2021-2022 1 CLASSICS (CLAS) CLAS 1010 The Rise of Rome (3) This course traces the history of Rome from its earliest foundations to the fall of the Roman republic. While learning about major historical events, we will also explore various aspects of Roman cultural and social history. Topics for discussion include politics, social status, gender roles, religion, warfare, murder and conspiracy, and ancient spectacle. No prerequisites. (Note: Not open to senior history majors) CLAS 1030 The Greeks (3) This course offers an introduction to the literature, history, culture, art and architecture of the ancient Greeks. Focusing on Greeks living throughout the Mediterranean from the Bronze Age down to the Hellenistic Period, the course is organized around targeted investigations that explore important aspects of ancient Greek civilization such as colonial expansion, the invention of alphabetic writing, the birth of drama, etc. The aim of the course is not to be exhaustive, but rather to introduce students to the study of antiquity. We will regularly delve into scholarly debate, consider what kinds of evidence underlie our knowledge, and examine the limits of interpretation all while developing our familiarity with the ancient Greeks. CLAS 1040 Mythology (3) This course will introduce you to the gods, heroes, and monsters of Greek and Roman mythology. The focus of the course involves reading and discussing selected works of ancient Greek and Roman literature in English translation, but we will also move beyond these narratives to examine how the Greeks and Romans portrayed their myths in other media, including art and architecture. CLAS 1290 Semester Abroad (1-20) Study abroad in Classical Studies. Department approval required. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours. Maximum Hours: 99 CLAS 1940 Transfer Coursework (0-20) Transfer Coursework at the 1000 level. Departmental approval may be required. Maximum Hours: 99 CLAS 2020 The High Roman Empire (3) This course introduces the institutional, social, and cultural changes of the empire from Augustus to Diocletian. Emphasis is placed upon the birth of imperial administration, cultural change and continuity, and the rise of Christianity. CLAS 2120 The Archaeology of Israel (3) This course explores the archaeology of the southern Levant from the Bronze Age to the creation of the state of Israel (ca. 3330 B.C.E. - 1948 C.E.). It provides an introduction to the methodology and theory of archaeology and an overview of the material cultures of the complex societies that inhabited the region. Special attention will be paid to cultures of the Israelites, Phoenicians, Philistines, and Arabs and the impact of external imperial rule (from the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians to the Greeks and Romans) on the life and culture of these socieites. We will also investigate the transformation of the region from the rise of Christianity and the Muslim conquest through emergence of Israel as a modern nation-state. Throughout we will focus on extant texts, inscriptions, material culture such as pottery, figurines, and sculpture, and public, religious, and domestic architecture to reconstruct a detailed picture of this region as a dynamic crossroads of civilizations. CLAS 2220 New Testament Historical Intro (3) This course is a literary and historical introduction to the canonical New Testament. It will engage issues of authorship, dating, theology, genre, and special problems related to the scientific" (or scholarly) study of the New Testament. There will be some engagement with literature outside of the canonical New Testament but only as it relates to special issues and topics in New Testament interpretation." CLAS 2310 Tyrants & Democrats Anc Greece (3) This course examines the origins and characteristics of basic Greek forms of government in their historical context, concentrating on tyranny and democracy in the archaic and classical periods. The course stresses the development of Greek political institutions and political thought. CLAS 2320 Ancient Greek Religion (3) What was the ancient Greek religion about? And how can we know about the religious experience of a population that is long gone? Both these questions are interconnected and represent the core of this course. Week after week, we will reconstruct the principles and articulation of religious beliefs and practice in ancient Greece, reflecting on the evidence we can use. We will discover the ways that religious system mirrors a specific understanding of human society and its place in the universe. And, with it, we will find that, surprisingly or not, that religious system provided a solid base to several modern religious practices. 