Greek History

A.Y. 2023/2024
9
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
L-ANT/02
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The aim of the course it to provide students with the ability to understand the broad outlines of the politico-institutional, socio-economic and cultural development of ancient Greek history from Minoan and Mycenean civilizations to the Roman conquest, also on the basis of a selection of texts and documentary sources relevant for the topics examined.
Expected learning outcomes
The expected learning outcomes include:
- detailed knowledge of the broad outlines of the politico-institutional, socio-economic and cultural development of ancient Greek history from Minoan and Mycenean civilisations to the Hellenistic period and an ability to set events and historical figures in their chronological and historical context;
- solid knowledge of historical geography and the ability to set events and political and institutional phenomena within their specific geographical and environmental context;
- some basic knowledge of the distinctive features of ancient Greek historiography;
- ability to appropriately use the specific language of the discipline;
- ability to present notions showing awareness of the methodological issues posed by historical research on the ancient world;
- ability to clearly and appropriately express concepts related to the institutional and cultural aspects of the discipline.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The topics dealt with during the course include:

Part I (40 hours)
1.A
- introduction and preliminary questions with reference to: the geographical environment of Greek history and its development; periodization and connected problems; the emergence of Greek identity; the ancient and modern notion of polis;
- an overview of some of the most important political and social phenomena in the development of Greek civilization from the origins to the Hellenistic period;
- the birth of Greek historiography and some essential notions on its features, methods and development, with a choice of passages from Herodotus and Thucydides.

1.B
- political institutions and social organization of the ancient polis with a special focus on the cases of Athens (from the origins to the Persian wars) and Sparta (an introduction to the the Lykourgan kosmos) but also with a broader comparative approach;
- the Greek world in the fourth century and in early Hellenism: the crisis of the model of the hegemonic polis and the emergence of "alternative" models: the federal state and the territorial monarchy.

Part II (20 hours)
"Democracy and freedom: the trial of Socrates in its historical and cultural context"
This second monographic part of the course aims at analysing the main historical issues concerning an event of great importance in the history of the Western world, the trial of Socrates in the year 399 BC, which raises fundamental questions about the relationship between democracy and freedom of speech and thought. The political and cultural context within which it is to be set will be reconstructed: Athenian democracy, the Peloponnesian War, Sophistic thought and the critique of traditional values, the emergence of an anti-democratic opposition, the two oligarchic regimes at the end of the 5th century, the amnesty and the restoration of democracy in 403, the functioning of the popular courts, and some other trials contemporary to the trial of Socrates reflecting the same political, cultural and religious context.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission.
Teaching methods
The course is offered in a lecture format. It takes the students through the different topics discussed in class with a source-based approach aiming at highlighting the nature and characters of ancient texts and documents as well as the questions connected to their use in the construction of historical discourse. All texts and materials analysed in the classes are available in advance for downloading on the dedicated course website on the Ariel platform.
Attendance at lectures is recommended but is not compulsory.

International or Erasmus incoming students are kindly requested to contact the teacher of the course. Students with Specific Lerning Disabilities (SLD) should contact the teacher of the course in order to discuss alternative examination methods, in agreement with the competent Office.
Teaching Resources
Part I (6 ECTS)
1.A
Alongisde topics and materials analyzed in the classes,
1) One of the following handbooks of Greek history:
C. BEARZOT, Manuale di storia greca, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2015 (third edition);
M. CORSARO-L. GALLO, Storia greca, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2022 (seconda edizione);
2) TUCIDIDE, La guerra del Peloponneso, libro I (suggested edition: Tucidide. La guerra del Peloponneso, with an introduction by M.I. FINLEY, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 1996-).

