..... " you must yourselves realize the power of Athens, and feed your eyes upon her from day to day, till love of her fills your hearts; and then all her greatness shall break upon you " .
                                                                        Thucydides, Book II.43: Perikles' Funeral Oration

Athens, more than Rome, deserves the title "Eternal" city. Athens is not only significantly older, with origins in Pre-historic times, but it is the original base for Western civilization, even influencing crucially much of Rome's legacy to the West. Athens' contributions to the world include: democracy, theater, Socratic and Platonic philosophy, an understanding of economic markets, great architecture, sculpture, and, most vitally--a sense of the importance of the individual human being.

Athens always had natural advantages of location, adequate land, water, nearby stone for building, an acropolis for protection, but so did other sites. What separated Athens from the rest was its talented, creative, dynamic people who accepted challenges which led to greatness and made Athens a magnet for the Mediterranean world. There was and is still a magical quality about Athens-- a hint of the mystical, the intellectual, the exotic, and the romantic.

This course will explore Athens from the earliest times to its' 9th century A.D. devastation by barbarian invaders. By studying Athens' development, people, monuments, religion, and culture, we seek to discover what made Athens special. It fascinated antiquity and continues to fascinate today. Our investigative tools will include primary and secondary source readings, archaeology, art history, film, slides, and other means. Course requirements include a term paper, oral presentation of research, take-home quizzes, a mid-term and a final exam.