History of Greece
CLAS 211/ HIST 211 (3cr)
Fall 2007
Tuesday, Thursday 12:30-1:45, Huff 1012b

Instructor:
Nicholas Gresens
Office WALL 21
Office Hours: M/W10-12 or by appointment
Email: ngresens@monm.edu
Phone: 2208

Course Description

This course focuses on the social, political, and military history of ancient Greece, from its prehistoric roots to the ascendancy of Rome in the eastern Mediterranean.  Through this course you will gain a firm understanding of the trajectory of Greek history and the major events and characters that influenced this trajectory.  You will also become familiar with the sources and methods historians use to reconstruct the history of Greece, both through the course readings and through analysis of literary, epigraphic, numismatic, and archaeological evidence in class. 

Course Goals

By the end of this class, you will be able to: 1) outline Greek history, from the Bronze Age to the Roman Period, listing major characteristics, events, trends; 2) describe and explain the changes that occurred between each period; 3) identify important people, places, events, and dates and why they are important; 4) “read” various pieces of historical evidence and identify their strengths and weaknesses in order to flesh out the narrative and begin to create your own narrative.

Class Format

Class time will be divided between lecture and discussion.  Discussion will focus on the analysis of primary sources from ancient Greece.  You must come to class having completed the required readings for that day. 

Grade Composition

Your final grade will be determined as follows:
Midterm Exam                        25%
Final Exam                              25%
Group Atlas Project                15%
Movie Review                         10%
Modern Fiction Paper             15%
Class Participation                   10%

A+ (100-95)  A (94-90) A- (89-88)
B+ (87-85)    B (84-80) B- (79-78)
C+ (77-75)    C (74-70) C- (69-68) etc.

Important Dates:

Thursday, Oct. 18-Midterm Exam
Friday, Dec. 14 8:00 AM-Final Exam

Assignments

(A more complete description of each assignment will be distributed as they are assigned)

Group Atlas Project
Your assignment is to create a digital map of one period of Greek history with your group.  It will be created using ESRI’s ArcGIS software and displayed in GoogleEarth.

Movie Project
After viewing one of several Hollywood movies that use ancient Greece as their backdrop, you will write a short paper (2-3 pages) on questions of historical accuracy.

Modern Fiction Paper
Like the Movie Project, this paper involved questioning a modern work's historical accuracy.  Here you will read a piece of modern fiction that uses ancient Greece as a backdrop, find one issue of historical accuracy you would like to research, and write a short research paper about it (5-7 pages).

Attendance, Participation, and Late Assignments
Attendance is expected and will count as a portion of your participation grade.  If you must miss class, please make every attempt to contact me prior to class either by email or telephone.  Excused absences (for medical reasons, family emergencies, etc.) will not count against your final grade.  It is the responsibility of the student to obtain the appropriate notes from doctors, the Student Health Service, etc. Also, athletes, musicians, jurors, students serving in the military, and other students with individual circumstances should inform the instructor as soon as possible when they will be absent AND obtain appropriate notes from coaches, academic advisors, etc.

The participation portion of your grade will be determined through active attendance, small in-class writing assignments, and participation in discussion, both in  class and online. (See handout)

Assignments will be accepted late for grade but with a reduced score of one grade point (A becomes an A-) for each calendar day the assignment is late unless otherwise noted on the assignment.  If you have a reasonable excuse for your late assignment, please come and talk to me.

Academic Dishonesty

Cheating or otherwise attempting to pass off another’s work as your own will result in a 0 for that assignment and may result in further disciplinary action.  Know your rights and responsibilities.  If you have any questions on this, consult the Student Code of Conduct or talk to me directly.

Statement on Disability

If any student will require assistance or appropriate academic accommodations for a disability, please contact me after class during my office hours or by individual appointment.  If you have not already done so, you must establish your eligibility for disability support.

Required Textbooks

Pomeroy, etal. Ancient Greece. (Oxford, 1999)

Biers, The Archaeology of Greece. (Cornell, 1996)

Plutarch, Greek Lives. (Oxford, 1998)

Articles and handouts will also be found on Moodle.

Schedule of Topics and Readings