1.B
Alongisde topics and materials analyzed in the classes, two of the following chapters:
C. AMPOLO, Il sistema della polis. Elementi costitutivi della civiltà greca, in S. SETTIS (a cura di), I Greci. Storia, cultura, arte, società, II.1: Formazione, Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 297-342;
M. GIANGIULIO, Avventurieri, mercanti, coloni, mercenari: mobilità umana e circolazione di risorse nel Mediterraneo arcaico, in S. SETTIS (a cura di), I Greci. Storia, cultura, arte, società, II.1: Formazione, Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 497-524;
K.A. RAAFLAUB, Solone, la nuova Atene e l'emergere della politica, in S. SETTIS (a cura di), I Greci. Storia, cultura, arte, società, II.1: Formazione, Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 1035-1081;
M. LUPI, Le origini di Sparta e il Peloponneso arcaico, in M. GIANGIULIO (a cura di), Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, III: Grecia e Mediterraneo dall'VIII secolo all'età delle guerre persiane, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2007, pp. 363-393;
M. GRAS, L'Occidente e i suoi conflitti, in S. SETTIS (a cura di), I Greci. Storia, cultura, arte, società, II.2: Definizione, Torino, Einaudi, 1997, pp. 61-85;
P. VANNICELLI, L'epoca delle guerre persiane, in M. GIANGIULIO (a cura di), Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, III: Grecia e Mediterraneo dall'VIII secolo all'età delle guerre persiane, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2007, pp. 561-598;
M. BETTALLI, Tra guerre persiane e guerra del Peloponneso: la Grecia durante la Pentecontetia, in M. GIANGIULIO (a cura di), Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, IV: Grecia e Mediterraneo dall'età delle guerre persiane all'Ellenismo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008, pp. 249-288;
S. DE VIDO, La Sicilia nel IV secolo: dai Dionisi ad Agatocle, in M. GIANGIULIO (ed.), Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, IV: Grecia e Mediterraneo dall'età delle guerre persiane all'Ellenismo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008, pp. 397-431;
M. MARI, L'ascesa della Macedonia e Filippo II, in M. GIANGIULIO (ed.), Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, IV: Grecia e Mediterraneo dall'età delle guerre persiane all'Ellenismo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008, pp. 433-461;
M. FARAGUNA, Alessandro Magno tra Grecia ed Asia: l'inizio dell'età ellenistica, in M. GIANGIULIO (ed.), Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, IV: Grecia e Mediterraneo dall'età delle guerre persiane all'Ellenismo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008, pp. 463-506.

Part II (3 ECTS, for students taking 9 ECTS)
Alongisde topics and materials analyzed in the classes,
1) PLATONE, Apologia di Socrate [recommended editions with text, translation and notes: Platone. Apologia di Socrate, in D. SUSANETTI (a cura di), Platone. Apologia di Socrate, Critone, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2019, pp. 9-113 (e relative note) or G. REALE, Platone. Apologia di Socrate. Introduzione, traduzione, note, apparati e iconografia socratica, Milano, Bompiani, 2000- (second edition)];
2) M. BONAZZI, Processo a Socrate, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2018.

Bibliography for non-attendants

Part I (6 ECTS)
1.A
1) One of the following handbooks of Greek history:
C. BEARZOT, Manuale di storia greca, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2015 (third edition);
M. CORSARO-L. GALLO, Storia greca, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2022 (seconda edizione);
2) TUCIDIDE, La guerra del Peloponneso, libro I (recommended edition: Tucidide, La guerra del Peloponneso, with an introduction by M.I. FINLEY, Milano, Rizzoli [BUR], 1996-);
3) L. CANFORA, Prima lezione di storia greca, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2000.

