Contacts | Programs of Study | Language and Literature Variant | Language Intensive Variant | Greek and Roman Cultures Variant | Grading | Honors | Minor Program in Classical Studies | Prizes and Grants | Courses
Department Website: http://classics.uchicago.edu
Programs of Study
The BA degree in Classical Studies allows students to explore Greek and Roman antiquity in a variety of ways and provides excellent preparation for careers that require strong skills in interpretation and writing, such as teaching, scholarly research, law, and publishing, and in the humanities in general. Students may choose from the following three variants based on their preparation, interests, and goals:
- The Language and Literature Variant combines the study of Greek and Latin texts with coverage of diverse areas, including art and archaeology, history, philosophy, religion, and science.
- The Language Intensive Variant focuses on languages with the aim of reading a larger selection of texts in the original languages; it is designed especially for those who wish to pursue graduate studies in classics.
- The Greek and Roman Cultures Variant emphasizes courses in art and archaeology, history, material culture, and texts in translation.
Each of our variants has additional requirements. Current and prospective majors should review carefully the variant requirements linked above.
All courses taken to fulfill the requirements of the major must be taken for quality grades. The introductory first-year sequences in Greek and in Latin may be taken for Pass/Fail grading only if they are not being used to meet language requirements for the major.
Students in other fields of study may also complete a minor in Classical Studies. Information follows the description of the major.
Language and Literature Variant
The Language and Literature variant combines the study of Greek and Latin texts with coverage of diverse areas, including art and archaeology, history, philosophy, religion, and science. It allows students to focus their language study exclusively on Greek or on Latin, or they may study both languages with an emphasis on one or the other.
- Six courses (or the equivalent) in Greek and/or Latin, including the intermediate level (20100-20200-20300) or above in at least one of those languages. Examples of ways to satisfy the language requirement include: LATN 20100-20200-20300 Intermediate Latin I-II-III AND LATN 21100 Roman Elegy-LATN 21219 Philosophical Prose: Cicero, Tusculan Disputations-LATN 21300 Vergil; OR LATN 20100-20200-20300 Intermediate Latin I-II-III AND GREK 10100-10200-10300 Introduction to Attic Greek I-II-III.
- Six courses in Greek or Roman art, history, philosophy, religion, science, material culture, or classical literature in translation, with courses divided between at least two of those fields and with approval of the director of undergraduate studies. Any course that carries a Classical Civilization listing meets this requirement. Other eligible courses are offered in disciplines such as Art History, Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities, Philosophy, and Political Science. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
- By the end of the Spring Quarter of their third year, students are required to submit to the director of undergraduate studies a research skills paper of around 10–12 pages as a Word or PDF file in an email attachment. The paper will normally substitute for a final paper in a Greek (above 20300), Latin (above 20300), Classical Civilization, or Classics course. Students will be expected to develop a reasoned argument on a particular topic, based not only on primary materials (ancient literary texts; material culture; etc.) but also on research of relevant secondary bibliography. Students should declare at the start of the quarter if they wish to take a certain course in conjunction with the research skills paper and should work closely throughout the quarter with the faculty instructor, who must approve the paper as satisfying the requirement.
- CLCV 29500 Senior Seminar. The Senior Seminar takes place over two quarters (Autumn and Winter), and students register for it as a single course in one of those two quarters. The Senior Seminar is a requirement for all Classics majors, whether they are writing a BA paper or not.
Summary of Requirements: Language and Literature Variant
Six courses in Greek or Latin * | 600 | |
Six courses in Classical Civilization (CLCV) divided between at least TWO of the following fields: Greek or Roman art, history, philosophy, science, religion, material culture, or classical literature in translation | 600 | |
CLCV 29500 | Senior Seminar | 100 |
Total Units | 1300 |
* | Must include the intermediate level (20100-20200-20300) or above in at least one of those two languages. |
Language Intensive Variant
The Language Intensive Variant is designed for students who expect to continue Classical Studies at the graduate level. It aims to provide the level of linguistic proficiency in both Greek and Latin that is commonly expected of applicants to rigorous graduate programs. The program assumes that, in addition to the requirements for the major, students have completed, or have credit for, a year of language study in either Greek or Latin. Students must also use some of their general electives to meet the language requirements of this program variant.
No course that is used to meet one of the following requirements may be used simultaneously to meet a requirement under any other category.
- Six courses (or the equivalent) in one classical language (Greek or Latin) at the 20000 level or above.
- Six courses (or the equivalent) in the other classical language, three of which may be at the introductory level.
- Four courses in Greek or Roman art, history, philosophy, religion, science, material culture, or classical literature in translation, with courses divided between at least two of those fields, and with approval of the director of undergraduate studies. Any course that carries a Classical Civilization listing meets this requirement. Other eligible courses are offered in disciplines such as Art History, Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities, Philosophy, and Political Science. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
- By the end of the Spring Quarter of their third year, students are required to submit to the director of undergraduate studies a research skills paper of around 10–12 pages as a Word or PDF file in an email attachment. The paper will normally substitute for a final paper in a Greek (above 20300), Latin (above 20300), Classical Civilization, or Classics course. Students will be expected to develop a reasoned argument on a particular topic, based not only on primary materials (ancient literary texts; material culture; etc.) but also on research of relevant secondary bibliography. Students should declare at the start of the quarter if they wish to take a certain course in conjunction with the research skills paper and should work closely throughout the quarter with the faculty instructor, who must approve the paper as satisfying the requirement.
- CLCV 29500 Senior Seminar. The Senior Seminar takes place over two quarters (Autumn and Winter), and students register for it as a single course in one of those two quarters. The Senior Seminar is a requirement for all Classics majors, whether they are writing a BA paper or not.
Summary of Requirements: Language Intensive Variant
Six courses in Greek * | 600 | |
Six courses in Latin * | 600 | |
Four courses in Classical Civilization (CLCV) divided between at least TWO of the following fields: Greek or Roman art, history, philosophy, science, religion, material culture, or classical literature in translation | 400 | |
CLCV 29500 | Senior Seminar | 100 |
Total Units | 1700 |
* | Six courses in one classical language (Greek or Latin) at the 20000 level or above, and six courses in the other language, three of which may be at the introductory level. |
Greek and Roman Cultures Variant
This variant is designed for students who are interested in ancient Greece and Rome but wish to focus more on history (political, intellectual, religious, social) and material culture than on language and literature. Because the program allows many courses taught in other departments to count toward the major, it is especially suited to students who declare their major late or who wish to complete two majors.
The program assumes that, in addition to requirements for the major, students have met the general education requirement in civilization studies by taking two or three courses in a sequence related to the Ancient Mediterranean World: HIST 16700-16800-16900 Ancient Mediterranean World I-II-III; Rome: Antiquity to the Baroque sequence (taught in Rome); or Athens: Greek Antiquity and Its Legacy sequence (taught in Athens). Students who have met the general education requirement in civilization studies with a different sequence should complete one of these three sequences, which may then count toward the nine courses in classical civilization required for the major.
No course that is used to meet one of the following requirements may be used simultaneously to meet a requirement under any other category.
- Three courses in Greek or Latin (or the equivalent) at a level appropriate to the student’s prior competency, including at least one course at or above the 10300 level.
- Nine courses in Greek or Roman art, history, philosophy, religion, science, material culture, or classical literature in translation, with courses divided between at least four of those fields, and with approval of the director of undergraduate studies. Any course that carries a Classical Civilization listing meets this requirement. Other eligible courses are offered in disciplines such as Art History, Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities, Philosophy, and Political Science. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
- By the end of the Spring Quarter of their third year, students are required to submit to the director of undergraduate studies a research skills paper of around 10–12 pages as a Word or PDF file in an email attachment. The paper will normally substitute for a final paper in a Greek (above 20300), Latin (above 20300), Classical Civilization, or Classics course. Students will be expected to develop a reasoned argument on a particular topic, based not only on primary materials (ancient literary texts; material culture; etc.) but also on research of relevant secondary bibliography. Students should declare at the start of the quarter if they wish to take a certain course in conjunction with the research skills paper and should work closely throughout the quarter with the faculty instructor, who must approve the paper as satisfying the requirement.
- CLCV 29500 Senior Seminar. The Senior Seminar takes place over two quarters (Autumn and Winter), and students register for it as a single course in one of those two quarters. The Senior Seminar is a requirement for all Classics majors, whether they are writing a BA paper or not.
Summary of Requirements: Greek and Roman Cultures Variant
3 courses in Greek or Latin | 300 | |
Nine courses in Classical Civilization (CLCV) divided between at least FOUR of the following fields: Greek or Roman art, history, philosophy, science, religion, material culture, or classical literature in translation | 900 | |
CLCV 29500 | Senior Seminar | 100 |
Total Units | 1300 |
Senior Seminar and BA Paper
Candidates for the BA degree in all variants of the Classical Studies major are required to take CLCV 29500 Senior Seminar in their fourth year. Writing a BA Paper is not required for the BA in Classical Studies, but it is required for graduation with special honors.
The Senior Seminar serves as a capstone experience for the class of graduating majors and an opportunity to reflect on the field of Classical Studies as an academic discipline. The purpose of the BA paper, for students who opt to write one, is to enable students to improve their research and writing skills, and to give them an opportunity to focus their knowledge of the field upon an issue of their own choosing.
In their third year, by Monday of eighth week of Spring Quarter, students planning to write a BA Paper must submit to the director of undergraduate studies a short statement proposing an area of research. The statement should include an abstract of a paragraph or more, outlining the problem that you wish to tackle and sketching the argument you hope to elaborate in response. You can, if you wish, discuss questions of method or earlier scholarship. You should make reference here, with as much specificity as possible, to the primary sources on which you will draw to substantiate your claim.
The statement must be approved in writing by a member of the Classics faculty who agrees to be the director of the BA paper. In certain cases, students may have two co-chairs, including one member of the Classics faculty and one faculty member from another department. Classics faculty at the level of associate professor and above may advise up to three BA papers, while assistant professors may advise as many as two papers. Students needing assistance in finding a faculty member with whom to work should consult with the director of undergraduate studies.
Students may register for CLCV 29500 Senior Seminar in either Autumn or Winter Quarter of their fourth year, but they are expected to participate in seminar meetings throughout both quarters. (Students enrolled in programs of study abroad in their fourth year should discuss accommodations with the director of undergraduate studies.) In addition to the Senior Seminar meetings, BA Paper writers will meet separately to discuss research problems and compose preliminary drafts of their BA Papers. Participants in the BA Paper meetings are expected to exchange criticism and ideas with each other and with the preceptor/course assistant, as well as to take account of comments from their faculty readers.
For students not writing a BA Paper, the Senior Seminar grade is based on assignments, presentations, and participation over the Autumn and Winter Quarters. For BA Paper writers, the grade for the Senior Seminar is identical to the grade for the BA Paper and, therefore, is not reported to the Registrar until the paper has been submitted in Spring Quarter. The grade for the BA Paper depends on participation in the Senior Seminar as well as on the quality of the paper. At the end of Autumn Quarter, a provisional grade for the Senior Seminar will be assigned to each student.
The deadline for submitting the BA Paper in final form is Friday of third week of Spring Quarter. This deadline represents the formal submission, which is final; students should expect to submit and defend substantial drafts much earlier. Both hard copies and digital copies are to be submitted to the faculty director, seminar preceptor, and director of undergraduate studies, unless otherwise indicated. Students who fail to meet the deadline will not be eligible for honors consideration.
Students who undertake a double major may, in some cases, write a single BA Paper satisfying both majors. In order to qualify for special honors in Classical Studies, this combined paper must have a substantial focus on texts or issues of the classical period, and must have a Classics faculty member as a reader. CLCV 29500 Senior Seminar (the two-quarter Senior Seminar) is required of all students majoring in Classical Studies, whether as a double major or as a single major. The use of a single essay to count as a BA Paper in two majors requires approval from directors of undergraduate studies in both majors. The Petition to Use a Single Bachelor's Paper for Two Majors consent form, to be signed by the directors of undergraduate studies, is available from the College advisers. It must be completed and returned to the College adviser by the end of Autumn Quarter of the student's year of graduation.
Grading
All courses taken to meet requirements in the major or minor must be taken for quality grades.
Honors
To be recommended for honors, a student (1) must maintain an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher and a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the major and (2) must also demonstrate superior ability in the BA paper to interpret Greek or Latin source material and to develop a coherent argument. For a student to be recommended for honors, the BA paper must be judged worthy of honors by the faculty director, preceptor, and an additional faculty committee. Before the end of the Winter Quarter, the director of undergraduate studies will consult with both the faculty director and the BA preceptor to ascertain which students in the BA Seminar are likely to be nominated for honors and which papers will be forwarded to the faculty committee.
Minor Program in Classical Studies
The minor in Classical Studies requires a total of six courses in Greek (GREK), Latin (LATN), or Classical Civilization (CLCV). Of these six courses:
- Only three may be elementary language courses (e.g., GREK 10100-10200-10300 Introduction to Attic Greek I-II-III).
- CLCV courses (1) may not be double-counted with the student’s major(s) or with other minors and (2) may not be counted toward general education requirements.
Students must meet with the director of undergraduate studies before the end of Spring Quarter of their third year to declare their intention to complete the minor. Students choose courses in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. The director’s approval for the minor program should be submitted to the student’s College adviser by the deadline above on the Consent to Complete a Minor Program form, obtained from the College adviser or online.
