The Ancient Greeks from Coursera

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Syllabus

Prehistory to Homer

We will start our first module with an overview of the physical and geographical setting for our class – “the Greek world.” Then we will move rapidly across many centuries, beginning with two Bronze Age civilizations: Minoan on the island of Crete, and Mycenaean on the mainland. Our evidence for both of these is almost purely archaeological, and so you can consider the ways scholars have interpreted material remains to build a picture of how the societies were structured. After the collapse of Mycenaean civilization, there followed the so-called Dark Ages. These four centuries pose for us the challenge of reconstructing what happened during a long period that has left relatively little evidence. We will conclude this module with an all too brief consideration of the two magnificent Homeric epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, whose stories and heroes became essential elements in Greek cultural identity.

The Archaic Age (ca. 800-500 BCE)

Module 2 brings us into the turbulent, creative Archaic Age, during which the Greeks acquired a cultural identity distinct from that of their neighbors in the Eastern Mediterranean. They developed their characteristic form of community, the polis, or “city-state.” With a rebound in population, moreover, they founded numerous colonies abroad. In addition, the Greeks recovered literacy, which enabled them to write down law codes for the poleis. The newly established communities had a new form of military organization, the hoplite army, manned by citizen-soldiers. The lyric poets of that era wrote verses that address such great social changes, and also offer vivid accounts of individuals’ emotions and opinions. The module ends with another poet, Hesiod, somewhat later and less famous than Homer, but also very significant. His subjects range from the origins of the cosmos and the gods, to personal ethics, to practical advice about farming.

Two City-States: Sparta and Athens

In Module 3 we will analyze some major political developments in the Archaic Age, which were largely responses to the huge societal changes discussed in Module 2. We will focus on Sparta and Athens. Sparta evolved into a unique hoplite-polis, famed for strict discipline and military prowess. Athens followed a very different path, showing the first traces of democracy. We will also observe how tyrannies arose in many poleis, often, paradoxically, to the community’s benefit. In fact we can now consider the historical effect of individual leaders, like the renowned lawgivers, Lycurgus of Sparta and Solon of Athens. Both men came to be revered as the “founding fathers” of their poleis. Both men also belonged to the legendary Seven Sages, who were famed for their wisdom. The module concludes with a consideration of Peisistratos, who ruled Athens as a tyrant in the mid-6th-century BCE and led the Athenians to new levels of power and prosperity.

Democracy. The Persian Wars

Module 4’s sessions will begin by focusing on the crucial decade at the end of the 6th century, when the Athenians instituted full democracy. In fact the development of democracy is one of the principal reasons to study Greek history. Athens was also the adopted home of Herodotus, who was the first author in the West to characterize his writing as history. Herodotus chose to recount the first great clash of cultures in the West, the conflict between Greece and Persia, and his story goes far beyond the war and its battles. He was deeply concerned with how societies define themselves. The breadth of his interests, his insight and his good humor all contribute to the appeal of his work. We will also observe how Athens, under the leadership of the brilliant general Themistocles, began to transform itself into a formidable naval power.

"The Great 50 Years" (ca. 480-431 BCE)

Module 5 surveys the period between the end of the Persian Wars and the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War, which came to be known as Athens’ “Golden Age.” After the Persian Wars, there grew an alliance of Greek states that was meant to maintain security. The allies asked the Athenians to lead the confederation, called the Delian League. We will examine how the league was gradually transformed into an empire dominated by Athens. We will also discuss the extraordinary Pericles, who was a leader in the expansionist Athenian democracy and shaped many of its policies. In addition we will pay some overdue attention to the role of women in Greek society, with a consideration of the character of Antigone and a more general assessment of women’s status. We will conclude with an – again, too brief – account of the great building program that produced the Parthenon and the other renowned monuments on the Athenian Acropolis.

The Peloponnesian War I

For Module 6, we turn first to Thucydides the Athenian. He “wrote the war” that broke out between the Athenians and the Spartans and their allies and eventually affected almost all the Greek poleis. Thucydides’ method is very different from that of Herodotus. His style seems aloof, austere, dispassionate and scientific, and his narrative is much more tightly focused on the progress of the war. Nonetheless, he also has his own particular modes of interpretation that convey some powerful images and opinions. We will also look at the comic genius Aristophanes, whose Acharnians is a trenchant fantasy about an ordinary Athenian who is sick of the war and makes a private peace with Sparta. The Module concludes with Alcibiades, the dazzling rogue who dominated Athenian political life during the later stages of the war. We will also consider the social milieu in which he flourished.