1.B
1) One of the following books:
G. CAMASSA, Forme della vita politica dei Greci in età arcaica e classica, Bologna, Monduzzi Editore, 2007;
M. GIANGIULIO, Democrazie greche. Atene, Sicilia, Magna Grecia, Roma, Carocci, 2016;
2) Two chapters to be chosen among the following:
C. AMPOLO, Il sistema della polis. Elementi costitutivi della civiltà greca, in S. SETTIS (a cura di), I Greci. Storia, cultura, arte, società, II.1: Formazione, Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 297-342;
M. GIANGIULIO, Avventurieri, mercanti, coloni, mercenari: mobilità umana e circolazione di risorse nel Mediterraneo arcaico, in S. SETTIS (a cura di), I Greci. Storia, cultura, arte, società, II.1: Formazione, Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 497-524;
K.A. RAAFLAUB, Solone, la nuova Atene e l'emergere della politica, in S. SETTIS (a cura di), I Greci. Storia, cultura, arte, società, II.1: Formazione, Torino, Einaudi, 1996, pp. 1035-1081;
P. VANNICELLI, L'epoca delle guerre persiane, in M. GIANGIULIO (a cura di), Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, III: Grecia e Mediterraneo dall'VIII secolo all'età delle guerre persiane, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2007, pp. 561-598;
M. BETTALLI, Tra guerre persiane e guerra del Peloponneso: la Grecia durante la Pentecontetia, in M. GIANGIULIO (a cura di), Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, IV: Grecia e Mediterraneo dall'età delle guerre persiane all'Ellenismo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008, pp. 249-288;
S. DE VIDO, La Sicilia nel IV secolo: dai Dionisi ad Agatocle, in M. GIANGIULIO (ed.), Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, IV: Grecia e Mediterraneo dall'età delle guerre persiane all'Ellenismo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008, pp. 397-431;
M. MARI, L'ascesa della Macedonia e Filippo II, in M. GIANGIULIO (ed.), Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, IV: Grecia e Mediterraneo dall'età delle guerre persiane all'Ellenismo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008, pp. 433-461;
M. FARAGUNA, Alessandro Magno tra Grecia ed Asia: l'inizio dell'età ellenistica, in M. GIANGIULIO (ed.), Storia d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, IV: Grecia e Mediterraneo dall'età delle guerre persiane all'Ellenismo, Roma, Salerno Editrice, 2008, pp. 463-506.

Part II (3 ECTS, for students taking 9 ECTS)
Alongisde topics and materials analyzed in the classes,
1) PLATONE, Apologia di Socrate [recommended editions with text, translation and notes: Platone. Apologia di Socrate, in D. SUSANETTI (a cura di), Platone. Apologia di Socrate, Critone, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2019, pp. 9-113 (e relative note) or G. REALE, Platone. Apologia di Socrate. Introduzione, traduzione, note, apparati e iconografia socratica, Milano, Bompiani, 2000- (second edition)];
2) M. BONAZZI, Processo a Socrate, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2018.
3) One of the following books:
R.A. BILLOWS, Maratona. Il giorno in cui Atene sconfisse l'Impero, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2013;
M. BETTALLI-M. GIANGIULIO (a cura di), Atene, vivere in una città antica, Roma, Carocci, 2023, pp. 1-178 (chapters by M. Giangiulio, M. Bettalli, U. Fantasia, S. Ferrucci, L. Pepe, C. Bearzot, D.M. Lewis);
F. LANDUCCI GATTINONI, Il testamento di Alessandro. La Grecia dall'Impero ai Regni, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2014;
M. MARI (a cura di), L'età ellenistica. Società, politica, cultura, Roma 2019;
M. BETTALLI, Introduzione alla storiografia greca, Roma, Carocci, 2012;
N. BERNARD, Donne e società nella Grecia antica, Roma, Carocci, 2011;
C. BEARZOT, La giustizia nell'antica Grecia, Roma, Carocci, 2008.
C. BEARZOT, La giustizia nell'antica Grecia, Roma, Carocci, 2008.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is oral and aims at ascertaining students' knowledge of the development of Greek history from the origins to the hellenistic period with an ability to set historical figures and phenomena within their appropriate chronological and geographical context. For attendants ("studenti frequentanti"), it also aims at verifying their knowledge of the topics, sources and documents/materials discussed in the classes and their ability to use them with some degree of awareness of the methodological questions they pose.
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
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)