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2011-2012 Calendar Proof
CLAS
CLASSICS AND ANCIENT HISTORY
Below are brief descriptions for the courses which deal with material in English translation.
Descriptions of Latin and Greek language courses can be found under the GREEK and LATIN course sections.
INTRODUCTORY LEVEL COURSES
1000 and 2000 level courses are designed for students in the first or second year of their programs, and may be taken in any
order. The courses are open to all students.
CLAS 1323
Introduction to Classical Archaeology: Methods and Theory
3 ch (3C) [W]
This course focuses on archaeology as a science. It covers the history of archaeological investigations, presents the scientific
methods used in identifying and excavating a site, and the scientific analysis of the material remains. Representative examples that
illustrate these scientific advancements are drawn from the major Mediterranean civilizations (Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek,
Etruscan, and Roman) excavated over the last few centuries.
CLAS 1403
Ancient Greeks
An illustrated introduction to the religion, literature, art and philosophy of the ancient Greeks.
3ch (3C) [W]
CLAS 1413
The Romans
A survey of the political, military, literary, and architectural achievements of the Romans
3ch (3C) [W]
CLAS 1503
Introduction to Mythology: The Gods and Heroes of Greece and
3ch (3C)
Rome
A survey of the myths which helped to shape the life and thought of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. Emphasis will be
placed on myths describing the gods and their powers, the beginnings of the world, the earliest humans, the tales of the heroes,
and miraculous experiences in the lives of ordinary persons. Students who have successfully completed CLAS 3503 may not enrol in
this course.
CLAS 1703
Greek and Latin Roots of Scientific Terminology
3ch (3C)
Designed for anyone with an interest in the origin of words, this course introduces the student to basic scientific terminology,
especially that of the life sciences, through the Greek and Latin sources of these words. This course aids in the understanding of
these modern terms by exploring their basic meanings, the connections between these words, how they came to be created, and
the rules that govern the formation of new terms.
CLAS 2333
Classical Art and Archaeology
3ch (3C) [W]
A general survey of the history of archaeology in the Greek and Roman worlds and the artistic and architectural achievements of
the ancient Greeks and Romans.
ADVANCED CLASSICS COURSES
CLAS 3003
Ancient History: The Greeks from the Bronze Age to the Persian Wars
(A)
3 ch (3C) [W]
Focuses on the Birth of Ancient Greece and traces its development to the end of the Archaic period. Includes: Greek prehistory, the
early historical period, the origin of democracy and the crucial defeat of the Persian invasions of 490 and 480 B.C.
CLAS 3013
Ancient History: Greece in the Classical Age
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
Studies the social and political history of Greece in the 5th and 4th centuries B.C., including Athens’ rise to cultural and political
brilliance, her rivalry with Sparta, and the Greeks; ultimate failure to resolve their internal conflicts in the face of the Macedonian
threat.
CLAS 3023
Ancient History: Alexander and the Hellenistic World
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
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The social and political impact of Alexander the Great, his empire and his successors on the Mediterranean world, down to the
Roman conquest.
CLAS 3033
Ancient History: The Rise of the Romans
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
Rome from its village origins to the conquest of the Mediterranean world. Examines the link between Rome’s diplomacy and wars of
expansion, and her internal politics—the early kings, the tensions and balances of the Republic, and the role of Julius Caesar and
others in its collapse by 31 B.C.
CLAS 3043
Ancient History: The Roman Empire
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
Rome as the capital of western civilization, from the emerging of the imperial system under Augustus to its final decline in Western
Europe in the 5th century A.D. Considers the impact of the Roman army, administration, culture and law on ancient and modern
thought.
CLAS 3053
The Roman Army
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
Examines the development of the Roman legions, from their beginnings as a peasant conscript army to their imperial conquests and
fame as a professional fighting force. Topics discussed include: organization, armament, strategy and logistics and social impact,
the Roman navy, auxiliary forces, and the legions’ significance as a model for modern armies.
CLAS 3073
Ancient History: Jewish Civilization from the Babylonian Exile to the
3ch (3C) [W]
Great Revolt
(A)
An examination of the social, cultural, intellectual and political history of the Jews during the period of the second temple (516 BCE
– 70 CE).
CLAS 3083
The Byzantine Empire
3ch (3C) [W]
A historical analysis of Byzantine civilization from its emergence from the Late Roman Empire to its medieval zenith under Basil II
(r. 976-1025). Topics include the development of a distinctive Byzantine culture, its interaction with Western Europe, confrontation
with Islam and its civilizing role in Eastern Europe.
