Correspondence Directory

Major Courses of InstructionHistory340. Ancient Greek History (Staff)After briefly surveying the early history of the Aegean world from the Minoans through the archaicperiod, the course will focus upon 5th-century Athenian society. Through careful reading from avariety of primary sources (Herodotus, Thucydides, Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, and others)students will examine both the events and the ideas that have contributed to Classical Greece’sprominence in the Western canon. There will be a strong emphasis on critical thinking and learninghistorical methodology.341. History of Rome (Arnold)The goal of this course is to explore the meaning and methods of Roman history. In this class,students will analyze the works of ancient historians in order to understand what value Romansplaced on their own history and heritage. This class also will address the ways that modernhistorians use and interpret ancient sources, whether textual, archaeological, or artistic. It will coverthe history of Rome from its origins through the reign of Constantine and include discussions ofpolitical, social, religious and cultural history.342. Constantine to Charlemagne (Arnold)Examines the development of the medieval world from roughly CE 300 to 800. This periodwitnessed the transformation of one of world history’s great empires, the rise of two newmonotheistic religions, and the emergence of new empires, polities, and cultures. In this class wewill study the religious, political, and cultural histories of the Western Christian (Germanic) states,the Byzantine Empire, and the early Islamic empires. We will study both the larger social, cultural,and religious forces that shaped these diverging groups and the roles of individual leaders. The classwill explore the construction of historical memory, the nature of biographies, and how modernhistorians understand these civilizations. This is a Core Course for AMRS, Medieval Studies Majorsand an Elective Course for AMRS, Ancient Studies Majors.343. The Central Middle Ages (Arnold)This course is a topical examination of the Central Middle Ages in Europe (approximately 900-1300), focusing on major patterns of social, economic, religious, and intellectual life. The coursewill explore patterns of power, patronage, and poverty, and the interactions between differentgroups in medieval society. Topics to be covered include the role of religion, the interactionsbetween Europe and the Middle East, the growth of cities, universities and cathedrals, and changesto peasant lifestyles and livelihoods. The class will also explore several large historical debates,including the “Year 1000 Question” and the nature of the relationship between secular and spiritualpowers. This is a Core Course for AMRS, Medieval Studies Majors and an Elective Course forAMRS, Ancient Studies Majors.345. The Reformation Era (Spall)The religious upheaval of the 16th Century, including the medieval sources of the Reformation,the rise of the Protestant Churches, the Counter Reformation, and the emergence of early modernEuropean political, economic, and social conditions. Also listed as REL 332.346. Renaissance Europe (Arnold)149