The following groups of courses would comprise a minor. Other programs may be designed in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. Minor program requirements are subject to revision.
Sample 1:
GREK 10100-10200-10300 | Introduction to Attic Greek I-II-III | 300 |
GREK 20100-20200-20300 | Intermediate Greek I-II-III | 300 |
Total Units | 600 |
Sample 2:
LATN 10100-10200-10300 | Introduction to Classical Latin I-II-III | 300 |
Any three CLCV courses* | 300 | |
Total Units | 600 |
* | CLCV courses (1) may not be double-counted with the student’s major(s) or with other minors and (2) may not be counted toward general education requirements. |
Prizes and Grants
The Arthur Adkins Summer Research Fellowship is expected to be worth $5,000 this year. The fellowship is targeted to third-year undergraduates who are bound for graduate school, and it provides means and opportunity for the writing of a superior research paper on any aspect of the ancient world from the Bronze Age through Late Antiquity. It may be used for travel to classical sites and collections or to other research centers, and/or for living expenses during a summer devoted to research between the third and fourth year. Applicants must submit to the Classics Department Administrator (by the first Friday of Spring Quarter) a transcript, a statement (2–3 pages) outlining their project and its relationship to existing knowledge in the field, a plan of research together with a provisional budget for the summer, and a letter from a faculty supervisor. A written report of what was accomplished during the period of the fellowship must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by the first week of the following Autumn Quarter.
This fellowship is not limited to Classical Studies majors and minors, or even to students of Greek and Latin, and although it may be used for research abroad, it does not require such research. But it does require that a student have a well-developed research project by the time of application.
The David Grene Fellowship is expected to be worth $5,000 this year. The fellowship is targeted to undergraduates whose intellectual interests in the classical world have led them to an area of knowledge which they are unable to pursue during the regular academic year, and it allows them an opportunity to explore that interest through independent study during the summer before graduation. The independent study may involve training in a new discipline such as paleography or numismatics, first-hand experience of ancient sites and artifacts, or ancillary language study. It may be carried out under the auspices of an organized program like the American School of Classical Studies at Athens or the American Academy in Rome, or it may be tailored entirely according to the student's own plan. Applicants must submit to the Classics Department Administrator (by the first Friday of Spring Quarter) a transcript, project statement (2–3 pages), a provisional budget, and a faculty letter of recommendation. A written report of what was accomplished during the period of the fellowship must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by the first week of the following Autumn Quarter.
This fellowship is not limited to Classical Studies majors and minors, or even to students of Greek and Latin, and it need not directly involve the study of classics, but applicants must be able to demonstrate a background of interest in the classical world.
The Pausanias Summer Research Fellowship is expected to be worth $5,000 this year. The fellowship provides support to an undergraduate student in Classical Studies for research abroad in sites of interest for classical studies. It may be used to pursue a project of the student's own design or to participate in appropriate institutional programs abroad. Applicants must submit to the Classics Department Administrator (by the first Friday of Spring Quarter) a transcript, project statement (2–3 pages), provisional budget, and a faculty letter of recommendation. A written report of what was accomplished during the period of the fellowship must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by the first week of the following Autumn Quarter.
This fellowship is limited to Classical Studies majors and minors.
The John G. Hawthorne Travel Prize is expected to be worth $5,000 this year. The prize is given to an outstanding undergraduate student of classical languages, literature, or civilization for travel to Greece or Italy or for study of classical materials in other countries. It may be used to pursue a project of the student's own design or to participate in appropriate programs conducted in Greece or Italy. Applicants must submit to the Classics Department Administrator (by the first Friday of Spring Quarter) a transcript, project statement (2–3 pages), provisional budget, and a faculty letter of recommendation. A written report of what was accomplished during the period of the prize must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by the first week of the following Autumn Quarter.
This prize is open to any student who has taken a GREK, LATN, or CLCV course in the College, and may be used for travel in Greece and/or Italy, or for classics-related study there or in other appropriate locations.
The Leon Golden Undergraduate Research Fellowship is expected to be worth $5,000 this year. The fellowship is intended to enable undergraduates majoring in Classical Studies to develop an original research project in the field or to pursue training in ancillary studies that will enrich their work in classics. Applicants must submit to the Classics Department Administrator (by the first Friday of Spring Quarter) a transcript, a statement (2–3 pages) outlining their project together with a provisional budget, and a letter from a faculty supervisor. A written report of what was accomplished during the period of the fellowship must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by the first week of the following Autumn Quarter.
This fellowship is limited to Classical Studies majors, and it requires that a student have a well-developed project by the time of application.
The Nancy P. Helmbold Travel Award is expected to be worth $5,000 this year. It is awarded to an outstanding undergraduate student of Greek and/or Latin for travel to Greece or Italy. Applicants must submit to the Classics Department Administrator (by the first Friday of Spring Quarter) a transcript, an itinerary or project statement (2–3 pages), proposed budget, and a faculty letter of recommendation. A written report of what was accomplished during the period of the award must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by the first week of the following Autumn Quarter.
This award requires a student to have taken a GREK or LATN course (not merely a CLCV course) in the College. It may or may not be used for study or research, but it must be used in Greece and/or Italy.
The Paul Shorey Foreign Travel Grant is expected to be worth $3,000 this year. The grant is given to a student of Greek or Latin who has been accepted to participate in the Athens Program or the Rome Program of the College, and it is to be used to defray costs incurred in the program. The terms of the grant stipulate that it is to be awarded to a "needy and deserving" student. Students who have been accepted into one of the programs and who wish to be considered for the Shorey grant are invited to submit statements explaining their need by the first Friday of Spring Quarter.
The Classics Prize is a cash award of $500 made annually to the student who graduates with the best record of achievement in the Classical Studies major.
Examples of past successful application statements for the summer awards are available from the undergraduate prize coordinator, Peter White, or the director of undergraduate studies, David Wray.
Offered through the Society for Classical Studies (SCS):
The Lionel Pearson Fellowship seeks to contribute to the training of American and Canadian classicists by providing for a period of study at an English or Scottish university. The competition is open to students majoring in Classics, or closely related fields. Fellows must undertake a course of study that broadens and develops their knowledge of Greek and Latin literature in the original languages; candidates should therefore have a strong background in the classical languages. Normally, the recipient will hold the fellowship in the academic year immediately after graduating with a bachelor’s degree. The term of the fellowship is one year. The recipient may use the fellowship for part of a longer program of study, but under no circumstances will support from the fellowship extend beyond one year. Fellows are responsible for seeking and obtaining admission to the English or Scottish university where they intend to study.
The maximum amount of the fellowship will be $24,000, which may be used to offset academic fees, travel expenses, housing and subsistence costs, and book purchases. The fellowship amount ($24,000) is the maximum that the SCS can award, but the Faculties of Classics of both Oxford and Cambridge Universities have generously offered to support the tuition expenses of any Pearson Fellow enrolled at their institution. In these instances funds provided by the SCS should be adequate to offset the fellow’s other expenses, and the SCS will attempt (but it cannot guarantee) to obtain a similar accommodation from another institution in the UK should the fellow attend a university other than Oxford or Cambridge. Note: The SCS cannot guarantee tuition support from other Faculties at Oxford and Cambridge (such as Philosophy or History). Students should be aware that if they can pursue their preferred course of study under the rubric of Classics, it would be to their advantage.
Candidates for the fellowship require nomination by the director of undergraduate studies by the end of the Spring Quarter for a rising fourth-year student. The Department of Classics may only nominate one student, and therefore requests that interested students submit the following materials by Friday of eighth week in the Spring Quarter of their third year:
- A current copy of your transcript
- One paragraph on why you would like to be nominated for the Pearson Fellowship, briefly suggesting what you might like to do with it. This should include which university or universities you are interested in attending, with whom you would like to work, and what kind of topic you would like to research and/or why you think a year doing so in the UK would be especially beneficial for you.
See more information at https://classicalstudies.org/awards-and-fellowships/lionel-pearson-fellowship.
Classical Civilization Courses
CLCV 20091. Field Archaeology. 100 Units.
This course entails four weeks of full-time, hands-on training in field archaeology in an excavation directed by a University of Chicago faculty member. At the Tell Keisan site in Israel, students will learn techniques of excavation and digital recording of the finds; attend evening lectures; and participate in weekend field trips. Academic requirements include the completion of assigned readings and a final written examination. For more information about this archaeological field opportunity in Summer 2020, see http://keisan.uchicago.edu. Students who are enrolled in this course will pay a Summer Session tuition fee in addition to the cost of participation in the dig. UChicago College students are eligible to apply for College Research Scholar grants to fund their participation.
Instructor(s): David Schloen
Equivalent Course(s): HIST 20091, CLAS 30091, NEAA 20091, ANTH 26612
CLCV 20122. Heaven, Hell, and Life After Death. 100 Units.
What happens after people die? Nothing at all? Does the same thing happen to everyone after death, or is there some form of postmortem reward and punishment? If heaven exists, what is heaven like? How do beliefs about life after death influence behavior in this life? This course engages with these questions as we explore the development and diversity of afterlife beliefs in Judaism and Christianity, from antiquity to the present day. We will pay special attention to the various functions of afterlife beliefs at different points in history, including in our contemporary society. Is Marx correct that belief in heaven and eternal life legitimizes the social order and contributes to oppression on earth? Conversely, does the idea of postmortem rewards and punishments actually contribute to a more just society by motivating individuals to strive to live virtuously? By the end of the course, students will not only be familiar with Jewish and Christian conceptions of the afterlife, but also conversant in perspectives on postmortem existence found in classical philosophy that continue to inform how we think about death in the contemporary world. There are no prerequisites.
Instructor(s): Christine R. Trotter Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 20113, JWSC 20113
CLCV 20222. Greek and Near Eastern Creation Stories. 100 Units.
This course will offer a comparative view of Greek traditions about the origin of the world (cosmogony) and the origin of the gods (theogony), and the multiple layers on which they were entangled with Near Eastern narratives. On the Greek side, we will focus on Hesiod, Homer, and the Orphic poems. Near Eastern sources will include Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hittite, Phoenician, and Hebrew texts. The reading of primary sources will be done in translation (though students are always encouraged to check the texts in the original language for closer reading and discussion, if training allows). We will engage with secondary bibliography, especially works that take a comparative approach or discuss the comparative method. We will discuss the methodological challenges and advantages of comparative mythology and the phenomenon of cultural exchange, as revealed in these mythical and literary connection.
Instructor(s): Carolina López-Ruiz Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 20210, NEHC 20210
CLCV 20400. Who Were (Are) the Greeks? 100 Units.
If the current resurgence of interest in ethnic studies is a direct reflection of a contemporary upsurge in ethnic conflict throughout the world, it remains the case that notions of peoplehood and belonging have been of periodic importance throughout history. This course will study the various expressions of Greek identity within shifting political, social, and cultural contexts from prehistory to the present day, though with a strong emphasis on classical antiquity. Particular attention will be given to theoretical issues such as anthropological definitions of ethnicity, the difference between ethnic and cultural identities, methods for studying ethnicity in historical societies, and the intersection of ethnicity with politics. Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 30400,CLCV 20400,HIST 30701,ANCM 30400
Instructor(s): J. Hall Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): ANCM 30400, HIST 20701, HIST 30701, CLAS 30400
CLCV 20700-20800-20900. Ancient Mediterranean World I-II-III.
Available as a three-quarter sequence (Autumn-Winter-Spring) or as a two-quarter sequence (Autumn-Winter or Winter-Spring). This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies. This sequence surveys the social, economic, and political history of Greece to the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC), the Roman Republic (509 to 27 BC), and late antiquity (27 BC to the fifth century AD).
CLCV 20700. Ancient Mediterranean World I: Greece. 100 Units.
This course surveys the social, economic, and political history of Greece from prehistory to the Hellenistic period. The main topics considered include the development of the institutions of the Greek city-state, the Persian Wars and the rivalry of Athens and Sparta, the social and economic consequences of the Peloponnesian War, and the eclipse and defeat of the city-states by the Macedonians.
Instructor(s): J. Hall Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies.
Equivalent Course(s): SOSC 27710, HIST 16700
CLCV 20800. Ancient Mediterranean World II: Rome. 100 Units.
Part II surveys the social, economic, and political history of Rome, from its prehistoric beginnings in the twelfth century BCE to the end of the Severan dynasty in 235 CE. Throughout, the focus will be upon the dynamism and adaptability of Roman society, as it moved from a monarchy to a republic to an empire. The course will also cover the questions of social organization (free and unfree people, foreigners), gender relations, religion, and specific forms of the way of life of the Romans. It will be based both on lectures and on discussions of textual or archaeological documents in smaller discussion groups.
Instructor(s): C. Ando Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies.
Equivalent Course(s): SOSC 16800, HIST 16800
CLCV 20900. Ancient Mediterranean World III: Late Antiquity. 100 Units.
Part III examines late antiquity, a period of paradox. The later Roman emperors established the most intensive, pervasive state structures of the ancient Mediterranean, yet yielded their northern and western territories to Goths, Huns, Vandals, and, ultimately, their Middle Eastern core to the Arab Muslims. Imperial Christianity united the populations of the Roman Mediterranean in the service of one God, but simultaneously divided them into competing sectarian factions. A novel culture of Christian asceticism coexisted with the consolidation of an aristocratic ruling class notable for its insatiable appetite for gold. The course will address these apparent contradictions while charting the profound transformations of the cultures, societies, economies, and political orders of the Mediterranean from the conversion of Constantine to the rise of Islam.