CLAS 3093
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
Traces the more important changes which overtook the Roman world from the late third to the seventh centuries AD. The course
concentrates on the Roman experience at the court and in the provinces, and considers some of the dramatic upheavals that swept
the empire in this period, which include the change of the principate into an autocracy, the intrusion of the government in to all
aspects of life, the decline of the cities, the politicization of Christianity, and the loss of the western provinces.
CLAS 3303
Classical Archaeology
(A)
A study of the material culture of Ancient Greece within a mythological, political, social and economic context.
3ch (3C) [W]
CLAS 3313
Field School in Classical Archaeology
(O)
3ch (3C) [W]
This course is an introduction to archaeological field techniques through participation in a field research project in the Classical
lands. It introduces students to survey methods, excavation techniques, documentation/recording of field procedures, recovery of
artifacts, and their preparation for storage.
CLAS 3323
Byzantine Art and Archaeology
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
This course presents an overview of the principle monuments and artistic forms of Byzantium from AD 324 to the fall of the empire
in AD 1453 and examines how these cultural manifestations reflect contemporary political and religious attitudes.
CLAS 3333
Greek Art and Archaeology (A)
3ch (3C) [W]
A survey of the major monuments of the art and architecture of the Greeks from the Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period. Students
cannot receive credit for both CLAS 2303 and CLAS 3333.
CLAS 3343
Roman Art and Archaeology
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
A survey of the major monuments of the art and architecture of the Etruscans and the Romans from the Iron Age to late Antiquity.
Students cannot receive credit for both CLAS 2313 and CLAS 3343.
CLAS 3373
Pompeii and Herculaneum
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
A study of the physical remains of the area around Mt Vesuvius, concentrating on Pompeii, Herculaneum and the nearby villas.
Topics discussed include: town planning, architectural development, local politics, Roman wall painting, domestic and public space.
CLAS 3403
The Comic Theatre of Greece and Rome
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
The development of comedy from the kômos in Greece; the reading, in English translation, of an Old Comedy by Aristophanes, a
satyr-play by Euripides and a New Comedy by Menander; the development of comedy in Rome through the reading of plays by
Plautus and Terence. The history of the theatre, its changing structure, conventions, the production of plays and their performance
and the festivals at which they were performed.
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CLAS 3413
The Tragic Theatre of Greece and Rome
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
The history of the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens and a survey of the origins of Greek tragedy; the reading in English translation of
a representative sample of the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides; the dramatic festivals at which they were performed,
the production and performance of the plays, the dramatic conventions. The role of the serious theatre in Rome; a tragedy of
Seneca, in English translation, is read.
CLAS 3433
The Ancient World on Film
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
The course aims to help students understand and enjoy the reception of Greek and Roman civilization in Hollywood and European
films. History will be studied via cinematic versions (such as Troy, Alexander, Spartacus, Life of Brian, Fellini’s Satyricon, Gladiator,
etc.) and Greek and Latin literature in translation. Attention will be given to the ways in which filmmakers adapt historical subjects
and how classical literature is recast as films, offering an exciting commentary on our relationship with our classical heritage. By
introducing students to some of the literature and films about the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, it will encourage them to
address questions of how they shape our views about the past. The focus will be on analyzing and discussing literature, film, and
culture within a historical context.
CLAS 3463
History of Modern Greece
3ch (3C) [W]
An introductory survey course of the history of Modern Greece beginning with the Greek War of Independence in 1821 to World War
II. Special attention will be paid to various events and themes (such as the Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922 and the Greek Diaspora
etc.) by utilizing literature and other historical sources and documentaries in order to present the society, culture and politics of
Greece and gain a better understanding of the modern Greek Identity. There are no prerequisites.
CLAS 3473
Introduction to Modern Greek Literature
3ch (3C) [W]
An introductory survey course of Modern Greek Literature in translation. Emphasis will be placed on the history and development of
th
th
literature from the 19 and 20 centuries by examining a selection of poetry, short stories and novels. Included in this survey are
the Nobel prize winners George Seferis and Odysseas Elytis. There are no prerequisites.
