Alexander the Great and the Growth of Hellenism. By the time he died in 323 BC at the age of 33, Alexander had conquered most of the known world and had transformed forever the shape of politics and culture. This course will take an interdisciplinary approach to this period by examining its history, social organization and beliefs, literature and art. We shall also explore the glamorous myths that have surrounded Alexander from his own day to the present. Our aim will be to separate fact from fiction and to determine the significance of Alexander not only for the fourth century but also for ourselves who have inherited from the world he created certain values and assumptions about politics, art, cultural diversity and diffusion, and the place of human beings in the universe.
Multiculturalism increasingly characterizes our political, economic, and personal lives.
Readings will include selections from Greco-Roman and Japanese myths, poetry, drama, essays, history, and philosophy. Class format will be lecture with opportunity for questions and discussion. Grading will be based on midterm and final examinations, a short paper, and class participation. This course provides an analytical introduction to the archaeology of the area from Mesopotamia to north-west Europe, from the beginnings of farming to the Middle Ages. Roman Law and Society.