Instructor(s): R. Payne Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies.
Equivalent Course(s): MDVL 16900, HIST 16900, SOSC 27910
CLCV 21123. Horses and Humans across Cultures. 100 Units.
Without the tractive force and accelerated motion afforded by horses much of what humans have achieved, for good or ill, would have been impossible. The horse has also been a steady economic, military, artistic, and literary reference, and linguists and historians have even begun accounts of human civilization with the horse. The course will trace the various forms of "symbiosis" that have united humans and horses since their first fateful linkage in Central Asia some 4,000 years ago, down to the rapid and almost complete de-coupling of the past 100 years.
Instructor(s): M. Allen Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 31123
CLCV 21700. Archaeology for Ancient Historians. 100 Units.
This course is intended to act not as an introduction to Classical archæology but as a methods course illuminating the potential contribution of material cultural evidence to ancient historians while at the same time alerting them to the possible misapplications. Theoretical reflections on the relationship between history and archaeology will be interspersed with specific case studies from the Græco-Roman world.
Instructor(s): J. Hall Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 31700, ANCM 31700, HIST 39800, HIST 20901
CLCV 21722. Ancient Empires IV: the Achaemenid Empire. 100 Units.
This course introduces students to the Achaemenid Empire, also known as the First Persian Empire (ca. 550-330 BCE). We will be examining the political history and cultural accomplishments of the Achaemenids who, from their homeland in modern-day Iran, quickly rose to become one of the largest empires of the ancient world, ruling from North Africa to North India at their height. We will also be examining the history of Greek-Persian encounters and the image of the Achaemenids in Greek and Biblical literature. The students will visit the Oriental Institutes' archive and object collection to learn more about the University of Chicago's unique position in the exploration, excavation, and restoration of the Persian Empire's royal architecture and administrative system through the Persian Expedition carried out in the 1930s.
Instructor(s): Mehrnoush Soroush Terms Offered: Autumn
Note(s): Taking these courses in sequence is not required. This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies.
Equivalent Course(s): NEHC 20014, HIST 25602
CLCV 21724. Abandoned knowledge. 100 Units.
From antiquity to the present, there have been knowledge systems-we might call them proto-sciences-- that explained and predicted aspects of the world: alchemy, astrology, the four humors, Aristotle's model for human sexuality, ancient optics, the pre-Copernican universe, even witchcraft. Today these are discredited arts, but thinking about how they arose and why they were believed can shed light upon the nature of the modern sciences as well. In this class, we'll try to use the ancient (mostly Greco-Roman) world to reflect upon the close connection between science and humanities and the enduring relationship between truth and culture.
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 31724, KNOW 21724
CLCV 21922. Broken Mirrors: Writing the Other from Herodotus to the Jewish/Christian. 100 Units.
How are Others represented in Greco-Roman, Jewish, and Christian canons? Is the Other purely a mirror of the self who represents it? Or do self and Other interact? Can we trace and compare patterns of representation and taxonomies for human difference across cultures, genres, regions, periods, and sciences? How can we develop new critical frameworks and concepts for this task, if we refuse to take for granted the categories and conventions of today's academic disciplines? What might this new approach to the Other help us to learn, or unlearn, about the making of "the West"? In order to answer those questions, our course will survey the most influential literary models of the Other, from Herodotus to the early medieval "Life of Jesus" polemic tradition. Beyond developing a new framework for exploring and connecting these diverse sources, it has three historical aims. First, to interrogate the limits of modern anthropology as the institutionalized site for writing and knowing the Other. Second, to reveal the centrality of the figure of the Jew in the prehistory of anthropology, where it plays a neglected but crucial role in the European history of human difference in general. Finally, to expose the premodern roots of "scientific" categories-"primitive," "civilized," "Oriental," "Aryan," "Semite," etc.-where racial, linguistic, religious, and cultural differences still intersect today.
Instructor(s): James Adam Redfield Terms Offered: Spring
Note(s): This course meets the HS or LMCS Committee distribution requirement for Divinity students.
Equivalent Course(s): HREL 37652, RLST 27652, CMLT 37652, JWSC 26603, CLAS 31922, HIJD 37652
CLCV 22123. Digital Humanities for the Ancient World. 100 Units.
This course offers a hands-on introduction to the field of digital humanities with a special focus on ancient Greek and Roman antiquity. We will explore concepts and methods such as digital presentation of text with markup languages, text analysis with programmatic manipulation, map visualization, 3D modeling, and network analysis. Throughout the course, we will take a critical view of the existing online digital resources for Greek and Roman antiquity. The course will include weekly readings and assignments and conclude with a final research project. No advanced computer skills are required. However, students are required to bring their own laptops to class.
Instructor(s): G. Tsolakis Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 32123
CLCV 22216. Italian Renaissance: Petrarch, Machiavelli, and the Wars of Popes and Kings. 100 Units.
Florence, Rome, and the Italian city-states in the age of plagues and cathedrals, Petrarch and Machiavelli, Medici and Borgia (1250-1600), with a focus on literature, philosophy, primary sources, the revival of antiquity, and the papacy's entanglement with pan-European politics. We will examine humanism, patronage, politics, corruption, assassination, feuds, art, music, magic, censorship, education, science, heresy, and the roots of the Reformation. Writing assignments focus on higher level writing skills, with a creative writing component linked to our in-class role-played reenactment of a Renaissance papal election (LARP). First-year students and non-History majors welcome.
Instructor(s): A. Palmer Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Graduate students by consent only; register for the course as HIST 90000 Reading and Research: History.
Note(s): Assignments: short papers, alternative projects.
Equivalent Course(s): FNDL 22204, HIST 12203, RENS 12203, KNOW 12203, MDVL 12203, RLST 22203, ITAL 16000, SIGN 26034
CLCV 22322. Phoenician Religion (In Their Own Words And Those of Their Neighbors) 100 Units.
The Phoenicians were a Canaanite people who maintained their language, religion, and culture until Roman times. One of the main challenges facing the study of the Phoenician religion (and culture in general) is that most of their literature is lost. This course gathers together a variety of emic sources in the Phoenicians' own language or stemming from the Phoenician realm but written in Greek or Latin, as well as sources written by others about the Phoenicians, with a special focus on cult and religious identity. The texts we will read and discuss range from royal, votive, and funerary inscriptions, to the views about the Phoenicians in the Hebrew Bible, and Greek and Roman writers. This course is partly a text-based, reading course, and partly a thematic, culture course.
Instructor(s): Carolina López-Ruiz Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Intermediate knowledge (2 years) of a Semitic language (e.g., Hebrew, Phoenician, Aramaic, Ugaritic, Arabic) OR of ancient Greek and/or Latin.
Note(s): This course meets the HS or LMCS Committee distribution requirement for Divinity students.
Equivalent Course(s): NEHC 22308, RLST 22308, NEHC 42308, CLAS 32322, HREL 42308
CLCV 22323. The family in the Greek and Roman world. 100 Units.
This course examines how family was conceptualized and manifested in the Greek and Roman world. In this class, we will begin by examining key terms related to family (household, kinship, ancestors, descendants) and scholarly approaches to familial studies under the light of different theoretical perspectives. Through the examination of written sources (literary texts, inscriptions, and papyri) and archaeological evidence, we will adopt a thematic approach exploring the ways in which family intersected with several fields of public and domestic life, such as law, adoption, heirship, religion, rituals, education, politics, and public honors.
Instructor(s): G. Tsolakis. Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 32323, GNSE 32323, GNSE 22323
CLCV 22700. History of Philosophy I: Ancient Philosophy. 100 Units.
An examination of ancient Greek philosophical texts that are foundational for Western philosophy, especially the work of Plato and Aristotle. Topics will include: the nature and possibility of knowledge and its role in human life; the nature of the soul; virtue; happiness and the human good.
Instructor(s): John Proios Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the general education requirement in humanities.
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 25000
CLCV 23024. Archaeologies of Gender and Sexuality. 100 Units.
How have archaeologists approached the study of gendered practices, and can their work contribute to theoretical and methodological discussions of gender across the social sciences and humanities? How can we use material objects and things to examine or explain gendered identities, especially in the deep past? In this course, students will engage with a range of research, from different disciplinary perspectives, to explore how gender is situated in archaeological theory and praxis and its political implications. Through multiple case studies, the course will interrogate how archaeologists study, analyze, and interpret material remains to examine gendered ideologies and material practices and their intersections with other social constructs: class, sex, race, ethnicity. Coverage is cross-cultural and aims to expose students to the diversity and variability of gendered and sexual experiences of different people across time and space. Topics include but are not limited to: embodiment and expression, gender roles, sexuality, parenthood and childhood, masculinity, biopolitics, and feminist theory.
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 33024
CLCV 23324. Resilience and decline in East Roman History. 100 Units.
The east Roman empire, also known as Byzantium, survived for over 1,100 years after the foundation of its capital, Constantinople, in 324 AD. In modern European history, it has often been regarded as the paradigmatic case of an empire in a state of perpetual "decline and fall." This is paradoxical, as few states in all human history have survived for as long as it did, while also preserving their identities intact in a context of strong institutional continuity. When we look at the long arc of east Roman history, we see an extraordinary ability to recover from external shocks. This recovery was not only territorial but economic and cultural as well. This course will investigate the sources of that resilience and the factors that enabled east Rome to survive for so long when its "peer" states and rivals - such as the Carolingian empire and the Islamic caliphate - collapsed into pieces within a relatively short time after being founded.
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 33324
CLCV 23424. Race, Rome, and Greece. 100 Units.
How appropriate or useful is the application of the idea of "race" to practices in ancient Greece and Rome? What revelations about the classical or modern and contemporary worlds does the idea of "race" afford? Race has long been considered a modern phenomenon, traceable in such practices as the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Recent scholarship has identified race (or racialization, at least) in the European Medieval period and the Renaissance. In this class, we will evaluate the scholarship of race in classical antiquity and the texts and artifacts upon which it relies.
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 33424
CLCV 23516. Environment and Society in the Ancient Mediterranean. 100 Units.
This seminar examines the interplay between social and environmental actors, practices, and changes across time in the Mediterranean basin, as well as explores the study and analysis of those interactions from the beginnings of classical scholarship to the present. Key themes include: environmental determinism, human and non-human interactions, interpretive approaches to space and place, the role of science in archaeological and historical practice, and the compartmentalization of "environment" and "landscape" as analytic focus. These themes loom large now - during what might be called the "environmental turn" spurred on by the controversial Anthropocene in the humanities and social sciences - and their intensifying resonance provides the basis for critical reflection of past and future trends in classics, history, archaeology, and anthropology.
Instructor(s): C. Kearns. Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): CEGU 23516, CLAS 33516, ENST 23516
CLCV 23524. Constantinople, Byzantine and Ottoman: Crossroads of East and West. 100 Units.
Constantinople (modern Istanbul) was founded in 324 AD to be the capital of the eastern Roman empire. It did this until 1453, when it became the capital of the emerging Ottoman empire, a function that it served until 1922. No city in history has, for so long, served continually as the capital of two successive empires that, in their various incarnations, stradled Europe, Asia, and Africa and played a major role in shaping global politics and world culture. In this course, students will learn about these two parallel histories and cultures through a series of paired thematic units: Foundations; Imperial Cultures; Religious Cultures; and Hagia Sophia (a monument that continues to be a flashpoint for competing claims to the past and modern identities). One week in the middle will be devoted to Transitions, namely to the period around the siege of 1453, before which many Turks lived under east Roman rule and after which most Romans (Greeks) lived under Ottoman rule. The instructors will foster creative dialogue between these two cultures by focusing, in each unit, on exemplary monuments and primary written sources. Students will explore how public authority was claimed and contested, and how each phase of the city's history appropriated or sidelined the legacy of its own past.
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 33524
CLCV 23608. Aristophanes's Athens. 100 Units.
The comedies of Aristophanes are as uproarious, biting, and ribald today as they were more than 2,400 years ago. But they also offer a unique window onto the societal norms, expectations, and concerns as well as the more mundane experiences of Athenians in the fifth century BCE. This course will examine closely a number of Aristophanes' extant plays (in translation) in order to address topics such as the performative, ritual, and political contexts of Attic comedy, the constituency of audiences, the relationship of comedy to satire, the use of dramatic stereotypes, freedom of speech, and the limits of dissent. Please note that this course is rated Mature for adult themes and language.
Instructor(s): J. Hall Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): FNDL 23608, HIST 20803, CLAS 33608, LLSO 20803, ANCM 33900, HIST 30803
CLCV 23712. Aquinas: On God, Being and Evil. 100 Units.
This course considers sections from Saint Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologica. Among the topics considered are God's existence; the relationship between God and Being; and human nature.
Instructor(s): S. Meredith Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): MDVL 20700, RLST 23605, FNDL 20700
CLCV 23809. Pain, Truth, and Justice. 100 Units.
Why should the truth hurt? Does pain guarantee the truth told? Is pain the price of exposure to the truth? Does that make punishment just? In this course, we will take a historical and philosophical approach to examine the relations between pain, truth, and justice. In the premodern period, we will draw from Genesis, Sophocles' Oedipus, Augustine, Tertullian, martyrdom accounts, and public penance in medieval Christianity. To study the theme in the early modern nation-state spectacles of punishment, colonial contexts, and contemporary scenes of justice, we will turn to the writings of Foucault, Fanon, and others. Over the course of the historical and philosophical examinations, we will trace the themes of body, affect, and performance; truth, law, and ritual; power, religion, and the nation-state. In the end, we will turn a critical eye to contemporary cultural discourses and representations of pain, truth, and justice in the arts, law, literature, philosophy, and politics. No prerequisites.
