HS3374: Tyrants, Kings and Democrats: the Rise of Classical Greece

School Ancient History
Department Code SHARE
Module Code HS3374
External Subject Code 100298
Number of Credits 20
Level L6
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Dr Louis Rawlings
Semester Double Semester
Academic Year 2013/4

Outline Description of Module

From the seventh century BC onwards Greek society and politics underwent rapid and remarkable transformations, including the rise of the city-state, early settlement overseas and the emergence of unique political and social structures in different Greek communities led by tyrants, kings and democrats. Greek elites and communities developed an increasing awareness of their identity, as they came into contact with foreign cultures and engaged in decisive conflicts with the Persian Empire. The dramatic success of the Greek states in the Persian Wars led to the development of competing claims to the leadership of Greece by Athens and Sparta. The rising power of the Athenian Empire was finally checked by the long and destructive ‘Peloponnesian War’ (431–404 BC). This module uses material from drama, poetry, philosophy, art, architecture and epigraphy to examine all these processes with particular attention given to the Histories of the two greatest Greek historians, Herodotus and Thucydides.  

On completion of the module a student should be able to

  • Knowledge of the events of archaic and classical Greece, and of the political, economic and social forces that shaped them.
  • An understanding of modern debates on issues such as the causes and results of Greek expansion, the internal political developments such as oligarchy, tyranny and democracy; the dynamics of imperialism; Greek relations with the east; the development of the Persian Empire and the causes and course of the wars between Greeks and Persians and Athens and the Peloponnesians.
  • Ability to assess the value of the two main surviving historians, Herodotus and Thucydides, as historical sources, in the light both of their historical and literary aims and preoccupations, and of the other literary and documentary evidence.
  • Ability to use literary, epigraphic and archaeological material in an informed way.
  • Ability to discuss these issues in coursework and examinations with coherent and logical arguments, clearly and correctly expressed.  

How the module will be delivered

1 x 1 hour lecture per week across two terms (20 lectures); 4 x 1 hour seminars (2 per term).

Skills that will be practised and developed

 Knowledge and understanding of the variety of sources from the archaic and classical periods.

Critical awareness of ambiguities in representations of Greek and non-Greek identity in Greek sources.

Recognising the impact of modern views on the construction of ancient identities through modern debates and modern media, such as films and plays.

Evaluating the reliability and value to the historian of different types of evidence.

Employing basic skills and conventions in the presentation and use of literary and archaeological evidence for the periods.

Demonstrating skills in observing and analysing individual pieces of evidence and collections of evidence.

 

Particular Transferable sSills:

Synthesising complex data effectively in written reports.

Skills in source criticism.

Awareness of ambiguities and different interpretations of the same evidence.

Ability to construct arguments through finding, selecting and critically examining a variety of different forms of relevant evidence.

Evaluating and critiquing interpretations of the evidence in secondary works.

Team working.

How the module will be assessed

One essay (worth 50% of the final mark) of 2,000 words and one 1.5-hour examination (50%). 

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Written Assessment 50 Tyrants, Kings And Democrats: The Rise Of Classical Greece N/A
Exam - Spring Semester 50 Tyrants, Kings And Democrats: The Rise Of Classical Greece 1.5

Syllabus content

Archaic World

  • Introduction: Herodotus, Greece and the East
  • Elites, Communities and Gods
  • Greeks in the Mediterranean
  • Politics and Particularism
  • Archaic Sparta
  • Archaic Athens
  • Athenian Democracy

Seminar: The Delphic Oracle

 

Persia and War

  • The Rise of the King of Kings
  • Persian Expansion
  • The Ionian Revolt
  • Persians in Greece

Seminar: ‘Orientalism’ and Representations of Persia

 

Golden Age

  • Persian Spoils and ‘Greek’ Culture
  • Delian League and Athenian Empire
  • Demos and Democrats
  • Athens and the Golden Age
  • Perikles the King

Seminar: Thucydides and Athens 

Essential Reading and Resource List

Indicative Reading and Resource List:

Herodotus, Histories, (Penguin Classics)

Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War (Penguin Classics)

Curtis, J. & Tallis, N. (eds.), 2005. Forgotten Empire, London.  Folio DS261.S6

Hornblower, S., 2002 (3rd. ed.). The Greek World 479-323 BC, London DF214.H6 [Electronic resource]

Kinzl, K.H., (ed.) 2006. A companion to the Classical Greek world, Malden MA DF214.C6

Malkin, I., (ed.) 2001. Ancient Perceptions of Greek Ethnicity, Washington DC. DF135.A6

Osborne, R., 1996. Greece in the Making 1200-479 B.C., London. DF220.O8

Raaflaub, K.A. and van Wees, H. (eds.) A companion to Archaic Greece, Maldon MA, DF77.C6

Rich, J. & Shipley, G., (eds.), 1993. War and Society in the Greek World, London. DE88.W2 


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