CLAS 3503
The Greek Gods and Their Cults
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
The Greek myths of creation and the Greek gods and their mythology. The historical origins of the gods, the development of Greek
religion from pre-historic times. Parallels are adduced from Middle Eastern mythologies. Major Greek religious sites are illustrated.
CLAS 3513
The Trojan War: Myth and History
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
Fought over the abduction of a woman, the Trojan War has been a part of popular culture for 3000 years. It has been told and
retold by poets since Homer, depicted in the arts of ancient Greece through the Middle Ages and Renaissance into modern times,
sparked the romantic imaginations of early archaeologists, and most recently been interpreted on the screen in films such as
Unforgiven, and Troy. This course will explore Trojan War through literature, historical texts, archaeology, the visual arts, drama
and film.
CLAS 3523
The Mythology and Religion of the Romans
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
A study of the legends surrounding the foundation and growth of early Rome and of the Italian gods. Roman religion is studied
under such headings as prayer, sacrifice, divination, the religious year and calendar, priests and emperor-worship. [Not open to
students who received credit for CLAS 4023.]
CLAS 3703
Socrates
(A)
3ch (3C/S) [W]
Examines the central intellectual, political, religious and social controversies of the Golden Age of Greece (450-350 BC), by
focussing on Socrates in conflict with both the citizens of Athens and the new professional teachers, the “Sophists”.
CLAS 3723
Ancient Science
(A)
An examination of the development of scientific theory and practice among the ancient Greeks and Romans.
CLAS 3733
Ancient Philosophers
(A)
A survey of the various forms of philosophical literature produced in the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome.
3ch (3C) [W]
3ch (3C) [W]
CLAS 3803
The Graeco-Roman Background of the New Testament
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
Examines the social, literary, philosophical and religious milieu in which the writing of the New Testament took place.
CLAS 3813
The Early Church
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
The history of Christianity from the apostles to the fifth century: its organization and doctrinal development, and its interaction with
Roman civil authority and paganism.
CLAS 3903
Women in Ancient Greece
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
Examines the portrayal of women in ancient Greek literature and the realities of women’s lives as reconstructed from the historical,
legal, and archaeological records.
2011-2012 Calendar Proof
CLAS 3913
Love and Sexuality in Greece and Rome
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
A study of Greek and Roman attitudes towards love and sexuality. Literary and artistic evidence will be used to explain why scenes
of erotica were widely on display within the ancient home and in the public realm. Analysis of these attitudes in their own context
will be combined with a discussion of how they relate to modern values and gender issues. Topics include social morality,
homosexuality, marriage and adultery, erotic art, fertility rituals, and pornography.
CLAS 3923
Roman Law
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
A survey of the development and practice of the Roman legal system, upon which all modern civil law systems are based. Topics
include: sources of Roman law and legal institutions; legal procedure; Roman legal concepts (persons, property, obligations,
succession); equity and social change in legal reform; survival and modern revival.
CLAS 3933
Sports and Recreation in Greece and Rome
(A)
3ch (3C) [W]
An examination of sport and recreational activities among the ancient Greeks and Romans, the ancient values they reflect and their
influence on modern sport in such matters as organization and policing of events, professionalism, athletes as celebrities, and
‘blood’ sports. Students cannot receive credit for both CLAS 2903 and CLAS 3933.
CLAS 4063
Caesar Augustus: Architect of the Roman Empire
(A)
3ch [W]
A seminar dealing with the controversial career of Caesar Augustus, from his unexpected rise to power to his establishment of the
Imperial system of government at Rome, through systematic analysis of the primary sources, using the Res Gestae, Augustus' own
public statement of his achievements, as a starting point. Prerequisite: 60ch, or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 4303
Topography and Monuments of Athens
(A)
3ch (3S) [W]
A seminar on the topography and monuments of Athens and environs from the Bronze Age to late Antiquity, based on the
archaeological, literary and epigraphic sources. Prerequisite: 60ch, or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 4313
Topography and Monuments of Rome
(A)
3ch (3S) [W]
A seminar on the topography and monuments of Rome from the Iron Age to Late Antiquity, based on the archaeological, literary
and epigraphic sources. Prerequisite: 60ch, or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 4333
Greek & Roman Housing
(A)
3ch (3CS) [W]
This course examines the Greek and Roman dwelling from the Iron Age to Late Antiquity by studying the architectural
developments in the plan, construction techniques and adornment through the material remains and literary evidence. A special
emphasis is placed on the socio-political and economic factors that influenced domestic design, as well as the current methods of
analyses of material remains that shed light on the function and distribution of space within the household, the relationship
between gender and space, domestic cult practices, household economy, and regional diversity in domestic organization.