Instructor(s): Maureen Kelly Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): GNSE 23809, RLST 23809, MDVL 23809
CLCV 23820. Debating Christians and Other Adversaries: Greek and Syriac Dialogues in Late Antiquity. 100 Units.
This course will examine the composition and significance of dialogues for Christian polemic and identity formation. The quarter will begin with an overview of dialogues from Classical Antiquity before examining the new directions Christian writers followed as they staged debates with pagans, Jews, Manichaeans, and alleged "heretical" Christians. Reading these works in light of modern scholarship and with an eye to late antique rhetoric, students will gain insights into the ways theological development took place in the crucible of debate.
Instructor(s): Erin Galgay Walsh Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): HCHR 40360, RLST 20360, BIBL 40360, CLAS 33820
CLCV 23823. Suffering, Grief, and Consolation. 100 Units.
Why do people suffer and die? How can we find comfort? Should we hope for a better future, focus our energies on making peace with the present, or attempt to do both? How do we cultivate joy in the midst of adversity? Can pain be productive? The literature of ancient consolation engages these questions as it bears witness to the myriad ways in which ancient Greeks, Romans, Jews, and Christians attempted to comfort suffering people. The goal was not simply to defeat grief, but to replace grief with its opposite, joy. This course introduces students to ancient consolation literature, a genre composed of various literary forms (e.g., funeral orations, consolatory letters, apocalypses, prophecies) but united by a common store of vocabulary, expressions of sympathy, arguments against grief, and exhortations to admirable behavior amid hardship. We will read selections from Cicero, Seneca, Plutarch, the Bible, and various texts of early Judaism and Christianity. At the end of the course, we will bridge the horizons between ancient approaches to consolation and current debates about how to treat grief and facilitate human flourishing during hardship. While there are no prerequisites for the course, if there is sufficient student interest, the course may feature Languages Across the Curriculum (LxC) sessions in which students who have knowledge of Latin will be able to read select course texts (e.g., from Cicero and Seneca) in Latin. Participation in the LxC sessions is elective and s
Instructor(s): Christine R. Trotter Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 23808, JWSC 23808
CLCV 23921. Thucydides and Athenian Democracy at War. 100 Units.
In this course we will closely read the entirety of Thucydides' War of the Peloponnesians and the Athenians. Alongside Thucydides we will read selections from Plutarch's Lives as well as some of the tragedies and comedies of the war years. Our goal will be to read Thucydides' account in its political and cultural context in order to understand both the text and the event that have proved foundational to the western tradition of thinking on democracy, empire, and particularly international relations. Among the questions we will discuss: How did the Athenians' democratic politics and culture influence the course of the war? How did the pursuit of empire influence their practice of democracy? And how can we draw general lessons about war and the conduct of nations from a source so far removed from our own time? The course will conclude with a discussion of the realist tradition of international relations which draws from Thucydides and his account of the war, and of the problems posed by such readings.
Instructor(s): Robert Stone Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): SCTH 20677
CLCV 23923. The Iliad as a Whole. 100 Units.
After a review of the textual history of the Iliad and a consideration of the probable conditions of its composition, a close reading of the text will explore the interrelations of the story on a collective level-military and political-with the personal stories of the leading characters. Some acquaintance with the text in the original
Instructor(s): Jamie Redfield Terms Offered: Autumn. Autumn 2023
Prerequisite(s): Instructor's consent is required for Undergrads.
Note(s): This course will be more valuable to students with some knowledge of the text in the original.
Equivalent Course(s): SCTH 31934, FNDL 27006, SCTH 21934, CLAS 31923
CLCV 24021. Partings, Encounters, and Entangled Histories: The Formation of Judaism and Christianity. 100 Units.
When did the fault lines between Judaism and Christianity emerge? This course explores this question by examining the formation of Judaism and Christianity within the world of the Ancient Mediterranean. What religious views, texts, and practices did Jews and Christians hold in common? How did early writers construct communal boundaries and project "ideal" belief and practice? What role did the changing political tides of the Roman and Persian empires play? We will explore continuities and growing distinctions between Jews and Christians in the areas of scriptural interpretation, ritual practices, and structures of authority. Special attention will be paid to debates around gender and sexuality, healing, and views of government and economics. We will approach these issues through material evidence and close readings of early literature in light of contemporary scholarship. Students interested in modern histories of Judaism and Christianity will gain a firm foundation in the pivotal debates, texts, and events that set the trajectories for later centuries.
Instructor(s): Erin Galgay Walsh Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): No prerequisite knowledge of the historical periods, literature, or religious traditions covered is expected.
Note(s): This course meets the HS or LMCS Committee distribution requirement for Divinity students.
Equivalent Course(s): HIJD 37213, HCHR 37213, CLAS 34021, RLST 27213, NEHC 37213, JWSC 27213, HIST 31600, NEHC 27213, BIBL 37213
CLCV 24519. Dreams in the Ancient World. 100 Units.
Dreams belong to the universals of human existence as human beings have always dreamt and will continue to dream across time and cultures. The questions where do dreams come from and how to unravel a dream have always preoccupied the human mind. In this course we will focus on dreams in the Greco-Roman and Greco-Egyptian cultural environments. We will cover dreams from three complementary perspectives: dreams as experience, dream interpretation and dream theory. The reading materials will include: (a) a selection of dream narratives from different sources, literary texts as well as documentary accounts of dreams; (b) texts which document the forms and contexts of dream interpretation in the Greco-Roman and Greco-Egyptian cultures and (c) texts which represent attempts to approach dreams from a more general perspective by among others explaining their genesis and defining dream-types.
Instructor(s): S. Torallas. Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): ANCM 44519, CLAS 34519, NEHC 20613, HREL 34519, NEHC 30613, RLST 24503
CLCV 24722. On Dialogue: Introduction to a Genre. 100 Units.
The figure of Socrates is famous for engaging Athenians in dialogue, but what was so important and effective about this mode of exchange? How did Socrates' dialogue work as a philosophical exercise? Why was the dialogue suited to mediate between gods, Socrates, and citizens? In this class, we will take a philosophical and historical approach to the genre of dialogue, analyzing key moments in the genre and related texts to trace the relationships between the mode of dialogue, the role of the divinity, the obligations of the citizen, and the formation of the subject. Starting from the dialogue of Socrates, we will read from classical antiquity into the Christian context, with attention to the creative transformations of the genre and the changing notions of subject, god, and citizen. In the final turn, we will return to two canonical texts of modern philosophy, the Dialogues by David Hume and Dialogues by Jean-Jacques Rousseau to examine how modern philosophical texts deploy the mode of dialogue, invoke the classical and Christian modes, and transform the genre again.
Instructor(s): Maureen Kelly Terms Offered: Autumn
Note(s): This course counts as a general literature course or pre-20th century literature course for CRWR students.
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 24715, CMLT 24715
CLCV 24723. Guardians of knowledge: scribes and books from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. 100 Units.
Books have been a fundamental part of the transmission of knowledge and more generally, human communication. They collect thoughts, experiences, feelings, knowledge and ideas into a material artifact that is distributed to an audience of readers. The work of scribes and scholars is the silent agent of this millennial enterprise. The process of book-production involves a large number of different skills from these artisans: material manufacture, preparation of writing surfaces and inks, writing skills, calligraphy, binding, distribution. In this course students will study the history of books, from Antiquity to the invention of the printing press, and their makers. The topics covered will include scribal training, book manufacture, circulation and trade of books, readership, and other such topics around the world of books and scholars. The course will focus on books as artifacts, as transmitters of knowledge and literary creativity.
Instructor(s): Sofía Torallas Tovar. Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): BIBL 34723, NEHC 34723, NEHC 23723, CLAS 34723, RLST 22723
CLCV 24821. Foucault and the Christians: On Ethics, Desire, and The History of Sexuality. 100 Units.
In this course, we will examine the importance of early Christianity in Foucault's History of Sexuality project, with attention to the grounds on which he contrasts sexual ethics in Greco-Roman Antiquity and early Christianity. The course will proceed through close readings of passages of Foucault's late work, in conversation with his interlocutors, and key texts by Plato, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Tertullian, Cassian, and Augustine. Over the course of the readings, we will understand the question Foucault poses on sexual ethics in Antiquity, the nature of the shift in early Christianity, and the stakes of these distinctions for the genealogy of the modern subject. In our philosophical and historical investigation, we will address themes of body, sexuality, and desire; history, tradition, and religion; and the relationship between politics, ethics, and truth.
Instructor(s): Maureen Kelly Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): GNSE 24802, RLST 24802, HIST 21011
CLCV 24918. Early Traveling Writing: Pausanias in Roman Greece. 100 Units.
Through a close reading of Pausanias, who wrote his Description of Greece during the Roman imperial period, this course explores ancient forms of travel writing and associated interests in the places, peoples, myths, ruins, and material objects of the Mediterranean world. Moving from the apparent ethnographic lens of earlier Greek literature to Roman imperialist expeditions, readings and discussions will examine the sociopolitical contexts out of which Pausanias emerged as a literary author, and his legacies in and relationship to the wide array of genres of modern travel writing, from Lewis and Clark to John Steinbeck. Key topics will include: movement through space, tourism, nature, landscape, town and country, sites and spectacles, myth, ritual, and acts of remembering and forgetting.
Instructor(s): Catherine Kearns Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): ANCM 34918, ENST 24918, CLAS 34918, FNDL 24918, CEGU 24918
CLCV 24922. Language Contact: Greek and the World's Languages. 100 Units.
How do languages get into contact? How long do they stay in contact? What is contact-induced language change, and which are the mechanisms that govern it? What do arachnophobia, myalgia, geology, heterophagy mean? In this course we will study language contact and its outcomes, as well as the social and linguistic factors that regulate contact-induced changes. We will examine a wide range of language contact phenomena from both general linguistic and sociolinguistic perspectives, and survey current approaches to all of the major types of contact-induced change (e.g. borrowing). Having Greek (but also other languages) as an example, we will consider linguistic and social aspects of the contact context as well as look into how the particular language has shaped the savant vocabulary of science, philosophy, arts, etc. More precisely, we will offer a brief overview of the history of the Greek language with special emphasis on the Greek vocabulary that Greek language landed or borrowed at different stages of its history as a result of its linguistic contact with other nations and languages. We will start with the Pre-Hellenic phase of Greek and then we focus in Proto-Hellenic, Ancient Greek, Koine, Medieval Greek and finally Modern Greek.
Instructor(s): Zoi Gavriilidou Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): LING 39402, LING 29402, CLAS 34922, RLST 29402, BIBL 39402
CLCV 25319. Gender and Sexuality in Late Antiquity: Precursors and Legacies. 100 Units.
In this course students will trace how gender was theorized and normative behavior was prescribed and enforced in the ancient world. We will begin with materials from the Greco-Roman world, Hebrew Bible, and the Second Temple Period. As the quarter progresses, we will turn our attention to early and late ancient Christian authors, focusing on the way asceticism and emergent ecclesial institutions shaped the lives of women and gender non-conforming individuals. Throughout the course students will learn to navigate the pitfalls and opportunities the study of gender affords for understanding the development of biblical interpretation, the transformation of classical Graeco-Roman culture, and the formation of Christian doctrine. How did Christianity challenge and preserve norms for female behavior? How did Rabbinic and early Christian authors approach questions of sexuality differently? Along the way we will bring 20th-century theorists of sexuality and gender into our conversations to illuminate pre-modern discourses of virginity, sexual experience, and identity. Primarily we will approach texts through a historical lens while paying attention to the theological and ethical issues involved. At the end of the course we will examine the legacy of late ancient debates, tracing how earlier teaching about gender and sexuality co-exists with, challenges, and informs modern secular worldviews.
Instructor(s): Erin Galgay Walsh Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): No languages are required, but there will be ample opportunity for students with skills in Greek, Latin, Syriac, and Hebrew to use them.
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 35319, GNSE 42910, RLST 22910, GNSE 22910, BIBL 42910
CLCV 25322. #Blessed: The Prosperity Gospel, The Bible, and Economic Ethics. 100 Units.
Is wealth a sign of divine favor? What would Jesus do when it comes to money? How does the Bible inform contemporary views of charity, economic ethics, and material possessions? This class examines the multiple messages about material wealth contained within biblical literature and the diverse ways these passages have been interpreted. After a survey of shifting approaches to economic ethics among Christians over the centuries, students will turn to the phenomenon of the "Prosperity Gospel" within the modern period. The class will query the ways the Bible has been harnessed to an economic vision tied to capitalism and ostentatious displays of personal wealth. Previous knowledge of the Bible and the historical periods covered is not expected.
Instructor(s): Erin Walsh and William Schultz Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 25377, KNOW 25377
CLCV 25323. Africa's Byzantine Heritage: Religion and Art in Pluralistic Societies. 100 Units.
