Discipline: History Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

History 21


COURSE DESCRIPTION
21 History of Ancient Greece Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite(s): None.

Advisory: Qualification for English 1A recommended
A survey of Greek history from Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations through the Hellenistic period. Emphasizes the development of Greek culture from its earlier Mediterranean origins through the development of Athenian democracy and Alexander’s conquest. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
A survey of Greek history from Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations through the Hellenistic period.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
Before entering the course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically discuss and analyze primary and secondary texts, recognizing key ideas and responding in both oral and written form.

  2. Analyze synthesize, and evaluate concepts studied in primary and secondary texts using immediate to advanced critical thinking skills.

  3. Compose developed, unified, stylistically competent writing assignments and adjust writing to the target audience with intermediate to advanced skill.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

Describe the qualities of distinct periods within the development of ancient Greek civilization.

Interpret primary texts which illustrate evolving ancient Greek perspectives on political, social and intellectual life.

Analyze the causes leading to the rise of Athenian democracy.

Evaluate the achievements of ancient Greek society against it’s own stated value.

Appraise the debt owed by modern societies to the social, political, and intellectual accomplishments of ancient Greece.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 
  1. Historical Methodology
  2. Minoan and Mycenaean Civilization 
    1. Classical Archeology and the discovery of Troy and other ancient Greek sites
    2. The Palace culture of ancient Knossos
    3. Theories of ancient goddess worship
    4. Mycenaean culture and the Trojan War
  3. The Dark Ages and Archaic Greece 
    1. Foundation of classical Greece on Egypt and other ancient cultures
    2. Emergence of the Greek alphabet
    3. Homeric literature, the Greek Pantheon
    4. The Olympics
    5. The political reforms of Draco, Solon, Peisistratos and Cleisthenes
    6. The Persian Wars
  4. Classical Greece 
    1. Political reforms of Ephialtes and Pericles
    2. The Athenian League
    3. The emergence of Greek tragedy and philosophy
    4. The Peloponnesian War
  5. Hellenistic Greece 
    1. The Macedonian league and the conquest of Alexander the Great
    2. The spread of Greek culture through the ancient near east
    3. The spread and transformation of the Greek language
    4. The emergence of Hellenistic culture prior to Roman conquest  
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Presentation of lectures which both disseminate information and pose problems.
  • Group and panel discussions; discussions which emphasize the ability to think criticall.
  • Field trip to local museums or art galleries which display Greek art to reinforce classroom discussions and presentation.
  • Presenting films, slides, overheads, audio tapes to reinforce concepts and related to roman creative expressions and cultural values.
  • Computer assistant and/or web-enhanced instruction which reinforces the course content.
  • Guest lecturers to present specific topics within the field of ancient Greek studies.
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Quizzes; examinations (at least 4) containing objective questions designed to assess students ability to recall, interpret, and analyze the subject matter.
  • Participation as required by instructor to ensure progress in mastering the course content and participation in collaborative learning process.
  • The writing of a 2000 word essay based on original ancient sources in translation.
  • Individual and group assignments designed to evaluate students’ understanding of the key themes and events in the course content.
  • Final examination designed to assess students’ mastery of the essential concepts and original sources explored in the course.
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Possible original texts may include selections from the following.

    1. Aeschylus, The Plays
    2. Aristotle, Politics, Ethics, Poetics
    3. Euripides, The Plays
    4. Herodotus, The Histories
    5. Hesiod, Theogony, Works and Days
    6. Homer, Iliad, Odyssey
    7. Pindar, The Odes
    8. Plato, (selected) Dialogues
    9. Sappho, Poetic Fragments
    10. Sophocles, The Plays
  • Contemporary Studies and Textbooks

    1. Boardman, John, Jasper Griffin, and Oswyn Murray, editors. The Oxford History of the Classical World. The Roman World. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.
    2. Dunstand, William, Ancient Greece fort Worth: Harcourt Brace, 2000.
    3. Finley, Moses I. The Ancient Greeks. New York: Viking, 1992.
    4. Freeman, Charles, The Greek Achievement, New York: Penguin, 2000
    5. Frost, Frank J. Greek Society. Third Edition. Lexington: D. C. Heath, 1987.
    6. Green, Peter, Alexander of Macedon 356-323 BC, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1991
    7. Lefkowwitz, Mary R., and Maureen B. Fant, Women’s Life in Greece and Rome, Baltimore: John’s Hopkins University Press, 2005.
    8. Pomeroy, Sarah B, A Brief History of Ancient Greece, New York: Oxford University Press, 2004
    9. Sealey, Raphael. A History of The Greek City States 700-338 B.C. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1976.
    10. Starr, Chester, History of the Ancient World Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. 1995
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