An introduction to classical Latin with emphasis on the grammar, syntax and vocabulary necessary for reading Latin prose and poetry. The course also stresses the influence of Latin on English vocabulary. Fall semester.
A continuation of CLAS 101, with extended reading passages in Latin prose and poetry. Prerequisite: CLAS 101. Spring semester.
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to the exploration of the concept of “the hero” in the ancient and medieval world. The four segments of the course will cover an important hero of a specific cultural period: the Mesopotamian hero Gilgamesh, the Egyptian folk-hero Sinuhe, the Greek hero Oedipus, and the Arthurian hero Sir Gawain. Each of the four segments will be composed of three phases: 1) Linguistic: an introduction to the alphabets and basic linguistic concepts, as well as the medium of communication in that language. Languages include Babylonian Cuneiform, Middle Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Attic Greek, Anglo-Saxon Runic Script, and Old and Middle English. 2) Cultural: a discussion on the historical events and cultural and philosophical ideologies that shaped artistic expression in that culture. 3) Heroic: an exploration on the concept of hero as demonstrated through a particular hero narrative to illustrate how the character and the role of the “hero” change to reflect the ideologies and values of that culture. We will also study the concept of “hero” in 20th and 21st century America as a basis for comparison. Fall, even-numbered years.
An introduction to Attic Greek with emphasis on the grammar, syntax and vocabulary necessary for reading Greek prose and poetry. Fall semester.
A continuation of CLAS 111, with extended reading passages in Greek prose and poetry. Prerequisite: CLAS 111. Spring semester.
Professionals in a wide variety of fields rely upon technical terminology to communicate the specific and complex ideas unique to their given profession. These technical terminologies all have roots in the Classical languages of Ancient Greek and Latin, and this language course offers a unique opportunity for students to tap into these roots, the better to prepare for the rigors of their chosen field. This course will be of particular benefit to those entering the medical or legal professions, but will also have practical applications to students in the Natural Sciences, Political Science, Business, Communication, Psychology, or Education. Study of the Classical languages may also help improve critical thinking and problem solving skills, enhance English vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing skills, and boost graduate school entrance exam scores. This course satisfies the second language requirement for the College. Prerequisite: Latin 101 or Greek 111 Spring semester.
After learning more about Latin grammar, students translate a variety of texts that bring them in touch with the rich humanity of thoughtful human beings who lived 2000 years ago; authors considered include Catullus, Cicero, Horace and Pliny. Prerequisite: CLAS 102. Fall semester.
This course continues to develop proficiency in Latin vocabulary and grammar through readings of Latin literature selected by the students. The course assists students incorporating the Latin language and the skills developed in previous Latin courses into their daily lives and chosen career paths. Prerequisite: CLAS 203.
A study of the ancient Greek thinkers who initiated Western philosophy. The course begins with the pre-Socratic philosophers and focuses on Plato and Aristotle. Fall semester.
Continued study of grammar, syntax and vocabulary of Greek prose and poetry. Readings may include selections from Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato or early Christian texts. Prerequisite: CLAS 112. Fall semester.
This course studies both Greek and Roman mythology in their literary and cultural contexts. The course considers the meanings, purposes and universality of various myths, such as the stories of Prometheus, Orpheus, Oedipus and Aeneas. It may also include comparative elements, such as Norse, Celtic and American Indian myths.
This course explores ancient Greek civilization from its dawn in the second millennium B.C. to its absorption by the Roman Empire in the third century B.C. Key themes include tyranny and democracy; innovations in philosophy and science; competition through warfare and athletics; mythology, poetry and history; and new standards in art and architecture. This course seeks to illustrate how different the world would be without the vibrant and creative culture of ancient Greece. Fall semester, alternate years
This course is an exploration of Roman civilization from its origin in a tiny Italian village in the eighth century B.C. to the decline of its vast empire in the fifth century A.D. Key themes include political, administrative and legal achievements; conquest, imperialism and multiculturalism; the shift from republic to empire; daily life in town and country; the impact of Christianity; and architecture and urbanism. This course is designed to provide the student with a firm grounding in the Roman experience and a keen awareness of what we, today, owe the Romans of the distant past. Spring semester, alternate years.
What is the good life? What can a person truly know? Is there justice in the world? These are some of the fundamental, universal questions of the human condition. This course raises these questions and looks at how the biblical wisdom literature answers them, along with similar writings from elsewhere in the ancient world as well as modern literature and film. As a result of this analysis, students have the opportunity to construct a coherent and viable structure of meaning for their own life journeys.
