Classics

Cross-Listed Courses

CLAS-2004/3 Rise of the Old World Civilization

This course covers the origins and development of civilization in the Old World with emphasis on the prehistoric archaeological record. Topics discussed include the forces behind an increase in population density, the role of civilization and urbanism in state formation, and the problem of collapse of Old World Civilizations, such as ancient Egypt, the Near East, China, and the Indus Valley. Regional and chronological coverage may vary from year to year.
Cross-listed: Anthropology ANTH-2211/3.

CLAS-2060/3 Sport in the Ancient World

This course examines the origin and historical development of sport in Greece and Rome, its religious and political implications, and the nature of events and contests. Particular attention is paid to intellectual and popular attitudes towards sport and the contribution made to Western Civilization in this area by Greece and Rome.
Cross-listed: Kinesiology and Applied Health KIN-2060/3.

CLAS-2301/3 History of Archaic Greece

This course traces the history of Greece during the Archaic period from the beginning of the eighth century BCE through to the beginning of the fifth century BCE. Special emphasis is placed on the social, political and economic evolution of the Greek City-states (in particular Athens and Sparta), the failure of the Greeks to achieve political unity, cultural transformations, periods of warfare, and the Greeks' consequent vulnerability to external threats.
Cross-listed: History HIST-2080/3.
(May not be counted toward a degree if student has taken the former course: CLAS-2091/HIST-2104/6 Ancient Greek History)

CLAS-2302/3 History of Classical Greece

This course traces the history of Greece from 800 BCE until the rise of Macedon. Special emphasis is placed on the social, political and economic evolution of the Greek city-states (in particular Athens and Sparta), the failure of the Greeks to achieve political unity, and their consequent vulnerability to external threats.
Cross-listed: History HIST-2089/3.
(May not be counted toward a degree if student has taken the former course: CLAS-2091/HIST-2104/6 Ancient Greek History)

CLAS-2303/3 History of the Roman Republic

This course considers the history of the Roman Republic from the legendary foundations of the city of Rome through to the beginning of the Roman Empire. Lectures trace the major cultural, military, and societal events of the Republic. Particular emphasis is placed upon the expansion of Rome's power throughout Italy and the Mediterranean, the forces that brought about the transformation of the Roman style of government from Monarchy to Republic, and later to Empire, and the problems which attended these changes.
Cross-listed: History HIST-2081/3.
(May not be counted toward a degree if student has taken the former courses: History of Ancient Rome I and II or CLAS/HIST-2096/6 The History of Ancient Rome)

CLAS-2303/3 History of the Roman Empire

This course considers the history of the Roman Empire from the end of the Roman Republic through to the reign of Constantine. Lectures trace the major cultural, military, and societal events of the first three centuries of the Empire. Particular emphasis is placed upon the expansion of Rome's power throughout the Mediterranean, Europe, and the Near East, the forces, individuals, and events that affect the Empire during the period 30 BCE-c.312 CE, and the problems that attended these changes.
Cross-listed: History HIST-2097/3.
(May not be counted toward a degree if student has taken the former courses: History of Ancient Rome I and II or CLAS/HIST-2096/6 The History of Ancient Rome)

CLAS-2405/3 Staging Greek and Roman Drama

This course focuses on the staging of Greek and Roman tragedy and comedy. Examination of the surviving texts of selected plays, the remains of ancient theatres, contemporary accounts of dramatic performance and relevant artwork leads to a recreation of an ancient theatrical experience with information of stage configuration, scenery, masks, costumes, properties, gestures, dance, song, mechanical devices and stage convention. In addition to their written work, students are expected to participate in demonstrations and performance in class.
Cross-listed: Theatre and Film THFM-2405/3.

CLAS-2800/3 Greek and Latin in Today's English

Of the 20,000 words in common use in English, about half have come from Latin, directly or through French. Greek, too, has made its contribution and continues to do so as the language of science expands. In addition to a thorough study of the formation of nouns, verbs, and adjectives from their Greek and Latin component parts, we will examine the Greek script, principles of transliteration, medical and scientific Greek, words from Greek mythology and society, Roman numerals, legal Latin, abbreviations of Latin words in common use, Latin mottoes and proverbs, and unusual plural forms in English. No knowledge of Latin or Greek is required.
Cross-listed: Linguistics LING-2208/3.

CLAS-2850/3 The Classical Roots of Medical Terminology

This course considers serveral of the most important ancient medical writers (Soranus, Celsus, and Galen, among others), their historical works, and contributions to ancient and modern medicine and medical terminology. Knowledge of medical terminology equips students for a variety of fields. This course also lays out the most important Greek and Latin roots of the vocabulary of contemporary medicine and demonstrates the predictable patterns by which these roots combine, introducing students to the concept of building language using root words, prefixes and suffixes. Students learn to define new compounds and phrases by analysis of their parts
Cross-listed: Kinesiology KIN-2850/3.

