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Announcement Board:
The essays can be submitted any time but definitely by Tuesday of week
15. Under no circumstances this very last minute deadline can be extended,
and you can see why.
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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:
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provide an overall picture of a society
different from ours, yet intellectually advanced
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place Athenian society in its historical
and cultural context,
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apply modern perspectives and interpretative
models to the study of classical Athens
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study an advanced legal system with
concepts of justice and procedure considerably different from our own
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study ancient Greek political philosophy
and constitutional practice
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study Athenian administrative practice
and procedure
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study Athenian social, economic and
cultural institutions
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explore Athenian religion as an experience
in the community
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study the roles of Athenian men and
women as individuals and members of the community
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provide advanced skills of analysis
and evaluation
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organise and study widely scattered
and fragmentary source material
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improve research methods through the
study of primary sources
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improve writing and organization skills
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open horizons and encourage original
thinking.
Assessment:
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Weekly contribution to discussions on WebCT =
60%
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Essays (2 x 20) = 40%
The weekly discussions will be assessed according to the following criteria:
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Depth of argument,
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Logic of argument,
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Clarity of presentation (and here I would say that simplicity is a virtue),
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Enthusiasm and Interest in the topic.
Similar criteria apply in the assessment of the essays, and in addition:
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Quality of the research
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Professionalism in the presentation of the bibliography
Sloppy work may be forgiven at freshman and sophomore level,
but not at this level. Ideally one would expect thoughtful, sensible presentations
with clarity and depth.
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 be assigned a reading
from these books, and this is why it is important to have easy access to
them. Additional teaching materials will be
added in the course website as required. |
Schedule:
Background: The main sources
(For the sake of convenience, the links are to the
first page of Perseus for each text, but of course other, and maybe better,
translations can be used)
Week
Topic
1. Aristotle
Athenian Constitution , and Aristophanes
Wasps
2. Apollodoros
Against
Neaira (preserved among the speeches of
Demosthenes, as number 59), andIsaios
3: On the Estate of Pyrrhos
3. Lysias
1: On the Murder of Eratosthenes, and Xenophon:
Oeconomicus
The Athenian city-state
4. Citizen identity: definition of
citizenship for men and women
Introduction to the citizen body:
phratry, genos, deme
Aliens, metics, and slaves
5. The Administration of the Athenian
state: Assembly and Magistrates.
The appointment and accountability
of magistrates
6. The legislative process: laws,
decrees,
graphe paranomon
The enforcement of the law: public
and private lawsuits, arbitration
7. The popular law-courts; the
Areopagos and the other homicide courts
Speeches witnesses, documents,
legal challenges
Penalties: self-help, fines, disfranchisement,
imprisonment, death
8. The democratic constitution:
an overview
Subversive activity against the
Athenian democracy
The Individual and the
family
9. The Athenian family (oikos)
and its head (kyrios)
The legal responsibilities of the
kyrios;
fathers and sons.
10. The formation of the oikos:
marriage and women’s role
Concubines, and illegitimate offspring
Gender relations and stereotypes
11. The continuation of the oikos:
direct succession, adoption, epicleros
Widows, orphans and guardians
12. Women, property and women’s
power
The break up of the marriage: divorce
and adultery
Courtesans and prostitutes
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. An overview of Athenian economy
and society
Essay topics:
Write TWO essays (c.
3000 words each) choosing from the following topics:
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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?
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Some scholars maintain that Athenian
women were leading an uninteresting existence of exclusion and isolation.
Do you think that this is a true statement?
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Do you find the sexual morality of
the Athenians more honest than that of most modern societies
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Index of Course Handouts
