EUH 2011, Sect 1 Early European Civilization: The Greeks and Romans Summer A, 2012; Mon/Wed, 9:30-12:15 Ryder

120 Professor Pyron, Office: DM 387B tele: 348-2035; pyrond@fiu.edu Office Hours - after class; Always electronically and by appointment, Teaching Assistants: Joseph Holbrook [jholb001@fiu.edu] Rene Silva [rsilva@fiu.edu] TA Hours: TBA I. PRELIMINARIES: WORK AND COURSE SCHEDULE All history courses require considerable reading and writing. This one is no exception. They also demand a critical mass of time for conceptualizing and thinking. Especially as most students are not used to critical reading and formal writing, you must allow yourself plenty of time to study if you want to pass or to pass well. The short summer session multiplies this by 2.5. Thusthe short summer course is the equivalent of more than two regular courses. Thus, two short term summer courses equal a five course load in the spring or summer semesters. You do NOT want to sign up for more than two courses per short session. In addition, you should be very especially cautious about your course schedule in relation to your employment. As a rule of thumb, consider every 10 hours of employment the equivalent of an additional regular session class. The math is clear: twenty hours of work plus two summer courses equals about a 50-hour week. Anything over this becomes exponentially difficult. You might have accommodated a schedule like this before, do not expect to do so this semester. II. COURSE OBJECTIVES A. Content Objectives First, this course examines the values of our civilization from its origins with the Greeks in the eighth century BC through Alexander the Great. Second, it considers the legacy of Greek civilization through the Roman who succeeded them in power and influence in the Mediterranean world. While touching upon the great events and great men of this thousand year epoch, it emphasizes the intellectual history of Greco-Roman civilization, chiefly, the following: 1. The idea of law and politics 2. Consensual government 3. Military practices

4. Art and literature 5. Philosophy and science 6. More generally still, the celebration of humanity itself and individual achievement. In the process, the course also examines contemporary culture and how it reflects, alters, or rejects concepts first promulgated among the Hellenes almost three millennia ago. The courses uses primary source material, that is, documents produced by the ancients themselves. You will be expected to apply yourself diligently to each of the "great works" assigned. To encourage your diligence, a short objective quiz will be assigned for every class reading. Follow the syllabus closely, and observe that as summer sessions have double sessions, many days will have two sets of readings, and, consequently, two quizzes. B. Writing and Form The Greeks and Roman considered mastery of language - literature or "art talk" and "reasoned speech" or political talk - the sine qua non of civilization and the chief glory of man. Besides introducing this idea in its content, this course also demands you practice the ancients' literary discipline as well. Your ability to develop lucid arguments and to express yourself clearly in writing ranks equally with your mastery of data and information. More practically, this is a Gordon Rule course, and you will write 6000 words of original and redrafted material in order to pass. As an exercise in writing, the course has two objectives: 1. First, you will learn to analyze texts and make arguments based on these analyses. You will produce three essays towards this end. The course allows the opportunity of redrafting the first two of these in order to improve your style and of course, your grade. The highest grade always counts. Making an historical argument involves the following steps: a) reading the material closely, b) generating a thesis out of this material c) organizing the relevant data into a coherent and convincing essay. This argument should consist of an introductory paragraph or thesis statement and a series of subsequent paragraphs that sustain your thesis or argument about the material. 2. Second, you will develop or sharpen your skills in word usage, grammar, syntax, and the technicalities of good writing, such as constructing good paragraphs and vigorous sentences. III. TEXTS A. READINGS

