Antiquity and Greek Studies
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide students with an introduction to the institutional aspects of the Greek cities, both in the public and the private sphere, and their development over the centuries to the Hellenistic and Roman periods, also through a selection of epigraphic documents and other relevant sources.
Expected learning outcomes
The expected learning outcomes include:
- detailed knowledge of the fundamental themes and questions concerning the development of Greek institutions, both in the public and the private domain, from the origins to the Hellenistic and Roman age, with reference to their historical and environmental context;
- basic knowledge of the events and development of Greek history, with reference to the topics dealt with in the documentary and literary sources examined and in the recommended texts and handbooks;
- ability to understand the literary and epigraphic texts in regard to their characters and nature and to place them within their institutional and chronological context;
- awareness of the methodological questions posed by a critical approach to the sources (literary, epigraphic, numismatic , papyrological and arcaheological);
- ability to present topics with precision and to appropriately use the language specific to the discipline;
- basic knowledge of the essential bibliographical resources.
- detailed knowledge of the fundamental themes and questions concerning the development of Greek institutions, both in the public and the private domain, from the origins to the Hellenistic and Roman age, with reference to their historical and environmental context;
- basic knowledge of the events and development of Greek history, with reference to the topics dealt with in the documentary and literary sources examined and in the recommended texts and handbooks;
- ability to understand the literary and epigraphic texts in regard to their characters and nature and to place them within their institutional and chronological context;
- awareness of the methodological questions posed by a critical approach to the sources (literary, epigraphic, numismatic , papyrological and arcaheological);
- ability to present topics with precision and to appropriately use the language specific to the discipline;
- basic knowledge of the essential bibliographical resources.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The topics dealt with during the course include:
A) the ideological and educational values of Greek society from the archaic age to the hellenistic and Roman periods through a selection of documentary, iconographical and literary sources; B) Greek political regimes and their forms of expression through a choice of inscriptions and other literary and documentary sources; C) international relations in the classical and hellenistic Greek world with an analysis of different document typologies and of their formulaic language.
A) the ideological and educational values of Greek society from the archaic age to the hellenistic and Roman periods through a selection of documentary, iconographical and literary sources; B) Greek political regimes and their forms of expression through a choice of inscriptions and other literary and documentary sources; C) international relations in the classical and hellenistic Greek world with an analysis of different document typologies and of their formulaic language.
Prerequisites for admission
- ability to express oneself in an appropriate manner;
- knowledge of the broad outlines of Greek history and of its most important events and figures;
- ability to use ancient sources being aware of their peculiar characters;
- knowledge of the geographical context of ancient Greek civilization.
- knowledge of the broad outlines of Greek history and of its most important events and figures;
- ability to use ancient sources being aware of their peculiar characters;
- knowledge of the geographical context of ancient Greek civilization.
Teaching methods
The course is offered in a lecture format and developed through a selection of inscriptions and passages from literary sources which will be the subject of detailed commentaries. The focus will be on the history of Greek istitutions, public and private, from the origins to the hellenistic and Roman periods, also in relation to other disciplines and approaches developed within classical studies and ancient history. An introduction to the use of the fundamental bibliographical and electronic resources will be provided. Knowledge of ancient Greek is required only for Classics students. Attendance of the course is highly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Teaching unit A
G. POMA, Le istituzioni politiche della Grecia in età classica, Il Mulino.
Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, chapters 1-24; 42-45; 55-69.
Teaching unit B
- T. Alfieri Tonini, Atene onora le poleis. Riflessi di un imperialismo, Aracne, Roma 2011.
M. Lupi, Sparta. Storia e rappresentazioni di una città greca, Carocci, Roma 2017.
Teaching unit C
A selection of texts and documents analysed during the lectures.
Reading list for non-attending students
Teaching unit A
G. POMA, Le istituzioni politiche della Grecia in età classica, Il Mulino.
Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, chapters 1-24; 42-45; 55-69.
Teaching unit B
T. ALFIERI TONINI, Atene onora le poleis. Riflessi di un imperialismo, Aracne, Roma 2011 (to be replaced by A. Bencivenni, Progetti di riforme costituzionali nelle epigrafi greche dei secoli 4-2. a. C.. Lo scarabeo, Bologna 2003, pp. 1-103, or another essay to be agreed, if already a textbook for another exam).