The End of the War, the End of the Century

The final Module brings us to the end of the fifth century and beyond. The charismatic Alcibiades persuaded his fellow citizens to invade Sicily. Eventually they were routed. Along with the events of the end of the war, we will consider the social and economic importance for Athens of foreign residents (metics) and slaves. Despite the catastrophe in Sicily, the Athenians kept fighting for almost a decade. After their final defeat, they endured a period of oligarchic domination and a brief but vicious civil war. Although they resolved it with a general amnesty, it is likely that the lingering anxiety contributed to the prosecution and conviction of Socrates in 399 BCE. In response to prior learners’ requests, the module ends with a lecture about Philip II and Alexander the Great. The Macedonians also offer a salutary reminder that Greek history is a capacious subject that should not be artificially limited to the Classical period.

Course Pages

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Taught by Andrew Szegedy-Maszak, PhD, an established scholar and professor in Ancient Greek history

Examines key figures, events, and cultural values from the Bronze Age through the death of Socrates, providing a comprehensive overview of Ancient Greek history

Covers a range of topics, including political systems, societal changes, military organization, and the role of individuals

Utilizes primary sources such as Homeric epics, law codes, and the writings of Herodotus and Thucydides

Requires students to have a basic understanding of Ancient Greek history

Involves significant reading and analysis of historical texts

Reviews summary

Echoes of the parthenon

learners say this course covers centuries of Greek history and examines the evolution of Athenian democracy, literature, and philosophy. The Bronze Age, Homeric epics, Peloponnesian War, and Alexander the Great are also highlighted. The course is well-received for its detailed video lectures and readings that provide a comprehensive overview of ancient Greece and its enduring influence. Note that most learners found the course challenging but ultimately rewarding.

The course encourages critical thinking and challenges learners to consider different perspectives on historical events and figures.

"The well-chosen visual material accompanying the lectures conveys the high art that can be seen in the buildings, the sculptures, the vase paintings and in the mosaics."

"I particularmente appreciate the way Professor Szegedy-Maszak presents it, the rhetoric itself, its pace of speech and the lively and natural way of presenting the respective content."

"The greeks history period covered by the speeches was very well presented by the professor, although the amount of information given were a bit difficult to memorize due the timeline it covered and the richenes of the events, characters and situations involved ."

Professor Szegedy-Maszak is praised for his engaging and passionate teaching style, making the complex subject matter accessible and interesting.

"An outstanding course, and a wonderful experience."

"I really enjoyed this course by Professor Andrew Szegedy-Maszak."

"Professor Szegedy-Maszak gives his lectures with eloquence and calm."

"Dr. Szegedy-Maszak's style of lecture and approach to the subject made it much more accessible than my previous studies."

Learners gain a thorough understanding of ancient Greek history, literature, and philosophy through in-depth lectures and readings.

"Excellent overview. I have used what I learned in successive courses."

"The professor clearly loves the subjects and explains clearly and with a lot of a very subtle passion that I really enjoyed."

"This was an excellent, very high quality review of the most interesting centuries of ancient Greek history."

Some learners experienced difficulties with accessing or understanding the assigned readings due to broken links or outdated information.

"The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that a lot of the links for the reading material don't work."

"An integration and profound course."

"A fantastic look at the Ancient culture of Greece and the changes though out some of its ancient years."

"The lecturer was brilliant, and the lectures were easy to understand as an aspiring ancient history student."

"I really enjoyed this!"

"Very, very difficult for an 83 year-old but I did it with the Lords help."

"It's an excellent course, so rich in culture and information."

"What detracted from the course was the many reading assignment broken links."

"My only concern is about the quizzes in general."

"The quizzes in general. Be prepared to questions about details that aren't the most crucial thing to understand the big frame of History, nor were they emphasized in the lecture. It's a kind of a tricky question."

Learners should be prepared for a rigorous course that requires careful reading and analysis of primary and secondary sources.

"The amount of information given were a bit difficult to memorize due the timeline it covered and the richenes of the events, characters and situations involved ."

"Really great course, the reading materials are great and the videos are very engaging."

"Excellent course. The professor clearly loves the subjects and explains clearly and with a lot of a very subtle passion that I really enjoyed."

"The lectures were valuable."

"Amazing, the best professor I ever happened to findon Coursera."

"I enjoyed this course along with the lecturers knowledge, only down side was the transcripts of the lectures."

"This is a useful and well-explained overview of the Archaic and Classical ages of Greek society, with a short introduction of what came before."

"The outlined of the Greek civilization are very well crafted in this course, especially professor Andrew Szegedy is very calm and composed, authoritative as well."

"The 10 minutes estimated for the reading assignments are a gross underestimation if you actually attempt to complete them, and many of the links to the reference material do not work."

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 The Ancient Greeks with these activities:

Review key concepts from ancient Greek history

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Revisiting the basics will help you quickly recall past learnings, prepping you up for new insights in this course.

