CLAS 320 A: Society And Status In Greece And Rome

Prof. Deborah Kamen (she/her)

MTWThF 10.30-11.20 SMI 102

Description:

In this course, we will be examining the public and private lives of the ancient Greeks and Romans, with a special focus on status, class, and gender. The diversity of human experience in the ancient world will be explored through the following topics: Greek and Roman social organization (men, women, children, the elderly, enslaved people, and formerly enslaved people); housing; dress; food and drink; sex and sexuality; health and sickness; death and beliefs in the afterlife; magic and religion; politics; theatre and music; art and architecture; economics; law; warfare; athletics and spectator sports; etc. No prerequisites.

Objectives:

By the end of the course, students will demonstrate the ability to identify the practices and ideologies of Greek and Roman society; understand the range of evidence for studying Greek and Roman social and cultural history; and appreciate the diversity of human experience in the ancient world.

Grading:

Exam 1: 30%

Exam 2: 40%

Quizzes: 30%

Course Texts:

Required course texts: Both of these books are available FOR FREE as ebooks through UW Libraries (you just need to log in with your UW NetID).

Aldrete: Aldrete, G.S. (2004) Daily Life in the Roman City: Rome, Pompeii, and Ostia. Westport, CT.


Garland: Garland, R. (2014) Daily Life of the Ancient Greeks. 2^nd ed. Indianapolis.