The Department of Classical Studies believes that the literature, monuments, and social institutions of the ancient world, together with the reflections of the Greek and Roman thinkers about their own cultures, are of unique value in themselves, well worth our contemplation and understanding; and that as we attempt to learn about and appreciate classical civilization, we necessarily learn as well a variety of contemporary methodologies and disciplines.
The department offers three groups of courses for distribution, those in Classical Civilization (introductory courses that require no knowledge of Greek or Latin), courses in Classical Archaeology, and upper-level language courses in Greek and Latin authors or genres. While only a few courses are repeated in yearly or biennial rotation, most courses are offered less regularly. This system guarantees that the instructor approaches the subject each time with fresh impetus. We believe in a healthy change and variation in our course offerings.
Classical Civilization offerings include the general surveys of Greek and Roman civilizations (CC 101 and 102), which provide (through readings, lectures, and discussions) a broad understanding of the literatures, thought, and social development of ancient Greece and Rome, and thus provide the student with knowledge of and appreciation for our cultural origins, as well as an acquaintance with modern methods for understanding an ancient culture. These courses are taught each year. CC 101 is offered in the Fall and CC 102 is offered in the Winter. Other courses provide understanding of particular aspects of the ancient world, approached from a variety of disciplines and studies - literary, philosophical, historical, sociological, and so on. Some students (particularly those who have already developed special interests in such disciplines) may wish to explore one of these topics without having had a broader introduction.
Classical Archaeology offerings include the broad surveys of the archaeology and monuments of Greece (Cl.Arch 221 - offered in the Fall) and Rome (Cl.Arch 222 - offered in the Winter) and a general introduction to archaeological field methods (Cl.Arch 323). Other courses use the material remains of specific cultures both to introduce students to the diversity of the ancient world and to demonstrate how, through a variety of multi-disciplinary approaches, the archaeological record can be used to reconstruct the life-ways of past societies.
Take me to the Fall Time Schedule
221/Hist. of Art 221. Introduction to
Greek Archaeology. (4). (HU).
This course surveys the history and art of Crete and Greece as revealed
by archaeology from the third millennium through the 4th century B.C. In
the prehistoric period, particular attention is given to architectural and
ceramic developments as well as to the crosscurrent of trade and economic
contacts among Asia Minor, Crete, and mainland Greece. Emphasis is also
given to the impact archaeology has had on views and theories of history:
the destructions of the civilizations of Crete and Troy, the end of the
Bronze Age, the volcanic eruption of Thera. In the historic period, major
artistic developments in architecture, sculpture, and painting are considered
and special attention is given to social interpretations: temples as banks
and monasteries; sculpture as dedication, decoration, and commemorative
propaganda; architectural sculpture as realized myth. Discussions in the
sections will concentrate on the historical background, archaeological field
techniques, methods of dating and stratigraphy. The sections will meet in
the Kelsey Museum where it will be possible to work with the actual ancient
artifacts recovered in University of Michigan excavations. There are two
one-hour examinations and a final, as well as illustrated lectures and assigned
readings. Cost:2/3 WL:1 (Pedley)
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