2021-2022 2 CLAS 2330 Alexander the Great (3) This course explores the archaeology of the southern Levant from the Bronze Age to the creation of the state of Israel (ca. 3330 B.C.E. – 1948 C.E.). It provides an introduction to the methodology and theory of archaeology and an overview of the material cultures of the complex societies that inhabited the region. Special attention will be paid to cultures of the Israelites, Phoenicians, Philistines, and Arabs and the impact of external imperial rule (from the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians to the Greeks and Romans) on the life and culture of these societies. We will also investigate the transformation of the region from the rise of Christianity and the Muslim conquest through the emergence of Israel as a modern nation-state. Throughout we will focus on extant texts, inscriptions, material culture such as pottery, figurines, and sculpture, and public, religious, and domestic architecture to reconstruct a detailed picture of this region as a dynamic crossroads of civilizations. CLAS 2340 Troy: Beyond the Myth (3) The Trogan War: famous heroes against each other, astute decoys, tragic deaths, plotting, intrigue, and the gods in the midst of it. Was it all fiction? In this class, we will use literary and archaeological evidence to answer this question. CLAS 2390 Semester Abroad (1-20) For transfer of credit. Department approval required. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours. Maximum Hours: 99 CLAS 2400 Ancient Medicine (3) This course traces the evolution of the practice of medicine in Ancient Greece and Rome via a multitude of ancient literary, documentary, and material sources. Topics include medicine in mythology, theories of medicine, pharmacology, military medicine, medical tools, women's health, and physicians in society. Students will not only gain a knowledge of the foundation of medicine, but also better understand the practice of medicine as it exists today through guest lectures and a field trip to the Pharmacy Museum in the French Quarter. CLAS 2600 The Classical World in Film (3) This interdisciplinary course investigates the use of themes from classical history, literature, and mythology in modern cinematography. Its focal point is the artistic appropriation of these themes in service of a fresh literary and cinematic vision. Films with classical themes are viewed as a part of the process of creative imitation and reinvention of a “classic”. Each segment of the course discusses a specific theme, starting with the thorough analysis of the relative ancient texts and material culture/archaeology. Reading assignments will include selections from Greek and Roman, such as epic, tragedy, history, lyric poetry, philosophy, and novel. The readings will be flanked by a selection of movies and clips that show modern adaptations of the same theme discussed in the readings. CLAS 2610 Sex and Gender in Antiquity (3) This course explores a wide range of topics related to sexuality and gender in the ancient Mediterranean. Using ancient literary sources, inscriptions, artwork, and modern scholarship, we will try to reconstruct Greek and Roman attitudes about sexuality and gender at different places and different times. In particular, we will focus on the depiction of female leadership in ancient literature, and will consider the following questions: How do the male writers of antiquity describe female leaders? Do they display the same attributes of leadership as their male counterparts, or is there something distinctly feminine about their mode of leadership? Are women depicted in leaders in various spheres of activity (battle, home, politics, etc.)? Is there always a sense of transgression or inferiority associated with female leadership? Do literary depictions match the primary evidence that documents the roles of women in their communities? How can these ancient texts inform the current debates about women in leadership roles? CLAS 2810 Special Topics (3) Special topics in Classical Studies focused on particular areas and issues in the fields of ancient culture, religion, history, and/or archaeology. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours. Maximum Hours: 99 CLAS 2811 Special Topics (3) Special topics in Classical Studies focused on particular areas and issues in the fields of ancient culture, religion, history, and/or archaeology. Corequisite(s): CLAS 2890. CLAS 2890 Service Learning (0-1) Students complete a service activity in the community in conjunction with the content of a three-credit co-requisite course. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours. Corequisite(s): CLAS 2811. Course Limit: 99 CLAS 2940 Transfer Coursework (0-20) Transfer Coursework at the 2000 level. Department approval may be required. Maximum Hours: 99 2021-2022 3 CLAS 3050 Archaeology Lab: Ashkelon (3) The field archaeology lab in Ashkelon Israel