,

69-70, 72-75; 77-78; VI 123-131; Plut. Arist. 1-4, 7; Them 1-3

Week 7

September 28 Persia Hdts. I 95-140,

176-216; III 1-

38, 61-97

September 30 Persian War: Causes Hdts. I 1-56,

69-94, 140-176;

III 130-160; IV

85-143; V-VI

October 2 No class

Week 8

October 5 No class

October 7 Persian War: Marathon Hdts. I 62; VI

94-117; Plut. Arist. 5

October 9 Great Persian War Hdts VII

Week 9

October 12 G. P. W. Hdts. VIII-IX;

Plut. Them. 4-

18; Arist. 8-19

paper due

October 14 Greek victory Plut. Arist. 20-

October 16 MIDTERM

Week 10

October 19 Delian League/break with Sparta Hdts. 8. 132-33;

Thuc I 89-100;

Plut. Arist. 23-

27; Them. 19-

32; Cim. 6-9

October 21 Athenian Empire Thuc I 100-

117;Plut. Cim

11-14; Per 11

October 23 Ephialtes and Pericles Plut. Cim. 10,

15-17; Per 3-8

Week 11

October 26 Thucydides Introduction to

Penguin Thuc

Thuc I 22

October 28 1st Peloponnesian War Thuc I 100-117;

Plut Cim 18-

19; Per 10, 17-

October 30 Causes of Archidamian

War Thuc I. 23-99;

Plut.Per 24-32

Week 12

November 2 The Archidamian War Thuc II-V 12;

Plut. Per. 33-

36, 38-39;

Nic 2, 6-9

paper due

November 4 Peace of Nicias Thuc V 13-24;

Plut Nic 10

November 6 Periclean Democracy Thuc. II 34-46;

Plut Per 9, 11-

16, 37

Week 13

November 9 Periclean Athens

November 11 Collapse of Peace Thuc. V 25-

116; Plut. Nic

10-13; Alc 1-16

November 13 Syracuse Thuc. VI-VII.

25, 31-87; Plut

Nic 14, 22-30;

Alc 17-23

Week 14

November 16 Decelean War Thuc VII. 26-

30; Plut Alc 24

November 18 Decelean War Thuc VIII; Plut

Alc 25-39; Lys

4-15

November 20

Week 15

November 23 No Class

November 25, 27 Happy Thanksgiving

Week 16

November 30 Ste. Crois Thesis

December 2 End of the War Thuc II. 34-46

Paper due (if

you want the

possibility of a

rewrite)

December 4 Classical Age

Week 17

December 7 No class

Final Exam: Friday, Dec. 11, 8-10AM

All last papers and all rewrites due at time of exam

Homer

The Iliad

Paper topics:

1. What are the ideals (arete) of Homeric society?

2. How is Greek society organized in the Iliad?

3. What is the role of women in this society?

4. What are the cultic or ritualistic aspects of Homeric religion?

5. What is the nature of divinity?

6. What do the gods require of the Greeks?

7. What rewards do the Greeks expect to receive from their gods?

8. What are the ethical requirements?

9. Does the concept of evil exist in this society? How would you define it?

10. What is fate as depicted in the Iliad? What is its role?

11. Describe the position of Zeus in Homeric religion?

GREECE IN THE ARCHAIC AGE

Sources: Herodotus; Plutarch’s Lives of Solon and Themistocles; Colonization decree handouts

Paper topics:

1. What are the causes and what is the nature of Greek colonization?

2. How does Athenian politics change from Solon to Themistocles? Is there much

change?

3. What causes the Great Persian War?

4. What is the nature of Greek nationalism prior to the Persian War? During the

Persian War? Immediately after? (Note that Greeks are often associated with

poleis, regional ethnicities, dialect divisions, etc.)

5. Why do the Hellenic Allies win?

6. Which of the Greek states is most responsible for the victory?

7. What are the ideals of Archaic society? Do they change from Solon to

Themistocles?

8. Evaluate Herodotus as an historian. What are his sources? How critical of them is he? Does he exhibit bias? How does Herodotus evaluate and use evidence?

History 3302

Midterm Questions

1. Which of the Greek allies was most responsible for the Greek victory over the Persians?

2. Why does the Persian invasion of Greece fail?

3. Whose reforms were more important, Solon’s or Cleisthenes’? Why?

4. How would a Greek define being Greek?

5. What is the nature of divinity in the Iliad? What is

the role played by Zeus?

PELOPONNESIAN WAR: CAUSES

Sources: Thucydides I-II (pay particular attention to Thuc. I. 23, 88, 118); Plutarch,

Lives of Themistocles, Aristides, Cimon, Pericles

Paper Topics:

1. What leads to an Athenian Empire?

2. What were the causes of the Peloponnesian War?

3. How many wars were there?

4. Which state was most responsible for the war?

5. What were the initial advantages of the respective parties?

6. What internal divisions existed in Athens during the years 461-431?

7. Discuss Thucydides as a source. What are his sources? His methodology?

Theory of History? How does he compare with Herodotus?

PELOPONNESIAN WAR

Sources: Thucydides III-VIII; Plutarch, Lives of Pericles, Nicias, Alcibiades, and

Lysander 1-15

Paper topics:

1. Is the Peloponnesian War a war between states or a war between classes?

2. What are the respective strategies of Athena, Sparta?

a) Archidamian War

b) Decelean War

c) Syracuse

d) Changes during course of war?

3. Why does Athens lose and Sparta win?

4. What policy or policies are pursued by the Persians?

5. What are the ideals of this society during this war? Do they change as the war

progresses to its conclusion?

6. Does an analysis of the war help explain the nature of Greek ethnicity?

HISTORY 3302

FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS

Part I:

1. Which state was most responsible for the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War?

2. G. E. M. de Ste. Croix has suggested that the Athenian Empire was very popular with the lower classes and that the revolts came primarily from the upper classes. Is he correct? If he is, was the Peloponnesian War primarily a war between states or a war between classes?

3. Discuss the origins of the Athenian Empire. How does Athens come by 431 B. C. to dominate the Aegean Sea?

4. Why does Sparta win the Peloponnesian War?

Part II:

I. Whose reforms were actually more democratic, those of Cleisthenes or those of Pericles? Explain.

2. Compare Herodotus and Thucydides as historians. Do they share a common methodology and theory of history? If not, how do they differ?

3. Comment on Greek ethnicity. How can a people who share so much go to war with one another so often?