CLAS-2920/3 Food, Diet and Dining in Antiquity

This course explores the techniques, issues, and controversies involved in reconstructing the role of food, diet and dining in Greek and Roman antiquity. Topics addressed include examination of lines of evidence (broadly encompassing ancient literary and textual evidence, depictions from art, and material remains from archaeological excavation); the economic basis for production, trade, transport and consumption of foodstuffs in antiquity; practicalities and limitations involved in cooking, preserving and preparing food stuffs; the social and philosophical context of eating and dining; the role of food in ancient religious and cult practices; medical approaches to food, diet and health in antiquity.
Cross-listed: Anthropology ANTH-2229/3.

CLAS-2950/3 The Roman Army

This course considers the Roman army, from its origins and increasing professionalization during the Monarchy and Republic, to its role as emperor-maker during the third century CE. Topics may include the evidence for the army, recruitment, organization, strategy, unit tactics, troop disposition on the frontiers, and veterans. More broadly, this course examines the army's wider impact on culture and society with regard to religion, Romanization, and political life.
Cross-listed: History HIST-2099/3.

CLAS-3080/3 Health in Antiquity

This course explores health, disease, and medicine in the Greek and Roman world. It draws upon evidence from the ancient textual sources (especially Galen and Hippocrates), social history, and archaeology (the latter including all manner of finds - architecture, art, artifacts, environmental materials, and skeletal remains) to examine how residents of the Greek and Roman world perceived and experienced health and disease, and how they sought to combat illness and to promote healing.
Cross-listed: Anthropology ANTH-3262/3 and Kinesiology and Applied Health KIN-3060/3.

CLAS-3090/3 Classical and Medieval Science

This lecture/seminar course examines the theories, experiments, and calculations of Greek, Roman, and European scientists before the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century. As well as considering the work of the major contributors to astronomy, physics, and mathematics in this period, the course places their ideas and the work of the schools of Greece, Rome, and medieval Europe within their social, cultural, and intellectual contexts.
Cross-listed: History HIST-3903/3.

CLAS-3310/3 Alexander the Great

This course looks at the life and conquests of Alexander the Great. It begins with a chronological examination of the rise of Macedon under Alexander’s father, Philip II, Alexander’s early life, his conquest of the Persian Empire, and ultimately, his death. Four major themes are then explored: Alexander’s military and its evolution, his relationship to mainland Greece, Alexander’s empire, and his divinity.
Cross-listed: History HIST-3140/3.

CLAS-3320/3 Death in Antiquity

This course approaches various aspects relating to death in antiquity (emphasizing Roman antiquity) from the perspective of two disciplines, Anthropology and Classics. Topics include beliefs and philosophies about the afterlife; causes of death, with emphasis on diseases and demographics; the practicalities of planning for death and disposing of the dead; the methods and significance of commemoration; rituals of grief and mourning; spatial distribution of cemeteries in antiquity; methods and theories in mortuary archaeology from classical sites; and analysis of osteological, artifactual, and architectural data from such sites. Contemplation of cross-cultural comparisons on these and other topics under study is encouraged.
Cross-listed: Anthropology ANTH-3261.

CLAS-3754/3 Ancient Epic in Translation

By reading works of ancient epic in translation by important ancient authors (e.g. Homer, Apollonius, Vergil, Ovid, Lucan, Statius), students are introduced to the literary characteristics of the genre and their strategic deployment. The literary and historical contexts of specific epics are discussed in order to make their cultural significance clear.
Cross-listed: English ENGL-3754/3.

CLAS-3755/3 Ancient Drama in Translation

Students read the works of ancient tragic poets (e.g. Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Seneca) and of ancient comic poets (e.g. Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, Terence) in translation. Literary conventions of both ancient tragedy and comedy are addressed. The plays are situated within their broader historical and festival contexts to make clear their cultural significance.
Cross-listed: English ENGL-3755/3.

CLAS-3830/3 Kingdoms and City-States

This course focuses on a particular kingdom or city-state of the ancient world. The topic draws upon evidence from the ancient textual evidence, archaeology, and cultural and social history in the light of modern theory and scholarship. The instructor and the focus of study vary from year to year. Information concerning these course offerings is provided by the Department. Additional in-depth work is required to receive credit at the 4000 level.
Cross-listed: History HIST-3011/3 and Classics CLAS-4830/3.

CLAS-3840/3 Provinces and Subjects

This course focuses on a particular Roman province or subject population of the Roman Empire. The topic draws upon evidence from the ancient textual evidence, archaeology, and cultural and social history in the light of modern theory and scholarship. The instructor and the focus of study vary from year to year. Information concerning these course offerings is provided by the Department. Additional in-depth work is required to receive credit at the 4000 level.
Cross-listed: History HIST-3010/3 and Classics CLAS-4840/3.

CLAS-3850/3 Eras

This course focuses on a specific era, or time period, in ancient and/or classical history. The topic draws upon evidence from the ancient textual evidence, archaeology, and cultural and social history in the light of modern theory and scholarship. The instructor and the focus of study vary from year to year. Information concerning these course offerings is provided by the Department. Additional in-depth work is required to receive credit at the 4000 level.
Cross-listed: History HIST-3009/3 and Classics CLAS-4850/3.

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