Classics

The course is divided in two parts: A. Introduction to Greek history B. Aspects of Greek political thought Part A General introduction to Greek history from the Mycenaean to the Roman period. Attention will be paid to the political and institutional history, as well as to economic, social and cultural aspects. Topics are tentatively arranged according to the following syllabus: - introduction to the main sources, to aspects of modern historiography and to the periodization - the Mycenaean and the early archaic periods - Colonization, tyranny and earliest lawgives - the VI century BC - the Persian Wars and the Pentecontetia - the Peloponnesian War - the IV century BC - Alexander the Great and the origins of the Hellenistic period - Hellenism down to the Roman conquest Part B The course aims at illustrating some aspects of Greek political thought in the fifth and fourth centuries BC, with particular attention to the ancient historiographical debate on the main constitutional forms. The lectures may be supplemented by complementary teaching activities, both off-campus (visits to Museum, exhibits, archaeological sites in Rome and nearby) and lectures and seminars held by invited speakers.

Knowledge of classical languages (ancient Greek and Latin): useful Ability to read academic texts in English and French: useful Familiarity with the physical and historical geography of the Mediterranean world: indispensable

Part A - Lectures’ notes and didactic materials distributed by the instructor or uploaded in his personal webpage; - D. Musti, Storia greca. Linee di sviluppo dall’età micenea all’età romana, Roma-Bari 2006. Part B - Lectures’ notes and didactic materials distributed by the instructor or uploaded in his personal webpage; - D. Musti, Demokratìa. Origini di un'idea, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1995 (three chapters). Additional bibliography will be given during the lessons. Students who will not be able to attend the course will substitute the literary and documentary texts distributed by the instructor with Thucydides' Book 1 (in translation), and, as regards Part B, will read D. Musti, Demokratìa. Origini di un'idea, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1995 in its entirety.

Attendance of the lessons and of the additional didactic activities is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended.

The assessment of acquired knowledge and comprehension skills will be carried out through a single oral test, with open-ended questions (on syllabus topics and on topics of suggested readings). The exam, to be given at the end of the course, is aimed at verifying the acquired knowledge and the ability to apply the acquired knowledge in a competent and reflective way, and also the ability to communicate the acquired knowledge with an appropriate language. To pass the exam the student must achieve a grade of not less than 18/30.The student must demonstrate that he/she has acquired sufficient or higher knowledge of the topics covered in class and of the topics of suggested readings; he/she is also expected to be able to present them appropriately. In order to achieve a score of 30/30 cum laude, the student must instead demonstrate that he/she has acquired excellent knowledge of all the topics covered in class and of the topics of suggested bibliography, being able to connect them in a logical and consistent way. The same assessment methods are also valid for non-attending students (for whom supplementary readings are provided).