The Inscription with the Law Code of Gortyn

 Athenian Law and Society


Instructor: K. Kapparis
135 Dauer Hall

kapparis@classics.ufl.edu

Announcement Board:

The essays can be submitted any time; the final deadline is Tuesday of week 15.

The Lecture and discussion for weeks 2 and 3 have been posted in E-Learning (Sakai). Now that the site has been published all participants should have access to the site. All subsequent mail and announcements related to this course should be done through Sakai.

Summary: The present course offers a comprehensive assessment of the structures of classical Athens, encompassing a detailed study of Athenian law, constitution, finance, society, daily life, gender relations, religion, and culture. Athenian literature and culture has exercised enormous influence upon our culture, and thus, this course allows students to experience the birth and foundation of western civilization. However, in some respects Athenian society was tantalizingly different from ours. The Athenians did not have a holy book, and did not believe that any outside authority held an absolute truth. Thus, everything was considered to be a suitable subject for debate and investigation, from the natural world to moral values and beliefs. This allowed Athens to become a suitable place for scientific research, intellectual quest, rhetorical perfection, philosophical debate, and political experimentation. The result was the creation of a highly influential culture, and major advances in many disciplines. In this course students will study the conditions that allowed these advances to take place, and the political, social, economic and cultural context in which the foundations of our own culture were laid. Links with the modern debate on political, constitutional and social issues will also be explored where appropriate.

Aims and objectives:

Course Materials:
Students will need to buy or have easy access to the following books:
1. D.M. MacDowell: The Law in Classical Athens London 1978
2. R. Just: Women in Athenian Law and Life London 1989

Each week students will need these books, and this is why it is important to have easy access to them.

Schedule:

1. Introductory Lecture: The Evolution of the Athenian Constitution in connection with political, economic and social developments in the archaic and classical periods.

    The Athenian city-state

2. Citizen identity: definition of citizenship for men and women
Introduction to the citizen body: phratry, genos, deme
Aliens, metics, and slaves
3. The Administration of the Athenian state: Assembly and Magistrates.
The appointment and accountability of magistrates

4. The legislative process: laws, decrees, graphe paranomon
The enforcement of the law: public and private lawsuits, arbitration
5. The popular law-courts; the Areopagos and the other homicide courts
Speeches witnesses, documents, legal challenges
Penalties: self-help, fines, disfranchisement, imprisonment, death
6. The democratic constitution: an overview
Subversive activity against the Athenian democracy

7. REVIEW MEETING (LIVE ONLINE) [OCTOBER 6: 8 pm ET)

The Individual and the family

8. The Athenian family (oikos) and its head (kyrios)
The legal responsibilities of the kyrios; fathers and sons.
9. The formation of the oikos: marriage and women’s role
Concubines, and illegitimate offspring
Gender relations and stereotypes
10. The continuation of the oikos: direct succession, adoption, epicleros
Widows, orphans and guardians
11. Women, property and women’s power
The break up of the marriage: divorce and adultery
Courtesans and prostitutes

12. REVIEW MEETING (LIVE ONLINE) [NOVEMBER 10: 8 pm ET)

Athenian cultural values
13. Assault, slander, enslavement, hybris
Athenian attitudes towards violence and crime
14. Protecting the weak and the needy: social security in Athens
Medical care and ethical standards
15. The Athenian religious experience
Homicide, atheism, impiety and other religious offences
16. REVIEW MEETING (LIVE ONLINE) [DECEMBER 8: 8 pm ET) AND FINAL EXAM: THUSDAY DECEMBER 9: 8 PM.
 
Essay topics:
Write an essay (c. 3000 words) choosing from the following topics:
  1. The Athenians claimed that their constitution was designed to secure egalitarianism, justice for all, regardless of birth or wealth, and an ideal environment for the upbringing of free, self-confident individuals. However, considering the existing inequalities, the procedural shortcomings of Athenian institutions, and the failures of Athenian society, one might argue that this claim was self-righteous, empty propaganda. Where does the truth lie, in your opinion?
  2. Some scholars maintain that Athenian women were leading an uninteresting existence of exclusion and isolation. Do you think that this is a true statement?
  3. Do you find the sexual morality of the Athenians more honest than that of most modern societies 

Index of Course Handouts