A broad survey of texts, literary, philosophical, and sociological, studied to trace the growth of secular humanism, the loss of a supernatural perspective upon human events, and changing conceptions of individual, social, and communal purpose. Stresses appreciation and analysis of texts that came to represent the common cultural possession of our time. The leading theme of this course is the question of the difference between the ancient and the modern world. Students who have taken Foundations of Western Culture I will obviously have an advantage in dealing with this question. Classroom discussion approaches this question mainly through consideration of action and characters, voice and form.

Tags: action ancient characters civilization common communal cultural culture discussion european events form foundations human humanism individual literary literature medieval modern modernism philosophical possession purpose renaissance secular social sociological studies texts voice western world

This course focuses on the archaeology of the Greek and Roman city. It investigates the relationship between urban architecture and the political, social, and economic role of cities in the Greek and Roman world. Analyzes a range of archaeological and literary evidence relevant to the use of space in Greek and Roman cities (e.g. Athens, Paestum, Rome, Pompeii) and a range of theoretical frameworks for the study of ancient urbanism.

Tags: ancient archaeology architecture athens city civilization economic evidence frameworks greece greek history literary paestum planning political pompeii roman rome social space studies theoretical urban urbanism

History of Ancient Greece from the Bronze Age to the death of Alexander. Major social, economic, political, and religious trends. Homer, heroism, and the Greek identity; the hoplite revolution and the rise of the city-state; Herodotus, Persia, and the (re)birth of history; Empire, Thucydidean rationalism, and the Peloponnesian War; Platonic constructs; Aristotle, Macedonia, and Hellenism. Emphasis on use of primary sources in translation.

Tags: age alexander ancient aristotle bronze civilization constructs death economic empire european greece greek hellenism herodotus heroism history homer hoplite identity macedonia peloponnesian persia platonic political primary rationalism religious revolution social sources studies thucydidean translation trends war

History of Rome from its humble beginnings to the fifth century A.D. First half: Kingship to Republican form; the conquest of Italy; Roman expansion: Pyrrhus, Punic Wars and provinces; classes, courts, and the Roman revolution; Augustus and the formation of empire. Second half: Virgil to the Vandals; major social, economic, political and religious trends at Rome and in the provinces. Emphasis on use of primary sources in translation.

Tags: ancient augustus century civilization classes conquest courts economic empire european expansion fifth form general history italy kingship origins political primary provinces punic pyrrhus religious republican revolution roman rome social sources studies translation trends vandals virgil wars world

Survey of the social, cultural, and political development of western Europe between 500 and 1300. Topics include: the Germanic conquest of the ancient Mediterranean world; the Carolingian Renaissance; feudalism and the breakdown of political order; the crusades; the quality of religious life; the experience of women; and the emergence of a revitalized economy and culture in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

Tags: ancient barbarian byzantine carolingian charlemagne civilization conquest crusades cultural culture development economy empire england europe european feudalism germanic gothic high history islamic life medieval mediterranean monarchy political politics religion religious renaissance rome social studies western women

Archaeology reconstructs ancient human activities and their environmental contexts. Drawing on case studies in contrasting environmental settings from the Near East and Mesoamerica, considers these activities and the forces that shaped them. In laboratory sessions students encounter various classes of archaeological data and analyze archaeological artifacts made from materials such as stone, bone, ceramics, glass, and metal. These analyses help reconstruct the past.

Tags: age agriculture ancient civilization collapse decline engineering gatherer grid history human hunter materials maya mercator mesoamerica natufian neolithic olmec prehistoric prehistory science society stone studies sumer technology tehuancan transverse universal urbanization uruk utm