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Read an overview of ancient Greek history.
Create a timeline of major events in ancient Greek history.

Complete practice questions on ancient Greek history

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Testing your understanding through practice questions will help you identify and address gaps in your understanding.

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Find practice questions online or in textbooks.
Attempt to answer the questions.
Review your answers and identify areas where you need more practice.

Join a study group to discuss ancient Greek history

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Discussing the material with peers will help you clarify your understanding and learn from different perspectives.

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Find a study group or create your own.
Meet regularly to discuss the course material.

Four other activities

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Participate in a history quiz or competition

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Participating in a history quiz or competition will test your knowledge and help you identify areas where you need improvement.

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Find a history quiz or competition to participate in.
Study for the quiz or competition.
Take the quiz or competition.

Review "A History of Ancient Greece" by Victor Davis Hanson

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of ancient Greek history and will help you deepen your understanding of the material covered in the course.

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Read the book.
Take notes on the key points.
Discuss the book with a classmate or friend.

Create a timeline of a specific period in ancient Greek history

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Creating a timeline will help you visualize the sequence of events and understand the relationships between them.

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Choose a specific period in ancient Greek history to focus on.
Research the events that occurred during that period.
Create a timeline that includes the most important events.

Contribute to an open-source project related to ancient Greek history

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Contributing to an open-source project will allow you to apply your knowledge and skills while also giving back to the community.

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Find an open-source project related to ancient Greek history.
Contribute to the project.
Share your contributions with others.

Career center

Learners who complete The Ancient Greeks will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Historian

Within ancient Greek history, historians focused on political and cultural values, such as the ones that this course will help you identify. With this historical context, you'll be able to understand how historical events unfolded in Ancient Greece and interpret these events as a Historian.

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Archaeologist

This course, The Ancient Greeks, will help you analyze and interpret material remains, like the ones left by Minoan on the island of Crete and Mycenaean on the mainland. This insight will assist you with studying ancient cultures and the societies they have built as an Archaeologist.

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Museum curator

To effectively manage and interpret museum collections of Greek artifacts, a comprehension of the historical context is imperative. This course will introduce you to the political and cultural values that have shaped these collections, giving you the foundational understanding you'll utilize as a Museum Curator.

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Tour Guide

As a Tour Guide, you'll share historical accounts of ancient Greece with people from around the world. The knowledge you gain from this course -- from the Trojan War to the rise and fall of empires -- will provide you with a rich base of content to engage and entertain your audience.

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Teacher

To effectively instruct students on ancient Greek history, a firm grounding in its political and cultural values is paramount. This course will provide you with a comprehensive background on these aspects, equipping you with a deep understanding to convey to your students.

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Journalist

This course will help you to develop a deep understanding of ancient Greek history. This knowledge will be valuable for your work as a Journalist, as it will help you to understand the origins of many of the political and cultural issues that we face today.

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Librarian

In your role as a Librarian, you will assist researchers and students in finding information on ancient Greece. This course will be of interest to you as it covers a wide range of topics, from the Bronze Age to the death of Socrates, and will help you to better understand the resources available on this subject.

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Writer

The works of Homer, Hesiod, Herodotus, and Thucydides, which you will explore as part of the course, will offer invaluable inspiration. Their eloquent storytelling and insightful perspectives will stimulate your creativity and enrich your writing as an aspiring Writer.

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Lawyer

This course can provide you with a strong foundation in the study of law and legal systems. The course will introduce you to the concept of law in ancient Greece and its evolution over time, allowing you to develop a better understanding of the development of legal systems worldwide.

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Politician

This course will give you a deep understanding of the political and cultural values of ancient Greece, which will be invaluable as you navigate the complex world of politics today. From the rise and fall of empires to the development of democracy, you'll gain insights into the forces that have shaped our political systems.

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Philosopher

The Ancient Greeks were some of the greatest philosophers in history. This course will introduce you to their ideas about ethics, politics, and metaphysics, and you'll have the opportunity to explore these ideas in depth.

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Theologian

This course will introduce you to the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Greeks, which will be invaluable as you study theology. You'll learn about the different gods and goddesses, the myths and rituals associated with them, and the role of religion in ancient Greek society.

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Sociologist

This course will introduce you to the social and cultural values of the ancient Greeks, which will be invaluable as you study sociology. You'll learn about the different social classes, the roles of men and women, and the family structure in ancient Greece.

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Anthropologist

This course will introduce you to the culture and society of the ancient Greeks, which will be invaluable as you study anthropology. You'll learn about their daily lives, their customs and traditions, and their interactions with other cultures.

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Classicist

This course may be useful for you as a Classicist. The course will introduce you to the history, culture, and literature of ancient Greece, providing you with a strong foundation in the field.

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