This quarter-length course is conceived around themes and artifacts of an innovative special exhibition titled Africa & Byzantium at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that we will be visiting together (Feb. 16-18, 2024). It will be the first time a museum has showcased the important contributions of Africa's multiethnic societies to the cultural and religious life of the Christian Empire of Byzantium. In addition, the Met boasts a world-renowned permanent collection of Byzantine artifacts, several of which we will be studying as well during our field trip. The Byzantine Empire (4th cent.-1453) encompassed large parts of the Mediterranean, the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Middle East, with North and East Africa forming part of the empire from the fourth century CE to the Islamic conquest (early 7th cent.). Under Islamic rule, the African continent's Byzantine-Christian legacy continued to be influential and has a rich afterlife to this day. The field trip will enable students hone their competence in visual analysis through close-up study of artworks representing a range of artistic media and techniques. The classroom sessions will illuminate the historical and cultural framework in which the artifacts are situated. Africa's Byzantine heritage is an emerging field of study and in this course students who wish to pursue their own research projects will have ample opportunity to do so. Students will also attend weekly discussion sections led by the TA.
Instructor(s): Karin Krause Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Students enrolled in this course will participate in a *mandatory* three-day field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Feb. 16–18, 2024). Travel and lodging will be fully covered through a Curricular Innovation and Undergraduate Research grant provided by the College.
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 28328, ARTH 28328, MDVL 28328
CLCV 25423. Spiritual Exercises: Giving Form to Thought and Life from Plato to Descartes. 100 Units.
This course will examine the tradition of spiritual exercises from antiquity to the early modern period. Spiritual exercises were at the core of classical paideia, the regimen of self-formation designed and promoted by ancient philosophers, orators, and other pedagogues. As Pierre Hadot and Michel Foucault have demonstrated, ancient philosophy first and foremost has to be understood as a "way of life," as a set of techniques and practices for shaping the self according to wisdom. It was not until philosophy's critical turn with Kant that it shed its practical dimension and became a "theoretical" discipline. Early Christianity, stylizing itself as the "true philosophy," eagerly adopted the ancient spiritual exercises and retooled them for its salvational ends. Throughout the middle ages and early modern period spiritual exercises and meditative techniques informed a host of religious, cultural, and artistic practices and media such as prayer and devotional reading, religious art and poetry, but also theatrical performances and musical works. We will focus on individual exercises like the meditation, the examination of conscience, the discernment of spirits, the application of senses, prosoche (attention), consolation, contemplation, etc., and discuss authors such as Epictetus, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, John Cassian, Augustine, Bonaventure, Ignatius, Descartes, and others.
Equivalent Course(s): COGS 22017, CLAS 35423, FNDL 25424, CMLT 35424, CMLT 25424, GRMN 25424, RLST 25424, GRMN 35424, RLVC 35424
CLCV 25516. Strabo's World: Early Geographic Traditions. 100 Units.
This course traces the emergence of geographic thought in the Mediterranean world and the diachronic representations of space and place that became the foundations for the humanistic and social science of geography. Discussions will examine the practices that led to diverse modes and styles of spatial expression, travel and mapping, the tensions between the known world and the exotic imagined other, and the political, social, and cultural dimensions of geographic works and their historic contexts. Beyond our sustained focus on Strabo, writing under the Roman Empire, we will explore and interrogate both earlier and later traditions, from Hecataeus and Herodotus to Dionysius and Pausanias.
Instructor(s): C. Kearns Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 35516
CLCV 25521. The Sublime. 100 Units.
The sublime has traditionally been thought to have had a merely marginal place in ancient Greek and Latin aesthetics and literary theory; but some scholars have recently argued that it was instead more central, and it is difficult not to apply this category to many ancient literary works. However the explicit category of the sublime did not become central to European aesthetics until the 17th century and then continued until the 19th century to play a central role in discussions not only of art and literature, but also of religion, politics, and other fields. By the middle of the 19th century the wave of interest in the sublime seems to have subsided, but in the past forty years this concept has returned to play an important role in aesthetic theories. The seminar will consider the odd history of the sublime, examining central texts from ancient (Longinus), early modern (Boileau), and modern aesthetics (certainly Burke, Kant, Schiller, and Hegel; perhaps also, depending on students' interest and preparation, Tieck, Schlegel, Schelling, Solger, and Jean Paul) as well as some more recent discussions (again depending on student preferences, Nietzsche, Lyotard, Adorno, Zizek). It will also ask whether the concept of the sublime can still play an important role today, or, if not, then what has taken its place. We will deal primarily with theories of the sublime but also to some extent with works of art. Open to undergraduates with consent.
Instructor(s): Glenn Most Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 35521, CMLT 35993, SCTH 35993
CLCV 25700-25800-25900. Ancient Empires I-II-III.
This sequence introduces three great empires of the ancient world. Each course in the sequence focuses on one empire, with attention to the similarities and differences among the empires being considered. By exploring the rich legacy of documents and monuments that these empires produced, students are introduced to ways of understanding imperialism and its cultural and societal effects—both on the imperial elites and on those they conquered. Taking these courses in sequence is not required. This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies.
CLCV 25700. Ancient Empires I: The Hittite Empire. 100 Units.
This course introduces students to the Hittite Empire of ancient Anatolia. In existence from roughly 1750-1200 BCE, and spanning across modern Turkey and beyond, the Hittite Empire is one of the oldest and largest empires of the ancient world. We will be examining their history and their political and cultural accomplishments through analysis of their written records - composed in Hittite, the world's first recorded Indo-European language - and their archaeological remains. In the process, we will also be examining the concept of "empire" itself: What is an empire, and how do anthropologists, archaeologists, and historians study this unique kind of political formation?
Instructor(s): James Osborne Terms Offered: Winter
Note(s): Taking these courses in sequence is not required. This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies.
Equivalent Course(s): SOSC 20011, HIST 15602, NEHC 20011
CLCV 25800. Ancient Empires II: The Ottoman Empire. 100 Units.
The Ottomans ruled in Anatolia, the Middle East, South East Europe and North Africa for over six hundred years. The objective of this course is to understand the society and culture of this bygone Empire whose legacy continues, in one way or another, in some twenty-five contemporary successor states from the Balkans to the Arabian Peninsula. The course is designed as an introduction to the Ottoman World with a focus on the cultural history of the Ottoman society. It explores identities and mentalities, customs and rituals, status of minorities, mystical orders and religious establishments, literacy and the use of the public sphere.
Instructor(s): Hakan Karateke Terms Offered: Autumn
Note(s): Taking these courses in sequence is not required. This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies.
Equivalent Course(s): MDVL 20012, SOSC 20012, NEHC 20012, HIST 15603
CLCV 25900. Ancient Empires III :The Egyptian Empire of the New Kingdom. 100 Units.
For most of the duration of the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC), the ancient Egyptians were able to establish a vast empire and becoming one of the key powers within the Near East. This course will investigate in detail the development of Egyptian foreign policies and military expansion which affected parts of the Near East and Nubia. We will examine and discuss topics such as ideology, imperial identity, political struggle and motivation for conquest and control of wider regions surrounding the Egyptian state as well as the relationship with other powers and their perspective on Egyptian rulers as for example described in the Amarna letters.
Instructor(s): Brian Muhs Terms Offered: Winter
Note(s): Taking these courses in sequence is not required. This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies.
Equivalent Course(s): SOSC 20013, HIST 15604, NEHC 20013
CLCV 25923. Image, Iconoclasm, Animation. 100 Units.
This course will explore the fantasies of the animation of images both ancient and early Christian, both secular and sacred, as the backdrop to examining the phenomenon of iconoclasm as an assault on the image from pre-Christian antiquity via Byzantium to the Protestant Reformation. It will tackle both texts and images, the archaeological context of image-assault and the conceptual (indeed theological) contexts within which such assault was both justified and condemned. These historical issues cannot be separated, in our scholarly approaches and responses, from a vibrant contemporary culture around question of virtuality, animation, image-worship and image-destruction in the current world. The course will provide space to reflect on the problems raised by this. The course will be taught over the first four and a half weeks in the Spring Quarter on an intensive schedule. It will be examined on the basis of a paper, due on a subject to be agreed and on a date to be agreed at the end of the Spring quarter.
Instructor(s): Jaś Elsner Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): The course will be taught over the first 4 and a half weeks in the Spring Quarter on an intensive schedule.
Note(s): This course meets the HS or LMCS Committee distribution requirement for Divinity students.
Equivalent Course(s): ARTH 38311, CLAS 35923, RLST 28311, RLVC 38311, ARTH 28311, KNOW 38311, MDVL 28311
CLCV 26020. The Gospel of John. 100 Units.
This is the third course in the Introductory Koine Greek Sequence of the Divinity School. This course will use what students have learned in terms of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary in the first two quarters and will apply these skills to the translation and exegesis of specific Biblical passages.
Instructor(s): Erin Galgay Walsh Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): One year of Koine Greek, or equivalent (BIBL 35100, 35300). Various levels can be accommodated; please feel free to consult with instructor.
Note(s): This is the introductory Koine Greek exegesis course.
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 36020, RLST 22020, BIBL 36020
CLCV 26119. Muses and Saints: Poetry and the Christian Imagination. 100 Units.
This course provides an introduction to the poetic traditions of early Christians and the intersection between poetic literature, theology, and biblical interpretation. Students will gain familiarity with the literary context of the formative centuries of Christianity with a special emphasis on Greek and Syriac Christians in the Eastern Mediterranean from the fourth through the sixth centuries. While theology is often taught through analytical prose, theological reflection in late antiquity and early Byzantium was frequently done in poetic genres. This course introduces students to the major composers and genres of these works as well as the various recurrent themes that occur within this literature. Through reading poetry from liturgical and monastic contexts, students will explore how the biblical imaginations of Christians were formed beyond the confines of canonical scripture. How is poetry a mode of "doing" theology? What habits of biblical interpretation and narration does one encounter in this poetry? This course exposes students to a variety of disciplinary frameworks for studying early Christian texts including history, religious studies, feminist and literary critique, as well as theology. Students will also analyze medieval and modern poetry with religious themes in light of earlier traditions to reflect on the poetry and the religious imagination more broadly.
Instructor(s): Erin Galgay Walsh Terms Offered: Spring
Note(s): Open to undergraduate and graduate students; Graduate students may choose to attend weekly translation group
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 23000, HCHR 33000, GNSE 24104, MDVL 23000, BIBL 33000, ENGL 33809, GNSE 34104, CLAS 36119, RLVC 33000
CLCV 26123. Antigone and the Making of Theater. 100 Units.
This class on Sophocles' Antigone will be held in lockstep with the upcoming production of the play at the Court Theatre, which will allow us to think about the construction of the play and its performance, both in its original setting and each time it is adapted and staged. We will attend rehearsals and talk to the director, crew and performers of the play as the play takes shape. We will also attend the production. Readings will include Antigone by Sophocles, as well as adaptions and theory on the play. Greek is not required for the class, but those who have it will be asked to read some passages in the original language.
Instructor(s): Sarah Nooter Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): TAPS 34750, TAPS 24750, GREK 26123, CLAS 36123, GREK 36123
CLCV 26324. Aristophanes takes on Euripides. 100 Units.
Criticism of new-fangled takes on established art forms is at least as old as ... Aristophanes. Aristophanes is not a fan of Euripides, and tells us so to hilarious effect. Starting with the Frogs, we will examine a number of plays of Aristophanes in which he takes on Euripides, and in addition, we read some of the Euripidean plays that appear to have inspired the criticism, such as Euripides' Helen in combination with Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazusae.
Equivalent Course(s): GREK 36324, CLAS 36324, GREK 26324
CLCV 27023. Myth to Philosophy in Ancient Greece. 100 Units.
A big change occurred in Greek thought between the time of Homer and that of Socrates, or roughly between the eighth and fifth centuries BCE. This has been celebrated as a turn from myth to philosophy and science. It was also an attempt by humans to take charge of their lives. The course will focus on the leaders of this movement: the Pre-Socratics, the Sophists, and the legendary founder of scientific medicine, Hippocrates. The Presocratic devised new ways of explaining the world as a whole; the Sophists discovered ways in which humans could shape their lives in relation to one another; and the followers of Hippocrates sought to give humans control over their bodies. For the Pre-Socratics, we have only tantalizing fragments; and we will attempt to make sense of them. We will also read a tragedy, Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound, which shows a god tsking the side of humans; writings of the sophists and attacks on them; and the earliest Greek medical writings. The course will be taught in English translation. For those who know ancient Greek, optional reading classes will be offered.
Instructor(s): Elizabeth Asmis Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 37023
CLCV 27320. Greek Archaeology in 20 Objects. 100 Units.
This course centers the objects of the ancient Greek world, from prehistory to the Hellenistic period, as avenues for exploring the practice, history, and motivations of the discipline of Greek archaeology. From the mundane to the spectacular, we will closely consider twenty things - pots, statues, coins, knives, bones, inscriptions, among others - whose compelling if fragmentary biographies reveal how archaeologists reconstruct and explain ancient social lives. Discussions will interrogate histories of object analysis, identification, and interpretation; schemes of periodization and categorization; theories of gender, class, economy, politics, and religion; developments in technologies and aesthetics; the intersections of artifact discovery and museum or market acquisitions; and the making of Greek archaeology within the wider discipline.
Instructor(s): C. Kearns Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 37320
CLCV 27423. Leo Strauss' Philosophical "Autobiography" 100 Units.
