Course Descriptions - Undergraduate Calendar 2023-2024

An introduction to Greek and Roman civilization, focusing on six key aspects of the discipline of classical studies: history, literature, philosophy, myth and religion, art and architecture, and classical archaeology.

An introductory study of the achievements of ancient Greece and/or Rome through some of their major figures. Each year two figures will be featured. These may include Homer, Pericles, Socrates, Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Augustus, Nero, Seneca, Hadrian, and Constantine.

A study of Greco-Roman mythology and legend, with special emphasis on the Olympian gods and the figure of the hero. Topics may include myths of creation, the rise of the gods, divine myths, the tales surrounding the cities of Troy, Mycenae, and Thebes and the heroes Herakles, Perseus, and Theseus.

An introduction to Medieval European civilization focusing on essential aspects of the discipline: history, literature, philosophy, religion, art, architecture and archaeology, law, and science and technology.

An introduction to the role that classical studies and the classical cultures have played in pop culture. This course will examine specific references, such as ancient Greek myths, and more general trends, such as literary types, in contemporary movies, television shows, comic books, and video games to illustrate the continued fascination with the cultures of Ancient Greece and Rome.

This course surveys how different people gave meaning to their lives in ancient Greece. It will cover topics ranging from personal identities, culture wars, sports, art, myth, and history, to sex, slavery, and social justice.

This course surveys how different people gave meaning to their lives in ancient Roman world. It will cover topics ranging from personal identities, family roles, myth, and history, to sex scandals, slavery, gladiatorial games, and mystery cults.

A survey of Medieval civilization featuring such topics as the individual, political institutions, art, architecture, religion, philosophy, literature, social life, and leisure activities.

A historical introduction to law in the ancient world. Babylonian, Assyrian, Hittite, and Roman law, legal practices, and concepts will be examined.

Friendship is an essential part of a happy life. Ancient western philosophers made friendship one of the cornerstones of their ethics. This course is an exploration of their views on problems such as the necessity of friendship, its nature, its species, and its relationship to happiness and the political community.

An introduction to the working assumptions, analytic approaches, and integrative and descriptive methods of archaeological anthropology.

Where do the core tenets of Western political philosophy come from? In this course students will trace the development of political philosophy by examining Ancient Greek plays (e.g., Antigone, Medea) and foundational political texts (e.g., Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Politics) which set the stage for modern Western political thought (Machiavelli and after).

This course is an introduction to decoding the vocabulary of many modern scientific, technical, and medical disciplines. The main focus will be on learning the important Greek and Latin word elements found in technical vocabulary, as well as the rules by which words take shape.

Special topics in ancient Greek literature, as announced by the department. Authors, works, time periods, and topics will vary. Authors studied may include Homer (epic), Euripides (tragedy), Aristophanes (comedy), Thucydides (history), Sappho (poetry), and Plato (philosophy). Topics by which the course will be organized may include gender, slavery, politics, war, peace, death, and love.

Special topics in ancient Roman literature, as announced by the department. Authors, works, time periods, and topics will vary. Authors studied may include Vergil (epic), Seneca (tragedy), Plautus (comedy), Livy (history), Catullus (poetry), and Lucretius (philosophy). Topics by which the course will be organized may include gender, slavery, politics, war, peace, death, and love.

A study of the civilizations of the ancient Near East focusing on Mesopotamia (Sumer and Akkad, the Babylonian Dynasty, and the Third Dynasty of Ur), Hatti, Assyria, Egypt, and Persia.

A survey of Greek art and architecture from the earliest times to the coming of the Romans. Material studied may include the art of the Bronze Age, the development of Greek sculpture, the evolution of the Acropolis at Athens, and the change in art and architecture after Alexander the Great.

A survey of Roman art and architecture from the earliest times to the age of Constantine the Great. Material studied may include the art of the Etruscans, the evolution of Roman portraiture, innovations in architectural materials and forms, the use of art and architecture by the Emperors, and the change to Late Antique art.

