CLAS 100 is an introduction to the civilizations of Greece and Rome. The aim of the course is to provide students with both a general grasp of some of the important historical developments of the ancient world, and a comprehensive understanding of some of the distinguishing features of Greek and Roman culture. We will therefore discuss, for example, the emergence of civilization in Greece, the development of Classical Athens, and the growth and consolidation of the Roman Empire. We will also devote a considerable portion of the course to an examination of other topics such as (but not limited to) Athenian democracy, Roman leisure, artistic production, religious practice, and daily life.
An intriguingly large percentage of the English language has been influenced by Ancient Greek and Latin, two languages which dominated Western culture for centuries. By breaking down words into their component parts we can not only identify how they grew from these classical roots, but also enrich our vocabulary and appreciate the subtleties and curious etymologies of English.
Classics 150 is the university’s introductory Latin course. During the term we shall review some of the basics of Latin vocabulary, grammar and syntax. The goal for the term is to complete Part I of the Oxford Latin Course, at which point students will be able to read basic passages of Latin without the use of a dictionary. Classics 150 should be of interest to students who are looking to fulfill their language requirement, who seek to improve their command of English grammar and vocabulary, who have a general interest in ancient culture, or who simply wish to be the focal point of their peer group.
In this class, students will quickly master the exotic alphabet of the ancient Greeks and learn the basic grammar and vocabulary necessary to take the first steps in the language memorably used by Homer, Herodotus, Sappho, Plato, Sophocles, and Euripides, as well as the New Testament. Rather than be "barbarians" (from the ancient word for "people who do not speak Greek"), students will be able to say: "It was Greek to me!"
In this second half of our introduction to the glorious Greek language, We will focus on new vocabulary, a mastery of more sophisticated grammar, ease and confidence in reading passages, and an appreciation of the culture of ancient Hellenic society.
Are the myths of the ancient Greeks "true" in any way? Why are we still fascinated by them? In this course we will study many of the most famous stories from antiquity, with a focus on learning the myths from original source material where possible; understanding the different forms of myth; recognizing recurring motifs and themes; exploring the relationship of myth to culture, religion, history, archeology, and art; and observing how myths have evolved and how they have been reinterpreted up to the present day.
A study of the works of Homer, Vergil, and Ovid, in English translation, with particular emphasis on their mythological content.
Do you ever wonder what could lead a mother to tear her son limb from limb in the forest under cover of darkness? It crossed Euripides’ mind. Or have you ever envisioned a scenario where a father sacrifices his daughter on the day she is supposed to marry the class hunk? It piqued the curiosity of Aeschylus. Why did fifth century Athenians tell and enjoy such tales? Generations of inbreeding? Perhaps. But in this course we shall investigate how these myths and their dramatic representation constituted perhaps the key vehicle through which Athenians articulated and contested some of the ideas and tensions underpinning their democratic community.
Women in Greece and Rome led diverse and fascinating lives. In this course, we will sift through many kinds of primary source material from classical mythology, literature, history, art, and archeology to draw a picture of the women of Greece and Rome. As we examine the evidence carefully, we will gain an awareness of the different cultural and social viewpoints of both ancient authors and artists as well as modern scholars regarding men and women from the past.
The excitement that simmered just below the surface in CLAS 150 erupts in the awesome spectacle that is CLAS 151, Latin Language II. The course title only begins to convey the excitement and exhilaration that will attend our study of the perfect system, participles and passive voice. The wishes and dreams so often expressed by students in the first term, moreover, are fulfilled as we proceed to an examination of the fourth and fifth declensions and the comparison of adjectives. The course then enacts its dramatic conclusion and reveals the regal splendour and pageantry of the Latin language with an in-depth analysis of relative clauses.