*1. Homer, The Iliad, Fagels, ed. HARDCOVER REQUIRED 2. Aeschylus, The Persians ELECTRONIC COPY 2. Aristophanes, The Clouds ELECTRONIC COPY 3. Euripides, The Trojan Women ELECTRONIC COPY *4. Plato, The Republic, Penguin edition/Selections HARDCOVER REQUIRED 5. Juvenal, A Greek Struck Rome; 6. Polybius, The Constitution of Rome Selections ELECTRONIC COPY 7. Livy, History of Rome Selections ELECTRONIC COPY *8. Virgil, The Aeneid, Fagels, ed. HARDCOVER REQUIRED 8. St. Augustine, Confessions Selections ELECTRONIC COPY 9. Pope Benedict, Regensburg Address ELECTRONIC COPY B. FAVORITE PASSAGES For most of the readings, you will have the chance to pick the passages from the texts that you like best, that inspire you, or otherwise grab your attention. You must use the class FP forms for credit. You will receive these before. Fill these out and you will receive credit when you turn them in. IV. CLASS SCHEDULE: Note: each class has two sections, A and B. These correspond to the fall/spring classes in coverage and length. Sometimes each requires its own reading. Stay tuned! May 7 A. Syllabus; Writing Style Sheet ELECTRONIC COPY B. Hail Poseidon! The Issue of Western Superiority May 9 A. The Greeks: The What, The Where The When Greek Chronology ELECTRONIC COPY B. Greek Innovations: Alphabet, Science, Law and Politics May 14 A. Literature: What Poetry Means The Iliad, Books 1-5 FAVORITE PASSAGE B. Theology: Science of the Gods The Iliad, Books 6-9 FAVORITE PASSAGE May 16 A. Fate and Free Will The Iliad, Books 10-15 FAVORITE PASSAGE B. Warriors and Individuals: Naming Things and Competition The Iliad, Books 16-19 FAVORITE PASSAGE

May 21 May 23

A. The Iliad as History and Bible The Iliad, Books 20-24 FAVORITE PASSAGE A. Mycenaean Greeks (1600-1200) and the Dark Ages 1200-800 B. Polis Order: Representative Government; Constitutional Law, Patriotism and the Army FIRST WRITING ASSIGNMENT DUE A. The Persian Wars and the Rise of Athens Aeschylus, The Persians ELECTRONIC COPY FAVORITE PASSAGE B. The Periclean Golden Age - 460-430 A. The Peloponnesian Wars and Internal Change Euripides, The Trojan Women ELECTRONIC COPY FAVORITE PASSAGE B. Comedy and Thinking Aristophanes, The Clouds ELECTRONIC COPY FAVORITE PASSAGE

May 23 May 28

May 30

June 4

A. Philosophy and the Invention of the Mind Plato, The Republic, I. 327-392 FAVORITE PASSAGE B. Objectifying the World: Standard section numbers: III. 412-421, IV. 427-V. 466, VI. 509-VII. 521, X.613 - end FAVORITE PASSAGE June 6 A. Continuity and Change: Rome and Roman Hellenism Juvenal, A Greek Struck Rome ELECTRONIC COPY Polybius, The Constitution of Rome ELECTRONIC COPY FAVORITE PASSAGE B. Post-Hannabalic Rome: Livy, History of Rome ELECTRONIC COPY FAVORITE PASSAGE June 11 A. The Augustan Settlement and the Golden Age B. Roman Virtues: Military and Civil Virgil, The Aeneid, Bks 1-3 FAVORITE PASSAGE

June 11 June 13

SECOND WRITING ASSIGNMENT DUE A. The Roman Translation and Transformation of Greek Epic Virgil, The Aeneid, Bks 4-7 FAVORITE PASSAGE B. The Pax Romana Virgil, The Aeneid, Bks 8-9 FAVORITE PASSAGE A. The Roman Legacy Virgil, The Aeneid, Bks 10-12 B. Christians and Western Values FAVORITE PASSAGE

June 15

June 20

June 22

A. Pagan Leaning/Christian Theology St. Augustine, Confessions FAVORITE PASSAGE B. What It Means Pope Benedict, Regensberg Address FINAL ESSAYS DUE A. The Death of Heracles - and Resurgence B. Resurgence and Modern Decline

