Lectures on Greek History and Culture from Udemy

Over the years, I've taught many different kinds of classics courses to all kinds of different audiences. This class on Udemy is a distillation of the topics that students have responded to most positively and have most often asked about. We start with a look at the physical world of the Greeks, and then take up the Iliad of Homer. After that we look in detail how Herodotus presents the beginning of the great conflict between Greece and Persian, and finish up with an overview of the various Greek philosophers.

If you're taking a class in Greek culture somewhere and need a little help, or if you are a motivated autodidact, I'm sure you'll find these lectures a good step forward in your understanding and appreciation of the world of the Greeks.

Thanks for having a look.

-bl

What's inside

Syllabus

Outlines of Greek History

An overview of Greek history.

The Pre-Greek Cultures of the Cycladic Islands and Crete

The Late Bronze Age (AKA Mycenaean Age)

The Dark Age

The Archaic and Classical Ages

The Hellenistic Age

Greek Material Culture: A Survey of Pottery, Statuary, and Temples

Statuary of the Archaic Style

Statuary of the Severe or Transitional Style

Statuary of the Classical Period

Statuary of the Late Classical and Hellenistic Periods

Pottery Shapes Part 1

Pottery Shapes Part 2

Pottery Shapes Part 3 (Review)

Dating Pottery by Styles Part 1

Dating Pottery by Styles Part 2

Greek Temples Part 1

Greek Temples Part 2

Greek Temples Part 3

Homer and Homer's Iliad

In the first lecture of the unit on Homer and the Iliad, we look at Homer's world.

The Invention of the Alphabet

The Oral Tradition

The Iliad Book 01

The Iliad Book 03

The Iliad Book 04

The Iliad Book 05

The Iliad Book 06 (1)

The Iliad Book 06 (2)

The Ekphrasis of Achilles's Shield

The Iliad Book 06 to the End (1)

The Iliad Book 06 to the End (2)

The Iliad Book 24

This lecture takes up some of the stories associated with the saga of the Trojan War but not included in either of the Homeric epics.

What did the Greeks think of Helen?

The Defense of Helen by Gorgias

The Trial of Helen in Euripides's Trojan Women

This is a review of images only. There is no audio this time.

The Persian Threat

Dark Ages To Cyrus the Great

The Ionian Revolt

The Battle of Thermopylae

The Battles of Artemisium and Salamis

The Spartans

Greek Philosophers

Introductory Comments on Greek Philosophies

The Milesians

Parmenides And Heraclitus

The Sophistic Movement

Socrates

Execution Of Socrates

Plato Phaedo 1 Of 7

Plato Phaedo 2 Of 7

Plato Phaedo 3 Of 7

Plato Phaedo 4 Of 7

Plato Phaedo 5 Of 7

Plato Phaedo 6 of 7

Plato Phaedo 7 Of 7

Aristotle Introduction

Aristotle "The Ethics"

Aristotle "Hard" Teachings

Epicureanism I

Epicureanism II

Epicureanism III

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches the concepts of Greek history, culture, literature, and philosophy, which are fundamental pillars of western civilization

Covers various aspects of Greek culture, enabling learners to develop an understanding of architecture, sculpture, drama, and poetry

Explores diverse perspectives and ideas, providing learners with a well-rounded understanding of Greek thought and its impact on Western civilization

Led by Ben Lugosch, an experienced instructor with expertise in Ancient Greek Civilization, ensuring the delivery of high-quality and engaging content

Facilitates learner understanding through a range of materials, including videos, readings, discussions, and interactive elements, making the learning process engaging and effective

Reviews summary

Greek history and culture simplified

Learners say that Lectures on Greek History and Culture is an easy-to-follow course for beginners that provides a good overview of the topic. The well-structured course is engaging, interesting, and informative, with excellent lectures taught by an experienced and knowledgeable instructor.

Course provides plenty of material to learn from.

"amazing I've learnt so much so far, not just about tarot but about how i connect to it"

"The course is good, profound knowledge. I hope it gets more advance when I follow with the rest."

"Sal talks widely about each card."

Course keeps learners interested.

"I like the way the course is set up. I've found the topics easy to remember so far"

"Very insightful. Feel like really learning the overarching meaning of the cards well and will be able to use on tarot readings for myself and others. love the pace."

"I love this long course, less things to read and many lectures as videos."

Course is accessible to those with little to no prior knowledge.

"Loved the course. It was easy to learn as Iam beginner"

"Easy to understand for beginners."

"It was great course for beginners."

Course is organized and easy to follow.

"Easy to understand for beginners."

"Well-structured. Thank you Sal."

"very interesting, easy to follow, easy to understand."

Instructor is experienced and teaches well.

"Sal Jade teaches every aspect of the deck, leaving nothing out"

"Sal's background as a teacher really shows in the way she structures her courses and in the way she produces the content."

"She really knows her stuff and is a great resource for mastering the tarot!"

Straightforward and beginner-friendly.

"good easy to understand"

"easy to understand and lots of examples"

"It was great course for beginners. simple to follow"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Lectures on Greek History and Culture with these activities:

Brush Up on Ancient History

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Reviewing key concepts in ancient history will provide foundational knowledge for understanding the Greek world.