A study of tragedy as a dramatic and literary form and the different Western philosophical theories of tragedy inspired by that art form. One half of the course concentrates on Greek tragedy (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides) and its commentators, both ancient (Plato and Aristotle) and modern. The second half examines both Renaissance and modern examples of the tragic tradition with contemporary philosophical readings on the significance of that tradition. Spring semester, alternate years.
The course traces the impact of ancient medical thought on modern medical theory and practice, studying how concepts foundational to modern medicine got their start in the classical world. Such concepts include not only certain anatomical structures and physiological functions, but the very idea of anatomy itself – literally a “dividing up” of the body into parts – as the basis for a naturalistic understanding of health and disease, and ultimately, for the therapeutic approaches characteristic of Western medicine.
This course allows a student and instructor to read a major classical author or text of particular interest. Prerequisite: instructor’s consent and approval of the associate dean of humanities.
An arranged course in which the student conducts research or translation work under the supervision of a faculty member. Prerequisites: instructor's consent or discipline approval. Fall semester.
What was it like to live under Roman rule? How is it that the Romans can feel so familiar and yet so profoundly foreign? This first year seminar seeks to address these questions and to shed light on the distinctive features of Roman culture through the critical examination of the material remains that the Romans left behind. Students will gain familiarity with the major monuments, artifacts, and works of art produced over the course of Rome’s history from its origins in the eighth century BCE down to the dissolution of its Empire in the fifth century CE. This course will also serve as an introduction to the most important questions underlying archaeological research in the Roman world today and the methods employed in their investigation. Major topics to be explored include the changing relationship between state and society; imperial conquest and multiculturalism; daily life (urban and rural); the ancient economy; religious pluralism; and the legacy of the Romans. The course satisfies the following goals of the Core Curriculum within the Western Tradition (WT) area: Problem-Solve Creatively, Think Critically.
This course offers a unique approach to the instruction of Classical languages, concentrating on the grammar and vocabulary of ancient Greek and Latin essential to the technical languages of many professional fields. Essentially it is two full courses intensively rolled into one: Medical Terminology and Legal Latin. The first half of the course is essentially a 6-week intensive course in Latin. It covers Latin grammar, syntax, and vocabulary essential in modern and historical jurisprudence and legal practice. The second half of the course focuses on scientific, specifically medical, terminology. Scientific terminology is created using roots fused with prefixes and suffixes borrowed primarily from Greek and Latin. Students will learn the most common prefixes, suffixes, and roots, and how they are fused together to form scientific terminology. The Medical Terminology segment of this course covers the content and material of an entire Medical Terminology course and thus fulfills such prerequisite requirement for certain health professional and graduate programs. Fall semester.
How one procures, prepares, and consumes one’s food can be understood as an expression of how one exists in the world. Food is thus not only a biological necessity, but also a marker and maker of identity. Drawing on a variety of primary sources (literary accounts, archaeological evidence, artistic representations) and secondary scholarship, this course explores the complex role of food and drink in the societies of ancient Greece and Rome. What foods did the ancient Greeks and Romans consume, and how did they acquire their raw ingredients? How did everyday meals differ from special-occasion feasts? What can cooking techniques and consumption rituals reveal about ancient persons’ economic priorities, place in society, tastes, and even aspirations? These are a few of the questions that we will explore in this course. While Greco-Roman foodways will be our focus, parallels drawn from other historical and modern societies will provide a basis for assessing the universal and particular aspects of peoples’ relationship with food. This course satisfies the following goals of the Core Curriculum within the Individual and Society (IS) area: Problem-Solve Creatively, Think Critically.
This course examines the dynamic period of change in Europe from the fading of the Roman Empire through the flowering of the High Renaissance. Key topics include the fusion of Roman, Germanic and Christian cultures; warfare and kingship; the relative powers of church and state; creation of representative assemblies and universities; theology, philosophy and science; Europe and the Middle East; heresy and reform; and Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance art and architecture. This course seeks to illustrate how different medieval people were from us, yet also how we are very clearly their political, cultural and spiritual descendants. Fall semester, alternate years.
This course will introduce students to the “other half” of Europe’s Middle Ages, the eastern half with a focus on the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire had tremendous theological, artistic and legal influence on western Europe in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It served as a model of advanced politics and diplomacy, of trade and commerce, and as a military bulwark against Islamic invaders, preventing their assault on eastern Europe for nearly 800 years. Spring semester, alternate years.