V. WRITTEN WORK A. Due Dates 1. Initial exercise (1000 words) . . . . . . . . May 30 2. Second exercise (1000 words). . . . . . . .June 8 3. Third exercise (1000 words). . . . . . . . . June 22 B. Assignments Prior to each assignment, the professor will circulate on the website a series of questions. You will chose one or more as the basis for creating a sharp, well-defined, nicely argued essay. You should use the course Style Sheet to assist your effort. This is electronically available. Most of its rules involve matters of common sense and logic. They all aim to encourage one end: simplicity and clarity in expression. C. Form Please observe the following technical rules when you submit papers: 1) Begin with a cover sheet that includes a) the assignment number b) the question number and the question itself; c) the title, if any d) the exact word count of your essay

e) for redrafts, always include the number of the redraft and attach the original 2) Allow generous margins for comments, but also attach a blank page at the end of the paper for additional comments. 3) Do not write your name on the cover sheet or anywhere in the body of your essay; include your name only on a completely separate name page at the paper's end that contains nothing except your name. 4) Attach the sheets with one staple in the upper left corner - no paper clips, no bent down edges, no fancy folders, etc. 5) Allow about 250 words per page; double space, dark ink. D. Redrafts You should strive for your best effort on every assignment, but the course also allows you the opportunity to improve your writing by redrafting. You may redraft your first two assignments. The graders will make every effort to return your essays in time for you to do so (summer is hard on graders, too.) If you redraft, you should use the occasion to rethink your entire essay. You should base this rethinking, however, on the specific and general recommendations of the graders. Your essays will contain copious notes. Follow and respect them to improve your writing - and, of course, your grade. Finally, while it is not mandatory, you should, please, take advantage of the graders. Visit in person or virtually. They will walk you through the problems. This is particularly important relative to your introductory paragraphs. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR ESSAY. DO IT WELL AND NOTHING BETTER IMPROVES YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS. The highest grade always counts. VI. QUIZZES Every time you have an assigned reading, you must be prepared to stand a short objective quiz. Such quizzes are assigned in order to encourage you to 1) keep up with the material, 2) read the material on time, 3) discuss the reading matter in class on the assigned dates, and 4) guarantee your attendance. Failure to take the quiz on the assigned date merits a zero. Do not expect make-up quizzes except in the case of sickness or other grave emergency, and advance warning to the professor. In the circumstance of emergency make-up quizzes, you must make up within a week of the missed test. VII. GRADING Quizzes and Participation. . . . .1/3 Essays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/3 Your quiz score is calculated after the final test. It is curved against the highest number of correct scores in the class, not against the total possible correct.

"Participation" comes into play when your grade is border-line. It involves regular class attendance, active engagement in the course, and the redrafting your essays. Your Quiz and Participation score will be reduced, however, for class absences. Around mid-term, you will receive a card with your grade to date. Extra credit You will receive extra credit for when you select your FAVORITE PASSAGE from the primary texts. To get this credit, you must submit the Favorite Passage form, available electronically. VIII. ACADEMIC HONESTY Do not cheat or crib on the quizzes. In addition, if you turn in any papers that or not your own work, you will get an F. You should not consult anyone else's paper who has taken the course previously. Note, too, the person who assists another in plagiarizing is as culpable as the receiver. If you study with someone or let someone read your essay and they crib from it, you, too, will be charged with cheating. If you have doubts about the assignments, speak with the teacher. Use only sources assigned in class. Do not use any sources not assigned in class, and cite all of your references from in-class material. Do not use material from the internet (however tempting) nor anything from the text introductions or Cliffs Notes or the like. The object of essays is to demonstrate your own engagement with the material and to prove your own judgments and arguments rather than to follow someone elses opinions. Do your own work. Do not cheat. Do not plagiarize. Practice virtue. IX. ATTENDANCE You are expected to attend every class meeting and to come on time. You will be allowed one absence; otherwise your grade will drop with each session missed. If you must miss class unavoidably, you should confirm with your professor about taking your quizzes. X. GOOD MANNERS Never chew gum in class; never eat crunchy food or soft food that comes in crinkly packages. Never whisper or mutter to your classmates or pass notes. Barring emergencies, don't leave class early and expect to escape unscathed. If you read newspapers, magazines, or other material in class, the professor will ask you to excuse yourself and give you a zero for the day's work. Turn off any cell phones or beepers before the lecture begins. Under no circumstances should you text message or play with computers in class. If so, you will be asked to leave.