Leo Strauss did not write an autobiography. However, he did mark out his path of thought through autobiographical reflections on the decisive challenges to which his oeuvre responded. The philosophically most demanding confrontation that Strauss presented on the question of how he became what he was is the so-called Autobiographical Preface of 1965, which he included in the American translation of his first book, "Spinoza's Critique of Religion" (originally published in 1930). Two decades earlier, in the lecture The Living Issues of German Postwar Philosophy (1940), he made a first autobiographical attempt to publicly ascertain himself and determine his position. And in 1970 he published the concise retrospective A Giving of Accounts. The seminar will make these writings - which illuminate the significance of Nietzsche and Heidegger for Strauss and address his early engagement with revealed religion and politics, in a constellation ranging from Hermann Cohen and Franz Rosenzweig to Karl Barth and Carl Schmitt - the subject of a close reading. Selected letters to Karl Löwith, Gershom Scholem and others will be used as supplementary texts.
Instructor(s): Heinrich Meier Terms Offered: Spring. Spring 2024
Prerequisite(s): Undergraduates Need the Instructor's Permission to Register.
Note(s): Monday/Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. – 1:20 p.m.*, during the first five weeks of the term (March 18 – April 17, 2024). * The time may be changed after the first session to 10:00 a.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Equivalent Course(s): PHIL 27326, SCTH 37326, FNDL 27007, PHIL 37326, CLAS 37423, SCTH 27326, DVPR 37326
CLCV 27522. Praising the Gods: Greek Hymnic Poetry and Its Context. 100 Units.
In this course we will read a broad range of Greek hymnic poetry, starting with Hesiod's invocation to the Muses in the Theogony, followed by a selection from the Homeric Hymns, the Orphic hymns, and later literary or philosophical hymns by Callimachus and Proclus. Close readings will explore matters of language, genre, and literary tropes, as well as the evolving religious and cultural context of the hymns through the long chronological span in which the genre was productive in Greek antiquity.
Instructor(s): Carolina López-Ruiz Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Two years of Greek.
Equivalent Course(s): GREK 27122, HREL 47518, GREK 37122, CLAS 37522, RLST 27518
CLCV 27623. Three Comedies of Sexual Revolution. 100 Units.
This seminar will discuss three comedies of sexual revolution from three different times and places. Aristophanes's Assemblywomen recounts how under the leadership of the able Praxagora the women of Athens take over the Assembly and legislate a new regime in which private property is replaced by communism and sexual equity is achieved in favor of the old and unattractive at the expense of the young and attractive. Machiavelli's Mandragola dramatizes the tricks by which young Callimaco manages with the aid of the trickster parasite Ligurio to have sex with Lucrezia, the beautiful young wife of the elderly lawyer Nicomaco, with the consent of both her and her husband, ushering in a new regime in which all are satisfied. In Shakespeare's Measure for Measure Angelo the interim duke of Vienna institutes a repressive sexual regime in which the brothels are closed and extramarital sex is a capital crime. What might we learn about sexual relations from these diverse plays? Why are they comedies?
Instructor(s): Glenn Most & Nathan Tarcov Terms Offered: Spring. Spring 2024
Prerequisite(s): Undergraduates need the Instructor's permission to register.
Equivalent Course(s): GNSE 25997, GNSE 35997, SCTH 25823, CMLT 25823, PLSC 35997, CMLT 35997, SCTH 35997, CLAS 37623, FNDL 21772, PLSC 25997
CLCV 27723. Herodotus. 100 Units.
Interpretation of Herodotus' history, with close attention to philological, literary, and philosophical issues.
Instructor(s): Glenn W. Most Terms Offered: Spring. Spring 2024
Prerequisite(s): Knowledge of ancient Greek is welcome but not required. Undergraduates need the instructor's permission to register
Equivalent Course(s): SCTH 25923, SCTH 35998, CLAS 37723
CLCV 27923. Textual Amulets in the Ancient Mediterranean. 100 Units.
Amulets with inscribed texts were used broadly by individuals and households and across ancient Mediterranean cultures for protection against evils, for curing disease, and for obtaining advantage over adversaries in all walks of life. In this course, we will survey a broad range of such amulets coming from the Levant, Mesopotamia, the Phoenician-Punic world, Greece and southern Italy, and inscribed on such varied materials as sheets of gold and silver, papyri, ostraca and gems, while scrutinizing their material aspects, their cultural context, and their shared and distinctive features.
Instructor(s): Carolina Lopez-Ruiz, Sofia Torallas-Tovar, Christopher Faraone Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Classical or Near Eastern languages recommended but not required.
Note(s): THis course meets the HS or LMCS Committee distribution requirement for Divinity students.
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 20130, CLAS 37923, NEHC 20130, HREL 40130, NEHC 40130
CLCV 28024. Poetry of war and Peace. 100 Units.
War and its fallout have been a central part of the human experience, sparking the fascination of poets and audiences alike. Along with war comes the concept of peace, both in life and in poetry. In this course, we will use poetry and poetic texts to explore different possibilities for understanding the fundamental tension that exists between the quasi-universal notion that "no one is so foolish as to choose war over peace" (Herodotus, 1.87), and the fact that war has been our constant companion. Along the way, we will examine how poets across a spectrum of cultures, eras, and genres have given life to rich expressions of hope, fear, and everything in between, and ask ourselves how these poets succeed in illuminating these parts of the human experience, and to what effect. Homer and Vergil will be our guides through the first part of the quarter, but in the second half we will explore poetries of war and peace from around the world, up to the present.
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 38024
CLCV 28322. Art and Religion from the Roman to the Christian Worlds. 100 Units.
This course will be an introduction to Roman and early Christian art from the early empire to late antiquity. It will explore the significance of the changes in visual production in relation to different attitudes to religion and society; its specific and conflictive historiography; the particular issues involved in the move to Christianity and a Christian visual culture. We shall veer between an empirical inductive approach, looking at lots of stuff and a more general account of theoretical overviews that have been offered for Roman and late art - overviews that have been influential in the broader historiography of art history as a discipline.
Instructor(s): Jaś Elsner Terms Offered: Spring
Note(s): The course will be taught over 5 weeks in the Spring Quarter on an intensive schedule. This course meets the HS or LMCS Committee distribution requirement for Divinity students.
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 38322, ARTH 28330, RLVC 38330, ARTH 38330, RLST 28330
CLCV 28323. Art and Description in Antiquity and Byzantium. 100 Units.
This course explores the rich tradition of ekphrasis in Greco-Roman antiquity and Byzantium - as it ranges from vivid description in general to a specific engagement with works of art. While the prime focus will remain on texts from Greece, Rome and Byzantium - in order to establish what might be called the ancestry of a genre in the European tradition and especially its fascinating place between pagan polytheistic and Christian writing -- there will be opportunity in the final paper to range beyond this into questions of comparative literature, art (history) writing and ekphrasis in other periods or contexts, depending on students' interests and needs. A reading knowledge of Greek in particular could not be described as a disadvantage, but the course can be taken without knowing the ancient languages. The course will be taught over the first 4 and a half weeks in the Spring Quarter on an intensive schedule. It will be examined on the basis of a paper, due on a subject to be agreed and on a date to be agreed at the end of the Spring quarter.
Instructor(s): Jaś Elsner and Karin Krause Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): The course will be taught over the first 4 and a half weeks in the Spring Quarter on an intensive schedule.
Note(s): This course meets the HS or LMCS Committee distribution requirement for Divinity students.
Equivalent Course(s): MDVL 28325, KNOW 38325, RLVC 38325, ARTH 28325, CLAS 38323, RLST 28325, ARTH 38325
CLCV 28422. How Did The Ancients Interpret Their Myths? 100 Units.
How did the ancient Greeks interpret their own narratives about the gods? How did their encounter with Near Eastern mythologies shape their own story-telling, and how did their understanding and use of myths evolve with time? In this course, we will explore the ancient interpretation of myth from the archaic Greek to the Roman periods. First, we will focus on the cross-cultural adaptations of Near Eastern traditions in Greek epic (Homer and Hesiod), as a form of interpretation itself. Then we will discuss how ancient poets and thinkers interpreted and reinterpreted divine narratives, paying attention to their philosophical, literary, and cultural strategies, from Orphism and Plato to the Stoics and later philosophical schools, including Euhemerism and its engagement with Phoenician mythology.
Instructor(s): Carolina López-Ruiz Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 28499, CLAS 38422, HREL 38499, NEHC 28499, NEHC 38499
CLCV 28524. Thessaloniki: A history of a city through the ages. 100 Units.
This course seeks to explore the cultural and social history of the city of Thessaloniki in northern Greece from antiquity to the present. As a city of diverse populations, Thessaloniki constituted a melting pot of cultures and a hub for economic activities for a major part of its history. The course will be discussion-based and bring into dialogue textual and material evidence that illustrates various topics of the history of Thessaloniki. Among those topics, we will examine Thessaloniki's foundation, its relationship with other cities in the Hellenistic world, the formation of (ethnic) identity in Macedonia, its Christianization, its archaeological landscape, the multicultural civic identity and the construction of other (Greek, Jewish, Roman, Slavic, Ottoman), immigration movements, economy and commerce. We will explore a spectrum of historical themes, but our focus will range: We will delve into the intricate stories of personalities, monuments, and objects. Yet, our ultimate aim will be to step back and analyze broader phenomena in their longue durée.
Equivalent Course(s): ANCM 38524, CLAS 38524
CLCV 29500. Senior Seminar. 100 Units.
The Senior Seminar is designed as a capstone course, and it is required for all Classics majors, whether they are writing a BA paper or not. The course meets once per week over two quarters (Autumn and Winter), for an hour and twenty minutes each week. Both quarters are required. CLCV 29500 is valued at 100 units; CLCV 29501 is valued at 0 units. Students will normally register in CLCV 29500 in Autumn quarter and CLCV 29501 in Winter quarter; but they may reverse the order of enrollment if need be.
Instructor(s): D. Wray Terms Offered: Autumn
Winter
CLCV 29501. Senior Seminar. 000 Units.
The Senior Seminar is designed as a capstone course, and it is required for all Classics majors, whether they are writing a BA paper or not. The course meets once per week over two quarters (Autumn and Winter), for an hour and twenty minutes each week. Both quarters are required. CLCV 29500 is valued at 100 units; CLCV 29501 is valued at 0 units. Students will normally register in CLCV 29500 in Autumn quarter and CLCV 29501 in Winter quarter; but they may reverse the order of enrollment if need be.
CLCV 29700. Reading Course: Classical Civ. 100 Units.
No description available. Prerequisite(s): Consent of faculty sponsor and director of undergraduate studies Note(s): Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form.
Terms Offered: Autumn,Winter,Spring
Prerequisite(s): Consent of faculty sponsor and director of undergraduate studies
Note(s): Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form.
Greek Courses
GREK 10100-10200-10300. Introduction to Attic Greek I-II-III.
This sequence offers a comprehensive introduction to reading Ancient Greek. Course work involves reading practice, presentational writing, and formal study of grammar and vocabulary. Throughout the sequence, students will encounter authentic Ancient Greek text. Students who complete this sequence will be ready to move into the intermediate sequence (GREK 20100-20200-20300).
GREK 10100. Introduction to Attic Greek I. 100 Units.
Ancient Greek: for thousands of years, people have learned this language to go deeper into the thoughts and worlds of Plato, Homer, Sappho, and Early Christianity and more. In this course sequence, you too can begin to learn this language. GREK 101 introduces the study of Ancient Greek. Course work involves reading practice, writing individual sentences and coherent stories, formal study of grammar and vocabulary, and other linguistic skills as necessary. Throughout the course, students will encounter authentic Ancient Greek texts. Students who complete this course will be able to understand simple sentences and combine them into larger units of meaning. This course is appropriate for students who have never studied Greek before.
Instructor(s): Jonah Radding Terms Offered: Autumn
Note(s): Knowledge of Greek not required.
GREK 10200. Introduction To Attic Greek II. 100 Units.
Ancient Greek: for thousands of years, people have learned this language to go deeper into the thoughts and worlds of Plato, Homer, Sappho, and Early Christianity and more. In this course sequence, you too can begin to learn this language. GREK 102 continues the study of basic Ancient Greek. Course work involves reading practice, writing individual sentences and coherent stories, formal study of grammar and vocabulary, and other linguistic skills as necessary. Throughout the course, students will encounter authentic Ancient Greek texts. Students who complete this course will be able to understand complex sentences and combine them into larger units of meaning. This course is appropriate for students who have completed GREK 101 or equivalent work
Instructor(s): Jonah Radding Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): GREK 10100
GREK 10300. Introduction to Attic Greek III: Prose. 100 Units.
Ancient Greek: for thousands of years, people have learned this language to go deeper into the thoughts and worlds of Plato, Homer, Sappho, and Early Christianity and more. In this course sequence, you too can begin to learn this language. GREK 103 continues the study of basic Ancient Greek. Course work involves reading practice, writing individual sentences and coherent stories, formal study of grammar and vocabulary, and other linguistic skills as necessary. Throughout the course, students will encounter authentic Ancient Greek text. Students who complete this course will be able to track ideas across at least a paragraph of text and will be ready to move into the intermediate sequence (GREK 20100-20200-20300). This course is appropriate for students who have completed GREK 102 or equivalent
Instructor(s): Staff Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): GREK 10200
GREK 10123. Summer Intensive Introductory Ancient Greek. 300 Units.