Prerequisites: 60ch, or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 4353
Greek Sculpture
(A)
3ch (3CS) [W]
This course examines Greek sculpture, free-standing and relief, from the Archaic period through the Classical and Hellenistic.
Special emphasis will be placed on the development of the human form and the representation of pose, as well as the problems of
pedimental construction. Material from contemporary arts, such as pottery, will also be used to illustrate the course. Prerequisite:
60ch or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 4363
Roman Sculpture
(A)
3ch (3CS) [W]
This course looks at free-standing and monumental sculpture of Ancient Rome, both as an art form and as a socio-political
phenomenon. Special attention is paid to imperial portraiture and questions of ideology in both the public and private realms.
Prerequisite: 60ch or permission of the instructor.
CLAS 5003
Directed Studies in Classics
3ch (3C) [W]
A detailed study of a specific area of Classical Studies. Uses primary sources (in translation) to illuminate the chosen topic.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor.
CLAS 5013
Directed Studies in Archaeology
A detailed study of a specific area of Greek or Roman archaeology. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor.
3ch (3C) [W]
OVERSEAS COURSES
CLAS 2643
Rome: the Eternal City I
(O)
3ch
2011-2012 Calendar Proof
An introduction to the history of Rome from ancient times to the Renaissance. Taught on location in Italy. Students may not receive
credit for both CLAS 2643 and 3643. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3603
The Art and Architecture of Greece I
(O)
3ch [W]
A study of the art and architecture of Greece organized around visits to important archaeological sites and major museums in
Greece. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3605
Ancient Athens
(O)
3ch [W]
A practical workshop introducing students to the Greek and Roman remains found at archaeological sites and museums in and
around Athens. Taught on location. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3613
Mythology and Archaeology I
(O)
3ch [W]
The mythology and cults of the Greek gods, seen in the context of the archaeological remains of some of their major cult centres,
and the Mycenaean origins of the sagas of the Greek heroes from the focus of this course. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3623
The Art and Architecture of Greece II
(O)
3ch [W]
Directed study of selected topics in Greek art and architecture undertaken through visits to important monuments, archaeological
sites and museums in Greece. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3633
The Art and Architecture of Imperial Rome
3ch [W]
A study of the art and architecture of Classical Rome organized around visits to important monuments, archaeological sites and
museums in Italy. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3643
Rome: from Ancient Times to the Renaissance
(O)
3ch [W]
A study of the ancient and mediaeval history of the city of Rome, through on-site examination of the material remains. Students
may not receive credit for both CLAS 2643 and 3643. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3653
Mythology and Archaeology II
(O)
3ch [W]
Directed study of selected topics in the mythology and cults of the Greek gods undertaken through the study of the archaeological
remains of major cult centres in Greece. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3663
Religion in Ancient Rome
(O)
3ch [W]
A study of religion in Rome from its pagan origins to the rise of Christianity in the late Empire, based on first-hand examination in
Rome of temples, altars, churches, sculpture, inscriptions and other material on site and in museums. Travel costs not included in
tuition.
CLAS 3673
Ancient Cities and Civilizations of Western Turkey: Myth,
3ch [W]
Cult and History
(O)
A study of the history and civilizations of western Asia Minor, in particular the Hittite, Lydian and Graeco-Roman. Myth, cult and
history are introduced in varying degrees as appropriate to the various sites visited during the tour. Particular attention is paid to
the Greek cities of the Aegean coast, their sanctuaries, public buildings and theatres. Travel costs not included in tuition.
CLAS 3683
The Art and Architecture of Asia Minor: Hellenistic, Roman
3ch [W]
And Early Christian
(O)
A survey of the art and architecture of Asia Minor, organized around visits to important archaeological sites and major museums in
Turkey, and studying selected remains from the Hellenistic, Roman and early Christian periods, including sculpture, temple
architecture, and examples of the early Christian basilica. Travel costs not included in tuition
CLAS 3693
Roman Britain
(O)
3ch [W]
A study of the ancient Roman presence in Britain based on firsthand examination of Roman remains, including visits to Roman
cities, villa and bath complexes, museum collections in London and elsewhere, and Hadrian’s Wall and other military installations.
Travel costs not included in tuition.