The Prehistoric Past and Ancient Greece
- Readings / Research: You should begin these weeks by reading the following the required course study guide. Please remember that this course is a research class and each week I give you either a discussion or essay question and then you should explore the Internet sources listed in each chapter of the study guide. You do not need to “see everything” because it is a lot of material, think of it more as a curated collection of the best peer-reviewed, academic resources on the subject. You should treat each chapter as a research guide. Once you think you can answer the discussion question or write the paper, you are ready for the assignment but each assignment requires citations from 3-4 websites (from Online Research section of each chapter from the website) so consider that a minimum- Good luck!
- Culture and Values of the Western World: Syntopical Course Guide (Required)
- Chapter One: The Prehistoric Past/First Writings of Early Civilizations
- Chapter Two: Greek Heroic Archetypes
- Assignments:
CHAPTER 1:
Pre-learning question – Consider what causes genuine and long-lasting change in a culture? In your lifetime what are the biggest changes you have witnessed in our culture and are these changes, in general, positive or negative? Why? Are you a lover or hater of cultural change?
Discussion question– Of all the cultural advances in Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt and Ancient China and India, which, in your opinion, is the most important and why?
CHAPTER 2:
Pre-learning question – According to Montesquieu, democracy exists “when the body of the people is possessed of the supreme power.” What does this mean to you? If a democracy is rule by the people, all people still need heroes who embody heroic values. What might a “democratic” hero look like? Can you give any examples?
Discussion question- How does Ancient Greece use artistic production to begin to formulate certain ideas about heroes? What do the Ancient Greeks consider “heroic?”