Browse courses on Ancient History

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Read a general overview of ancient history.
Focus on the history of Greece, especially the Archaic and Classical periods.
Review the major events and figures of Greek history.

Explore Homer's Iliad

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Reading and analyzing Homer's Iliad will provide insight into Greek mythology, culture, and values.

View The Iliad on Amazon

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Analyze the themes and symbols of the poem.
Read the Iliad in its entirety.
Identify the main characters and their motivations.

Explore Greek Art and Architecture

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Engaging with tutorials on Greek art and architecture will enhance understanding of the visual and material culture of the Greeks.

Browse courses on Greek Art

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Find online tutorials or documentaries on Greek art and architecture.
Follow the tutorials to learn about different styles and techniques.
Analyze the significance and symbolism of Greek art and architecture.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Join a Greek Culture Study Group

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Participating in a study group will provide opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and deeper exploration of Greek culture.

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Find or create a study group focused on Greek culture.
Meet regularly to discuss assigned topics and share insights.
Collaborate on projects or presentations related to Greek culture.

Create a Timeline of Greek History

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Creating a timeline will reinforce understanding of the sequence and duration of key events in Greek history.

Browse courses on Greek History

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Gather information about major events in Greek history.
Organize the events chronologically.
Create a visual representation of the timeline.

Read Herodotus' Histories

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Reading Herodotus' Histories will provide a deeper understanding of the Persian Wars and their impact on Greek history.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read the Histories in its entirety.
Identify the main events and figures of the Persian Wars.
Analyze Herodotus' writing style and historical methods.

Contribute to Open Source Projects on Greek History or Culture

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Contributing to open source projects related to Greek history or culture will provide practical experience and deepen understanding.

Browse courses on Greek History

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Find open source projects related to Greek history or culture.
Identify ways to contribute to the project, such as research, writing, or code development.
Make contributions to the project and engage with the community.

Career center

Learners who complete Lectures on Greek History and Culture will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Archaeologist

Archaeologists study past peoples and cultures by excavating and examining material remains like pottery, tools, and buildings. This course may help an aspiring Archaeologist build a foundation for exploring the material remains of ancient Greek culture. The course's overview of Greek pottery and temples can help an Archaeologist contextualize the artifacts they are asked to excavate and examine.

See salaries and explore the career path for Archaeologist

Archivist

Archivists acquire, preserve, arrange, describe, and make accessible historical records. This course may help an aspiring Archivist build a foundation for organizing and preserving historical records related to ancient Greece. The course's overview of Greek history and material culture can help an Archivist contextualize the records they handle.

See salaries and explore the career path for Archivist

Art historian

Art Historians study history through the lens of visual art and objects. This course may help an aspiring Art Historian build a foundation for exploring the art of ancient Greece. The course's overview of Greek art and sculpture can help an Art Historian contextualize the artwork they study.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art historian

Museum Educator

Museum Educators develop and implement educational programs for museum visitors. This course may help an aspiring Museum Educator build a foundation for teaching visitors about ancient Greek history and culture. The course's overview of Greek history, material culture, and philosophy can help a Museum Educator contextualize the materials they teach.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum Educator

Professor

Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. This course may help an aspiring Professor build a foundation for teaching and conducting research in Classics, Art History, Anthropology, or a related field. The course's overview of Greek history, material culture, and philosophy can help a Professor contextualize the subjects they teach.

See salaries and explore the career path for Professor

Museum curator

Museum Curators plan and implement exhibitions, handle collections of museum artifacts and objects, and conduct educational programs for the public. This course provides insights into the types of artifacts that are housed in museums. Context on Greek culture and pottery, along with a familiarity with Greek philosophy, can help a Curator contextualize and interpret the objects they are asked to curate.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum curator

Museum Archivist

Museum Archivists maintain and care for textual and pictorial archives related to the collections, histories, and programs of their museums. This course can provide a background to the types of artifacts and objects that are housed in museums. Context on Greek culture and pottery, along with a familiarity with Greek philosophy, can help an Archivist contextualize the histories they are asked to document.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum Archivist

Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information. This course may help an aspiring Librarian build a foundation for assisting researchers interested in Greek history and culture. The course's overview of Greek history and material culture can help a Librarian contextualize the reference materials they provide.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Anthropologist

Anthropologists study the behavior, origin, and development of humans. This course may help an aspiring Anthropologist build a foundation for exploring ancient Greek culture. The course's overview of Greek history and culture can help an Anthropologist contextualize the work of more specialized anthropologists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Anthropologist

Historian

Historians research, analyze, and write about the past. This course may help an aspiring Historian build a foundation for exploring ancient Greek history. The course's overview of Greek history and culture can help a Historian contextualize the work of more specialized historians.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Journalist

Journalists write, edit, and report on news stories for various forms of media, including newspapers, magazines, and online publications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Writer

Authors write or contribute written material, such as books, scripts, articles, speeches, and technical reports.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Travel Writer

Travel Writers produce written, visual, and audio accounts of their travels, often for magazines and newspapers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Travel Writer

Publisher

Publishers produce, market, and distribute books, newspapers, magazines, and other printed matter.