Spring 2006

AHC 378 • Ancient Sparta-W

Course Description

This seminar will examine topics and problems in the social, political and economic history of the ancient city-state of Sparta from the foundation of the settlement on the Eurotas river in the 10th century B.C. to the refoundation of Messenia in the 4th century B.C. We will pay attention both to internal and external representations of Sparta (e.g. as a comunity of equals [internal] or as the conservative other to Athenian invention [external]) and what the evidence (material, literary, and documentary) suggests about the reality behind the representations. Number and description of writing assignments. Students will write three papers: two 5-page papers on assigned topics (analysis of sources; analysis of modern scholarship), and one 10-15 page research paper on a topic of the student's choice. Percent of grade determined by writing assignments. 70% writing 30% classroom participation

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