Classics 401: Undergraduate seminar in Classics (5 cr.)

History and Memory in Classical Antiquity

Winter Quarter 2004

Denny 311, MW 1:30-3:20

Professor Alain M. Gowing

Office: M-24 Denny Hall

Office Hours: Wednesday, 11-12, and by appointment

Phone: 206-543-2270

e-mail: alain@u.washington.edu

Course website: http://faculty.washington.edu/alain/Clas401/Clas401home.html. Here you'll find the syllabus, a select bibliography (on the subject of history and memory), some online resources, etc. I will also periodically post to this site more detailed class assignments, any overheads, etc.

Course description: This seminar will explore the relationship between historical writing and memory in the Greek and Roman worlds. We will read representative selections from the major Greek and Roman historians – Herodotus, Thucydides, Polybius, Livy, and Tacitus – together with materials drawn from some of the most important primary sources as well as some recent scholarship on the subject. Writing will play an significant role in the work of the course.

Course requirements: A) (5%) preparation for and participation in discussions

B) (25%) successful completion of at least 4 of 6 short papers (see description on webpage)

C) (10%) oral presentation (see description on webpage)

D) (35%) long paper (see description on webpage)

E) (25%) translation test* (Mar. 15, 2:30-4:20)

*texts for the translation test are to be chosen from among the selections from the five ancient authors we will be reading in consultation with the instructor. Latin majors will read approx. 1000 lines in Latin, Greek majors approx. 1000 lines in Greek, and Classics majors will read approx. 500 lines in Greek and 500 lines in Latin.

Required texts:

(NB: These and several other texts are on our reserve shelf in Odegaard)

Herodotus, The Histories. A. Selincourt, trans. Penguin 2003 (you’ll want this edition with Marincola’s new introduction)

Thucydides. History Of The Peloponnesian War. R. Warner, trans. Penguin1972.

Polybius. The Rise Of The Roman Empire F.W. Walbank, trans. Penguin 1980.

Livy. The Early History Of Rome. A. Selincourt, trans. Penguin 2002 (you’ll want this edition with the new material by Oakley)

Tacitus. Annals Of Imperial Rome. M. Grant, trans. Penguin 1956.

Optional texts:

Yates, Frances. The Art of Memory. Chicago 1966.

Hutton, Patrick. History As An Art Of Memory. Hanover and London 1993.

Reading Schedule:

(NB: This is merely a rough guideline and does not include secondary readings. I will circulate and post to the class webpage specific assignments for each class meeting.)

Ø (Week 1, Mon. Jan. 5 [no class] and Wed. Jan. 7): Introduction

Ø (Week 2, Mon, Jan. 12 and Wed., Jan. 14): Herodotus

Book 1 (Penguin pp.3-94, Preface, causes of Persian War, context), Book 6.31-131 (Penguin pp. 370-408, Battle of Marathon)

Ø (Week 3, Mon. Jan 19 – NO CLASS, MLK and Wed. Jan. 21) Thucydides

Book 1.1-23 (Penguin pp. 35-49, Archaeology, Greek History through Persian War), Book 1.126-138 (Penguin pp. 108-117, Pausanias and Themistocles), Book 1.139-145 (Penguin pp. 118-123, Spartan demands and Pericles’ reply), Book 2.34-65 (Penguin pp. 143-164, Funeral Oration, Plague, Assessment of Pericles’ Policy), Book. 5.84-116 (Penguin pp. 400-408, Melian Dialogue), Book 7 (Penguin pp. 478-537, Defeat of Athenians in Sicily)

Ø (Week 4, Mon. Jan. 26 and Wed., Jan. 28): Thucydides cont’d

Ø (Week 5, Mon. Feb. 2 and Wed. Feb. 4) Polybius

Selections from Books 9-15.19 in the Penguin (pp. 386-482) (latter half of Second Punic War, 211-202 BC)

Ø (Week 6, Mon. Feb. 9 and Wed. Feb. 11): Livy

Preface (Penguin pp. 29-31), Book 1 (Penguin pp. 31-104), Book 5 (Penguin pp. 367-435) --Founding of Rome and the Monarchy 753-509 BC; career of Camillus 403 –390 BC)

Ø (Week 7, Mon. Feb. 16 – NO CLASS, Presidents Day and Wed. Feb. 18): Livy cont’d.

Oral presentations begin this week and continue through Week 9.

Ø (Week 8, Mon. Feb. 23 and Wed., Feb. 25) Tacitus

Annals 13-16 (Penguin pp. 284-397, the reign of Nero)

Ø (Week 9, Mon. Mar. 1 and Wed. Mar. 3) Tacitus cont’d

Ø (Week 10, Mon. Mar. 8 and Wed. Mar. 10)

Monday, March 15, 2:30-4:20: FINAL EXAM (i.e., your translation test)