HIST231

This course provides an introduction to the history of ancient Greece, spanning a thousand years from the Bronze Age down to the time of Alexander the Great. Topics to be discussed include the interactions between Greece and other ancient civilizations, the origins and development of Greek city-states (especially Athens and Sparta), and the development of local and panhellenic identities. Within this historical framework, close attention will be given not only to political institutions but also to the social and cultural values that shaped them. Students will read a variety of ancient texts in translation, along with some modern scholarship; the emphasis will be on learning how to make critical use of sources to discuss and debate historical questions.

All Years

Fall Semester