Summer Introductory Ancient Greek comprises a thorough introduction to the Classical Greek language in eight weeks. Through a daily mixture of synchronous and asynchronous activities students learn new grammatical concepts and morphology, practice reading and translating increasingly complex Greek texts, and complete exercises in Greek to gain an active command of the language. In the latter half of the course, students will also read unadapted Greek from classical prose authors, including Plato and Xenophon. By the end of the 8 weeks, students will be thoroughly familiar with Classical Greek idiom and sentence structure, and will be able to proceed to reading courses in the language.
Instructor(s): Staff Terms Offered: Summer
GREK 20100-20200-20300. Intermediate Greek I-II-III.
This sequence is aimed at students who have completed one of the introductory sequences and at students entering university with extensive previous training, as evidenced by a placement exam. As a whole, it provides students with an overview of important genres and with the linguistic skills to read independently, and/or to proceed to advanced courses in the language.
GREK 20100. Intermediate Greek I: 100 Units.
Immerse yourself in real writings from Ancient Greece. Readings this quarter concentrate on selections of Greek prose (for instance, by Plato), with an aim to improve reading skills, discuss key concepts in Greek history and culture, and expand knowledge of grammar and vocabulary as necessary. This course is usually appropriate for students who have completed GREK 103, or several years of high school Greek, or equivalent work.
Instructor(s): H. Dik Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): GREK 10300 or equivalent
GREK 20200. Intermediate Greek II: 100 Units.
Immerse yourself in real writings from Ancient Greece. Readings this quarter concentrate on selections of Greek poetry (for instance, by Euripides), with an aim to improve reading skills, discuss key concepts in Greek history and culture, and expand knowledge of grammar and vocabulary as necessary. This course is usually appropriate for students who have completed GREK 201, or equivalent work.
Instructor(s): H. Dik Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): GREK 20100 or equivalent
GREK 20300. Intermediate Greek III. 100 Units.
Immerse yourself in real writings from Ancient Greece. This course involves reading selections from a major monument of Greek literature (for instance, The Iliad). There will be discussion of the relationship between language and literary art, the legacy of the work or works studied, and study of grammar and vocabulary as necessary. This course is appropriate for students who have completed GREK 201, or GREK 202, or equivalent work.
Instructor(s): Staff Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): GREK 20200 or equivalent
GREK 20123. Summer Intensive Intermediate Ancient Greek. 300 Units.
Summer Intensive Intermediate Greek combines extensive reading of texts with a comprehensive review of Classical grammar and syntax; it prepares students for advanced courses in Greek and for the use of Greek texts in their research. Texts studied are taken from a variety of representative and important Classical authors, and typically include Plato and Herodotus, Demosthenes or Thucydides. The backbone of the review sessions is Mastronarde's Introduction to Ancient Greek combined with sight reading skill practice. The program combines daily synchronous and asynchronous activities. Students are responsible for considerable amounts of class preparation in the evenings, requiring a full-time commitment for the duration of the course. This course equips students to continue with advanced coursework or independent reading in Ancient Greek in all its varieties. Summer Intermediate Greek corresponds to a full year's worth of instruction at the University of Chicago.
Instructor(s): Staff Terms Offered: Summer
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of GREK 10300 or the equivalent placement.
GREK 21500. Herodotus. 100 Units.
We read the text of the historian in Greek and contextualize his contribution to the classical period, with some discussion of his perspectives on the past, people, and artifacts he records.
Instructor(s): P. Rankine Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Greek 20300
Equivalent Course(s): GREK 31500
GREK 21600. Euripides. 100 Units.
We will read the entire play, focusing on syntax, religious ideas and scansion of the iambic trimeter.
Instructor(s): C. Faraone Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Greek 20300
Equivalent Course(s): GREK 31600
GREK 21700. Lyric and Epinician Poetry. 100 Units.
This course will examine instances of Greek lyric genres throughout the archaic, classical, and hellenistic periods, focusing on the structure, themes and sounds of the poetry and investigating their performative and historical contexts. Readings will include Alcman, Sappho, Alcaeus, Anacreon, Theognis, Alcaeus, Bacchylides, Pindar, and Anyte. In Greek.
Instructor(s): Caitlin Miller Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): GREK 20300 or equivalent
Equivalent Course(s): GREK 31700
GREK 23220. Hellenistic Imperial Literature. 100 Units.
This class will read selections from the poetry and or prose of the Hellenistic period, especially the hymns of Callimachus, the pastoral poetry of Theocritus, and the epic parody "The Battle of the Frogs and Mice." Alongside these Hellenistic texts we will read some of the poetic predecessors (Homer, Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, choral and monadic lyric), with an eye to the Hellenistic poets; interest in poetic form, self-positioning, and play.
Terms Offered: TBD. Will be offered 2023-24
Prerequisite(s): PQ: GREK 20300 or equivalent
Equivalent Course(s): GREK 32320
GREK 23223. Hellenistic Literature. 100 Units.
This course features selections from the poetry and/or prose of the Hellenistic periods. This year we will read selections from the poetry, with a particular focus on Theocritus and Callimachus.
Instructor(s): C. Faraone Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): GREK 20300 or equivalent
Equivalent Course(s): GREK 33223
GREK 23724. Homer's Odyssey: Homecomings. 100 Units.
Homer's Odyssey describes the homecoming of Odysseus in a series of poignant, half-hidden, and sometimes misaligned reunions with his loved ones. In this course we will read in Greek many of the Odyssey's homecoming scenes of the Odyssey, including all of Books 19 and 23. Our focus will be on how the poem depicts the complex character of Odysseus through its recognition (and misrecognition) scenes. Much of our conversation will center on Penelope, the mutual testing between her and her husband, and the degree to which we can attribute "like-mindedness" (homophrosyne) to their relationship.
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 33724
GREK 24124. Athanasius on the Incarnation. 100 Units.
Athanasius was born and reared in Alexandria where he received a thorough classical education. He eventually became secretary to the bishop Alexander, with whom he attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 and whom he succeeded as bishop of Alexandria in 328. For the rest of his life, both in his theological writings and in his turbulent ecclesiastical career, he was a fervent advocate for the Nicene formulations, resisting Arianism at every turn. His most famous work, the De Incarnatione, expounds how Jesus the Word, by becoming flesh, restores to fallen humans the image of God in which they were created. We will read a good part (about 60 pages) of this celebrated treatise with attention to Athanasius' straightforward Greek style, his portrait of the logos, and his enduring contribution to Trinitarian theology.
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 22215, BIBL 42215, GREK 34124
GREK 24523. The Ecumenical Church Councils and the Making of Christian Doctrine. 100 Units.
The Church Councils of late antiquity (fourth-seventh centuries) were huge conferences of bishops, priests, monks, secular officials, and emperors, who met to decide on the rules that would govern the Church and the doctrines that all Christians had to believe. They combined philosophical debate, criminal trials, committee meetings, and Senate procedure. Some were rowdy and acrimonious, while others were meticulously organized in advance, usually by the court. Some remain obscure, while others are the most thoroughly documented events in all ancient history and reveal in detail how the later Roman government operated. In this course we will read, in Greek, a number of fascinating narratives and official acts stemming from the most important Councils, including Nicaea I (325), Ephesos I (431), and Chalcedon (451). We will also discuss the Councils from a historical perspective to understand the complex negotiations that gave rise to Christian doctrine and canon law.
Instructor(s): Anthony Kaldellis Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): HCHR 34523, GREK 34523, RLST 20523
GREK 24600. Philo of Alexandria. 100 Units.
In this course we will read the Greek text of Philo's de opificio mundi, with other brief excerpts here and there in the Philonic corpus. Our aim will be to use this treatise to elucidate the thought and character of one of the most prolific theological writers of the first century. We will seek to understand Philo as a Greek author and the nature and origins of his style, Philo as a proponent of middle Platonism, and Philo as a Jew in the context of Alexandrian Judaism. We will also examine his use of the allegorical method as an exegetical tool, and its implications for pagan, Jewish and early Christian approaches to sacred texts.
Instructor(s): David Martinez Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): At least 2 years of Greek.
Equivalent Course(s): BIBL 44500, FNDL 22314, GREK 34600, RLST 23314
GREK 24722. Sophocles, Philoctetes. 100 Units.
A close literary and philological analysis of one of the most remarkable of all Greek tragedies. This is the only play of Sophocles that does not include even one female character; it raises important and perplexing issues of gender, ethics, politics, suffering, the body, education, and trust, to name only a few. While the poetic text, in its many dimensions, including staging, will offer more than adequate material for classroom analysis and discussion, attention will also be directed to comparing what can be known about other versions of the story and to exploring the reception of this play.
Instructor(s): Glenn Most Terms Offered: Spring. This course will be taught in Spring 2023
Prerequisite(s): Knowledge of Ancient Greek or consent of instructor. Open to undergraduates with instructor’s consent.
Equivalent Course(s): GREK 44722, SCTH 35995
GREK 24923. The Birth of the Gods: A Close Reading of Hesiod's Theogony. 100 Units.
In this course we will read in Greek the Theogony by Hesiod, one of the earliest preserved literary pieces in ancient Greek and a text that became a point of reference for cosmogonic literature and thought in later centuries. We will conduct a close reading, commenting on both poetic/literary aspects and mythical tropes, and will read (in English) comparative materials from other Greek and Near Eastern cosmogonies, as well as some interpretive essays. Exams will be based on translation work as well as engagement in discussions.
Instructor(s): Carolina Lopez-Ruiz Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Two years of Greek (intermediate level) required.
Note(s): This course meets the HS Committee distribution requirement for Divinity students.
Equivalent Course(s): HREL 31880, FNDL 21880, RLST 21880, GREK 34923
GREK 25123. Aristophanes and the Culture Wars. 100 Units.
Every culture has its wars, and Aristophanes' Athens was certainly no exception. In this course, we will read selections of several Aristophanic comedies in Greek (Acharnians, Knights, Clouds, Frogs), and consider how these plays engage with a number of issues that were cultural flashpoints: the workings and ideologies of Athenian democracy, contemporary intellectual movements and education, attitudes towards the Peloponnesian War, shifting notions of Athenian and class identity, and the manner in which dramatic poetry itself - from Euripidean tragedy to Aristophanes' own comedies - related to, or even exacerbated, these issues. Along the way, we will consider how contemporary comedians (e.g. Trevor Noah, Hari Kondabolu) continue to put to use the same techniques and dynamics that we see in Aristophanes' plays, and to what effect(s).
Instructor(s): J. Radding. Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): GREK 35123
GREK 25624. Plutarch. 100 Units.
Plutarch's biographies and his writing on literature and morality stand in a long tradition. In this class we will read passages from Plutarch in Greek and compare them to similar texts, such as the relevant sections of Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Poetics. The aim is to evaluate Plutarch's contribution to a literary critical tradition while also comparing his Greek to that of his predecessors.
Equivalent Course(s): CLAS 35624
GREK 26123. Antigone and the Making of Theater. 100 Units.
This class on Sophocles' Antigone will be held in lockstep with the upcoming production of the play at the Court Theatre, which will allow us to think about the construction of the play and its performance, both in its original setting and each time it is adapted and staged. We will attend rehearsals and talk to the director, crew and performers of the play as the play takes shape. We will also attend the production. Readings will include Antigone by Sophocles, as well as adaptions and theory on the play. Greek is not required for the class, but those who have it will be asked to read some passages in the original language.
Instructor(s): Sarah Nooter Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): CLCV 26123, TAPS 34750, TAPS 24750, CLAS 36123, GREK 36123
GREK 26324. Aristophanes takes on Euripides. 100 Units.
Criticism of new-fangled takes on established art forms is at least as old as ... Aristophanes. Aristophanes is not a fan of Euripides, and tells us so to hilarious effect. Starting with the Frogs, we will examine a number of plays of Aristophanes in which he takes on Euripides, and in addition, we read some of the Euripidean plays that appear to have inspired the criticism, such as Euripides' Helen in combination with Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazusae.
Equivalent Course(s): GREK 36324, CLCV 26324, CLAS 36324
GREK 26723. The Greek Romance Novel: Longus' Daphnis and Chloe. 100 Units.
In this course, we will read one of the world's earliest known romance novels in its entirety in the original Greek-Daphnis and Chloe by Longus. Written in the Roman imperial period, Daphnis and Chloe tells of teenage love, sex, and self-discovery in a pastoral setting on the island of Lesbos. Through close readings of the text and an examination of its scholarship, we will explore questions related to gender, religion, characterization, and romance. We will also read selections from Longus' many intertexts, including Archaic lyric, Hellenistic and Imperial epigrams, and Homer, as we consider the place of the imperial novel in the history of ancient Greek literature. Assessments will include quizzes, a midterm and final exam, and two papers.
Instructor(s): J. Johansen. Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): GREK 36723
GREK 27122. Praising the Gods: Greek Hymnic Poetry and Its Context. 100 Units.
In this course we will read a broad range of Greek hymnic poetry, starting with Hesiod's invocation to the Muses in the Theogony, followed by a selection from the Homeric Hymns, the Orphic hymns, and later literary or philosophical hymns by Callimachus and Proclus. Close readings will explore matters of language, genre, and literary tropes, as well as the evolving religious and cultural context of the hymns through the long chronological span in which the genre was productive in Greek antiquity.
Instructor(s): Carolina López-Ruiz Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Two years of Greek.
Equivalent Course(s): HREL 47518, CLCV 27522, GREK 37122, CLAS 37522, RLST 27518
GREK 27123. The Corpus Hermeticum. 100 Units.