One of the following books:
N. Bernard, Donne e società nella Grecia antica, Carocci, Roma 2011.
G. Seveso, L'educazione delle bambine nella Grecia antica, Franco Angeli.
M. P. Castiglioni, La donna greca, il Mulino, Bologna 2019.
F. Fabbrini, Olympia. Storia e significato dei Giochi olimpici (antichi e moderni), Aracne, Roma 2016.
P. Angeli Bernardini, Il soldato e l'atleta. Guerra e sport nella Grecia antica, Il Mulino, Bologna 2016.
D. Di Nanni Durante, Concorsi sportivi e propaganda politica in età ellenistica, Aracne, Roma 2015.
H. C. Baldry, I Greci a teatro, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2010.
Teaching unit C
One further reading chosen among the following books:
N. Bernard, Donne e società nella Grecia antica, Carocci, Roma 2011.
G. Seveso, L'educazione delle bambine nella Grecia antica, Franco Angeli.
M. P. Castiglioni, La donna greca, il Mulino, Bologna 2019.
F. Fabbrini, Olympia. Storia e significato dei Giochi olimpici (antichi e moderni), Aracne, Roma 2016.
P. Angeli Bernardini, Il soldato e l'atleta. Guerra e sport nella Grecia antica, Il Mulino, Bologna 2016.
D. Di Nanni Durante, Concorsi sportivi e propaganda politica in età ellenistica, Aracne, Roma 2015.
H. C. Baldry, I Greci a teatro, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2010.
G. POMA, Le istituzioni politiche della Grecia in età classica, Il Mulino.
Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, chapters 1-24; 42-45; 55-69.
Teaching unit B
- T. Alfieri Tonini, Atene onora le poleis. Riflessi di un imperialismo, Aracne, Roma 2011.
M. Lupi, Sparta. Storia e rappresentazioni di una città greca, Carocci, Roma 2017.
Teaching unit C
A selection of texts and documents analysed during the lectures.
Reading list for non-attending students
Teaching unit A
G. POMA, Le istituzioni politiche della Grecia in età classica, Il Mulino.
Aristotle, Constitution of the Athenians, chapters 1-24; 42-45; 55-69.
Teaching unit B
T. ALFIERI TONINI, Atene onora le poleis. Riflessi di un imperialismo, Aracne, Roma 2011 (to be replaced by A. Bencivenni, Progetti di riforme costituzionali nelle epigrafi greche dei secoli 4-2. a. C.. Lo scarabeo, Bologna 2003, pp. 1-103, or another essay to be agreed, if already a textbook for another exam).
One of the following books:
N. Bernard, Donne e società nella Grecia antica, Carocci, Roma 2011.
G. Seveso, L'educazione delle bambine nella Grecia antica, Franco Angeli.
M. P. Castiglioni, La donna greca, il Mulino, Bologna 2019.
F. Fabbrini, Olympia. Storia e significato dei Giochi olimpici (antichi e moderni), Aracne, Roma 2016.
P. Angeli Bernardini, Il soldato e l'atleta. Guerra e sport nella Grecia antica, Il Mulino, Bologna 2016.
D. Di Nanni Durante, Concorsi sportivi e propaganda politica in età ellenistica, Aracne, Roma 2015.
H. C. Baldry, I Greci a teatro, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2010.
Teaching unit C
One further reading chosen among the following books:
N. Bernard, Donne e società nella Grecia antica, Carocci, Roma 2011.
G. Seveso, L'educazione delle bambine nella Grecia antica, Franco Angeli.
M. P. Castiglioni, La donna greca, il Mulino, Bologna 2019.
F. Fabbrini, Olympia. Storia e significato dei Giochi olimpici (antichi e moderni), Aracne, Roma 2016.
P. Angeli Bernardini, Il soldato e l'atleta. Guerra e sport nella Grecia antica, Il Mulino, Bologna 2016.
D. Di Nanni Durante, Concorsi sportivi e propaganda politica in età ellenistica, Aracne, Roma 2015.
H. C. Baldry, I Greci a teatro, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2010.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is oral and aims at ascertaining students' knowledge of the topics and texts dealt with during the course on the basis of the materials and sources provided (and uploaded on the Ariel platform) and of the books in the reading list.
Assessment criteria are the following: ability to organize knowledge through discourse; critical reasoning skills with regard to the topics considered; ability to present topics and express oneself with the specialist language appropriate to the discipline.
Marks are out of 30.
Assessment criteria are the following: ability to organize knowledge through discourse; critical reasoning skills with regard to the topics considered; ability to present topics and express oneself with the specialist language appropriate to the discipline.
Marks are out of 30.
Unita' didattica A
L-ANT/02 - GREEK HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-ANT/02 - GREEK HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-ANT/02 - GREEK HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours