CLASS 2676 - [Periclean Athens]

(crosslisted) GOVT 2676, HIST 2676
(HB) (HA-AS)

Spring. Next Offered: 2020-2021. 3 credits. Student option grading.

J. Rusten.

Beginning with the archaic background of aristocratic, religious, cultural and military traditions of mainland Greece, we will follow the Athenian plunge into democracy, the theatrical translation of traditional myths into contemporary issues, radical speculation on religion, science, natural law, national identities, economically supported by a large class of slaves and an unquestioned commitment to aggressive imperialism. The center of this period is marked by the political leadership (446-429 BCE) of Pericles. The resulting three decade war with the Peloponnesian league, as recorded by Thucydides and others, forms the third major topic, and the final weeks will trace the fate of Socrates. Fifth century Athens is richly documented: readings (all in English) from Herodotus, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Thucydides, Plato and other texts and inscriptions.