According to Clement of Alexandria Hermes Trismegistus authored 42 "fundamental books" on Egyptian religion. The writings under his name which are extant, dating between the first and third centuries AD, incorporate many styles and genres, including cosmogony, prophecy, gospel, popular philosophy, anthropology, magic, hymn, and apocalypse. The first treatise in the collection well represents the whole. It tells how the god Poimandres manifests to his follower a vision, revealing the origin of the kosmos and humanity, and how archetypal man descends to his fallen state and may be redeemed. We will begin with the Poimandres and then read other sections of this strange but absorbing body of material (we will read the following treatises in this order: 1, 3, 4, 7, 13, 10, 5, 11, 16).
Instructor(s): David Martinez Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): At least two years of ancient Greek.
Note(s): This course meets the HS Committee distribution requirement for Divinity students.
Equivalent Course(s): BIBL 49900, GREK 37123
GREK 27423. The Acts of Paul and Thecla and the Pastoral Epistles. 100 Units.
In the early second century there were bitter battles over the legacy of Paul and his preserved letters in terms of gender, sexuality, family life, asceticism, church administration, and theological vision. We can see these well by reading the narrative text The Acts of Paul and Thecla alongside the "Pastoral Epistles" (1 and 2 Timothy, Titus), the former championing a female, cross-dressing ascetic Christ-missionary and the latter, in pseudepigraphical epistolary texts written in the dead Paul's name, insisting on patriarchal family life and women's adherence to traditional roles. In this course we shall read both sets of texts carefully in Greek, noting points of similarity and contestation, and test various models of how these sources-each of which seeks to "fix" the Pauline legacy in its own way-are related to one another. Time allowing, we shall also look at the later reception of the cult of Saint Thecla and late antique interpretations of "the apostle," Paul, on these issues of sexuality and gender roles, and their perduring influence in contemporary debates.
Instructor(s): Margaret Mitchell Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): At least one year of Greek, or equivalent.
Note(s): This course meets the HS Committee distribution requirement for Divinity students.
Equivalent Course(s): FNDL 22035, GNSE 42035, GREK 37423, RLST 22035, HCHR 42035, BIBL 42035, GNSE 22035
GREK 29700. Reading Course: Greek. 100 Units.
No description available. Prerequisite(s): Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form.
Instructor(s): Staff Terms Offered: Autumn
Winter
Prerequisite(s): Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form.
Latin Courses
LATN 10100-10200-10300. Introduction to Classical Latin I-II-III.
This sequence offers a comprehensive introduction to reading Latin. Course work involves reading practice, presentational writing, and formal study of grammar and vocabulary. Throughout the sequence, students will encounter authentic Latin text. Students who complete this sequence will be ready to move into the intermediate sequence (LATN 20100-20200-20300).
LATN 10100. Introduction to Classical Latin I. 100 Units.
For centuries people have learned this language to go deeper into the thoughts and worlds of Ancient Rome, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. In this course sequence, you too can begin to learn this language. LATN 101 introduces the study of Latin. Course work involves reading Latin, writing individual sentences and coherent stories, formal study of grammar and vocabulary, and other linguistic skills as necessary. Throughout the course, students will encounter authentic Latin texts. Students who complete this course will be able to understand simple sentences and combine them into larger units of meaning. This course is appropriate for students who have never studied Latin before.
Instructor(s): C. Shelton Terms Offered: Autumn
LATN 10200. Introduction to Classical Latin II. 100 Units.
For centuries people have learned this language to go deeper into the thoughts and worlds of Ancient Rome, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. In this course sequence, you too can begin to learn this language. LATN 102 continues the study of basic Latin. Course work involves reading Latin, writing individual sentences and coherent stories, formal study of grammar and vocabulary, and other linguistic skills as necessary. Throughout the course, students will encounter authentic Latin texts. Students who complete this course will be able to understand complex sentences and combine them into larger units of meaning. This course is appropriate for students who have completed LATN 101 or equivalent work.
Instructor(s): Colin Shelton Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): LATN 10100
LATN 10300. Introduction to Classical Latin III. 100 Units.
For centuries people have learned this language to go deeper into the thoughts and worlds of Ancient Rome, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. In this course sequence, you too can begin to learn this language. LATN 103 continues the study of basic Latin. Course work involves reading Latin, writing individual sentences and coherent stories, formal study of grammar and vocabulary, and other linguistic skills as necessary. Throughout the course, students will encounter authentic Latin text. Students who complete this course will be able to track ideas across at least a paragraph of text and will be ready to move into the intermediate sequence (LATN 20100-20200-20300).This course is appropriate for students who have completed LATN 102 or equivalent work.
Instructor(s): Staff Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): LATN 10200
LATN 10123. Summer Intensive Introductory Latin. 300 Units.
Summer Intensive Introductory Latin offers a comprehensive introduction to Classical Latin language in eight weeks. Through a daily mixture of synchronous and asynchronous activities, students learn new grammatical concepts and morphology, practice reading and translating increasingly complex Latin texts, and complete exercises in Latin to gain an active command of the language. Students will also read unadapted Latin from classical authors, including Caesar, Sallust, and Cicero. By the end of the summer Latin course, students will be thoroughly familiar with Latin idiom and sentence structure and will be able to proceed to reading courses in the language.
Instructor(s): Staff Terms Offered: Summer
LATN 11400. Latin for Post Beginners I. 100 Units.
This course is intended for students with some experience in Latin to quickly review what they know and upgrade their skills in reading and understanding Latin. In this course, students will expand their vocabulary, learn more advanced grammar, and practice extensive reading.
Instructor(s): Staff. Terms Offered: Winter
Note(s): "Students who complete this course and its follow-up LATN 103 will be ready for the intermediate sequence (LATN 20100-20200-20300)."
LATN 20100-20200-20300. Intermediate Latin I-II-III.
This sequence is aimed at students who have completed one of the introductory sequences and at entering students with extensive previous training, as evidenced by a placement exam. As a whole, it provides students with an overview of important genres and with the linguistic skills to read independently and/or to proceed to advanced courses in the language.
LATN 20100. Intermediate Latin I. 100 Units.
Immerse yourself in real writings from Ancient Rome, and the long subsequent tradition of Latin literature. Readings this quarter concentrate on selections of Roman prose (for instance, by Cicero), with an aim to improve reading skills, discuss key concepts in Roman history and culture, and expand knowledge of grammar and vocabulary as necessary. This course is usually appropriate for students who have completed LATN 103, or several years of high school Latin, or equivalent work.
Instructor(s): Staff. Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): LATN 10300 or equivalent
LATN 20200. Intermediate Latin II. 100 Units.
Immerse yourself in real writings from Ancient Rome, and the long subsequent tradition of Latin literature. Readings this quarter concentrate on selections of Roman poetry (for instance, by Ovid). The class involves discussion of poetic language, the literary and historical context of Roman poetry, and study of grammar and vocabulary as necessary. This course is appropriate for students who have completed LATN 201 or equivalent work.
Instructor(s): Staff Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): LATN 20100 or equivalent
LATN 20300. Intermediate Latin III. 100 Units.
Immerse yourself in real writings from Ancient Rome, and the long subsequent tradition of Latin literature. This course involves reading selections from a major monument of Roman literature (for instance, Vergil's Aeneid). There will be discussion of the relationship between language and literary art, the legacy of the work or works studied, and study of grammar and vocabulary as necessary. This course is appropriate for students who have completed LATN 201, or LATN 202, or equivalent work.
Instructor(s): Staff Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): LATN 20200 or equivalent
LATN 20123. Summer Intensive Intermediate Latin. 300 Units.
Summer Intermediate Latin combines extensive reading of texts with a comprehensive review of classical grammar and syntax; it prepares students for advanced courses in Latin and for the use of Latin texts in the course of their research. Texts studied are taken from one or more representative and important authors, which may include Cicero, Seneca, Pliny, and others. The course also includes sessions which combine intensive review of basic grammar with supplementary exercises in composition. The program includes synchronous meetings five days a week as well as daily asynchronous assignments. Students are responsible for considerable amounts of class preparation during the evenings, requiring a full-time commitment for the duration of the course. Summer Intermediate Latin equips students to continue with advanced coursework or independent reading in Latin in all its varieties. Summer Intermediate Latin corresponds to a full year's worth of instruction at the University of Chicago.
Terms Offered: Summer
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of LATN 10300 or equivalent placement.
LATN 20223. Later and Early Medieval Intermediate Latin. 100 Units.
The course continues to consolidate the foundations extended in the autumn course based on readings from Cicero. We shall cover a variety of poetry and prose from Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, including selections from Boethius, Bede, Lupus of Ferrières, Nithard, and others. The authors chosen will all be significant for their efforts to reflect the highest classical standards.
Instructor(s): Michael Allen Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): LATN 20100 or equivalent
LATN 20323. High and Later Medieval Intermediate Latin. 100 Units.
The course continues the work of grammatical extension and consolidation. We shall cover a variety of poetry and prose by great Latin stylists from the twelfth to the fourteenth century, including Bernard of Clairvaux, Peter of Blois, Petrarch, and Dante. The authors chosen will all be significant for their efforts to reflect the highest classical standards.
Instructor(s): Michael Allen Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): LATN 202 or equivalent
LATN 20324. Later and Early Medieval Intermediate Latin II. 100 Units.
The course continues to consolidate the foundations extended in the autumn course based on readings from Cicero. We shall cover a variety of poetry and prose from Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, including selections from Boethius, Bede, Lupus of Ferrières, Nithard, and others. The authors chosen will all be significant for their efforts to reflect the highest classical standards.
LATN 21223. Philosophical Prose: Cicero, Tusculan Disputations. 100 Units.
Several months after the death of his beloved daughter and just two years before his own death in 43 BC, Cicero composed a dialog with an imaginary interlocutor arguing that death, pain, grief, and other perturbations were an unimportant part of the big picture. A reading of this famous contribution to the genre of consolation literature (all of it to be read in English, selections in Latin) affords an opportunity to weigh his many examples and his arguments for ourselves.
Instructor(s): Peter White Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): LATN 31223
LATN 21500. Roman Satire. 100 Units.
Course readings include satires of Horace and Juvenal in Latin together with selections in English from the long tradition of their European reception history.
Instructor(s): D. Wray Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): LATN 31500
LATN 22023. Apuleius. 100 Units.
We'll read some of the most interesting moments from Apuleius's hilarious, raunchy novel The Metamorphoses/ The Golden Ass as well as consult some of the secondary literature. If you think Latin is boring-check out what happens to the protagonist Lucius!
Instructor(s): S. Bartsch. Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): LATN 32023
LATN 22324. Tacitus, Histories, book 1. 100 Units.
Tacitus made his debut as a historian with the Histories, a grim but vivid account of Roman imperial rule from Galba to Domitian. The focus of the course is book 1, which describes the succession of coups and revolts that made 69 AD the "Year of the Four Emperors". It provides a rare opportunity to see how Tacitus structures his narrative in comparison with parallel sources, and to appreciate the bold effects which make his style uniquely Tacitean."
Equivalent Course(s): LATN 32324
LATN 22823. Livy Book II. 100 Units.
In this class we'll read through the fascination second book of Livy's history of Rome, the Ab Urbe Condita. Book 2 covers Rome directly after the fall of the kings, including the foundational Roman accounts of Horatius Cocles and Coriolanus.
Instructor(s): S. Bartsch. Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): LATN 32823
LATN 26023. Dear Student: Read the epistles of Cicero, Ovid, Seneca, and others. 100 Units.
Through our reading of Cicero, Ovid, and Seneca, in this class we explore the lost art of letter writing. The genre of the epistle gives us a glimpse into daily life at Rome by capturing actual correspondence between elite Romans, such as we see in Cicero's letters; allows for playful and philosophical revisitations of myth, even revealing gendered voice, as with Ovid's letters between Penelope and Odysseus, or Dido and Aeneas; and is a crafted structure within which Seneca communicates the lessons of Stoicism to his fictive interlocutor. We will read these authors' letters in Latin and compare their style and content. As time allows, the letters of Pliny the Younger and the Emperor Julian round out the historical scope from Roman Republic to Empire. Latin proficiency and student interest will contribute to the shape and pace of our readings and discussions.Assessment is in the form of weekly quizzes on content and grammar and three translation exams.
Instructor(s): Patrice Rankine Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): LATN 36023
LATN 26624. Martial's Epigrams. 100 Units.
Martial's epigrams can be funny, obscene, groveling, literary, outrageous, illuminating, and more. In this course we'll read a selection from the many volumes he wrote, starting with the fascinating Liber de Spectaculis describing apparent snuff plays. We will be using the epigrams as a window into different aspects of first century imperial Roman culture, including doctors, criminal justice, mythology, misogyny, city life, intertextuality, sexuality, obscenity, politics, and more. Please be aware that he can be very vulgar.
Equivalent Course(s): LATN 36624
LATN 27024. From Latin to Romance. 100 Units.
This course will examine the transition that took place, linguistically and sociolinguistically, from Latin to the Romance languages. The emerging languages became, eventually, large linguistic groups in Modern Europe. We will start from vulgar Latin, spoken and written in the "Provinces" of the Roman Empire, to then study the languages in contact with them, the linguistic backgrounds and policies, and also analyze the linguistic and grammatical changes that these languages underwent.
Equivalent Course(s): LATN 37024
LATN 29700. Reading Course. 100 Units.
TBD
Terms Offered: Autumn
Spring
Winter
Prerequisite(s): Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form.