Course Description:

This course has been selected to represent historical analysis in our core curriculum, and thus will pay close attention to the workings of history. Four main periods will be studied: the rather complicated early culture represented in Homer's epic poems; the late period of the Greek city-states (poleis) or the Classical Period within a hundred years of consolidation by the Hellenistic warlords; the period of Roman ascendancy throughout the world spanning from the mid-first century B.C. to the late first century A.D.; and the late Roman (Christian) period from the third and fourth centuries A.D. We will compare these four periods closely as we span five central areas of ancient values: war, rhetoric, gods, mass culture, and law. Within these areas we will see some stunning changes throughout our four periods, as well as some unexpected continuity, probably with many of us disagreeing with each other as we go. Such disagreement will lead to a more stimulating experience of history, and perhaps to a more sensitive understanding of our own values.