Ancient Greece is famous for its many innovations—technological, social, philosophical—that have had an outsized influence on the Eurocentric world. Athens of the 6th and 5th c. BCE saw the birth of democracy, theater, and trial by jury. The conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th c. BCE stretched from Egypt to Afghanistan and created a multicultural space that saw a fluorescence in the visual, literary, and scientific arts. From the 4th c. CE, the Byzantine Empire continued the legacy of the Roman Empire and established Christianity as a force in the world.
CLAS-C 351 explores the innovations across time of Ancient Greece, as a window into societies, ancient and modern. Drawing on literary and archaeological evidence, the course addresses fascinating topics, such as:
- the development of Ancient Greece as a multicultural society in a multicultural world
- scientific, philosophical, military, and artistic innovations in the ancient world
- the role of empires and the military in cultural change
- the legacy of Ancient Greece in the modern world
- and more!!
Most importantly, you will learn to think critically about important questions: How was ancient society organized? How do we interpret different types of evidence about the past, including written and archaeological sources? How do ancient cultures continue to shape the world we inhabit today?
Want to explore how this course connects with the modern world? Check out our blog posts inspired by this course.
Fun Facts:
- combined with HIST-C 395
- offered in person
- 3 credits
- can be applied to the History Minor and Classical Studies Minor.
Coming Next: Spring 2025
Spring 2023
- TR 10:30 – 11:45 AM (Dr. Andy Findley)