A survey of ancient Greek history, from the Bronze Age to Alexander the Great, emphasizing particularly its political and military aspects.

A survey of ancient Roman history, from the Republic to the Empire, emphasizing particularly its political and military aspects.

The ancient Greeks developed scientific theories that were influential for over a thousand years. Their worldview was different from ours, but they sought to explain some of the same phenomena that we grapple with today. In this course, we will study ancient Greek theories and methodologies in the sciences, which may include physics, astronomy, mathematics, meteorology, cosmology, astrology, and geography.

A historical survey of ancient and medieval philosophy in the Western tradition.

This course examines a variety of issues around sexuality and gender relations in antiquity, including sexual mores and behaviours; literary, artistic, and philosophical constructs of gender; the roots of misogyny; and the legal and social restrictions placed on women in most ancient societies.

Cultural development from the agricultural revolution to the rise of literacy. Special attention to the development of agriculture as a means of subsistence and to the rise of early civilization. Areas and periods of emphasis will vary from year to year.

An examination of the religious beliefs and cult practices of the classical world. Topics include prayer and sacrifice; divination and oracles; temples, priests, and festivals; mystery cults and their relation to Christianity.

From clothing to hairstyles to tattoos, dress can express beliefs, aspects of identity, and power. This course examines dress in a variety of religions from ancient Greece to the modern era. The course includes attention to the look and feel of dress on the body, conflicts that can arise over dress and religion, as well as the role of dress in the formation and maintenance of religious communities.

An examination of the theory and practice of astrology and magic in the classical and medieval worlds. Topics include the relationship of astrology and magic to traditional Greco-Roman religion and Christianity, occult practices, and the people who performed them.

An in-depth examination, through English translation, of a genre(s), author(s), or selected topic(s) in Greek and/or Roman literature. Material studied may include the genres of epic, tragedy, comedy, lyric, and satire, and authors such as Homer, Virgil, Sophokles, Seneca, Aristophanes, Menander, Plautus, Sappho, Pindar, Catullus, and Horace.

An advanced survey of the art and architecture from a selected time period of Greek history. Material studied may include the art and architecture of the Aegean Bronze Age, and the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. Archaeological, historical, and cultural issues specific to each time period will be discussed through the important media of the day.

An advanced survey of the art and architecture from a selected time period of Roman History. Material studied may include the art and architecture of the Etruscans, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. Archaeological, historical, and cultural issues specific to each time period will be discussed through the important media of the day.

An advanced study of aspects of Greek history, through the examination of a specific time period, event(s), or theme(s). Topics studied may include the Archaic Age and the rise of the Polis, the Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian War, conflict in the fourth century BCE, the history of the Hellenistic period, and Greek social history.

An advanced study of aspects of Roman history, through the examination of a specific time period, event(s) or theme(s). Topics studied may include the Punic Wars, the end of the Republic, the Julio-Claudian Dynasty, history of the High Empire, later Roman history, and Roman social history.

In this course students will examine one or more important figures, periods, or issues in ancient philosophy. Plato and Aristotle are among the philosophers who may be covered.

A study of scientific thought and achievements in such areas as astronomy, biology, anatomy, and medicine, and of the technological skills which produced and distributed raw materials, manufactured goods, and agricultural products.

This course features a combination of academic study and first-hand investigation of museums and ancient sites, normally in Greece and/or Italy.

Special topics in ancient philosophy, as announced by the department.

Each fall and winter term a senior seminar on some aspect of Greek or Roman civilization will be offered.

Students wishing to undertake a senior honours thesis in their fourth year should consult the department's undergraduate officer.

Continuation of the Senior Honours Thesis.

Under exceptional circumstances, and only with the prior approval of the department, a student may substitute an individualized course of study at the senior level. Such circumstances might include, for example, the student's participation in an approved archaeological dig. For further details, consult the department.