Understanding these developments is crucial to understanding all of Greek history. Characteristically, each week I shall begin by speaking for 20 minutes or so, in an attempt to situate the reading for that week and to pose some interesting issues. We shall then engage in discussion of the reading. In general, students should have some background in political theory, intellectual history, or philosophy. I expect to prune the reading, and having some idea of what people are interested in would help me in this task.
Requirements vary slightly, depending on the purposes of the student.
The common requirements are doing the reading, participating in the discussion, occasionally introducing reading in class, and writing several short reaction pieces or class summaries to be posted on the class email list. The course is intended partly to provide an opportunity for graduate students and advanced undergraduates to explore one or another of these thinkers in depth. Accordingly, one option is to write a 20-25 page paper on some aspect of the work of one of the theorists, or on a problem with which the theorist was concerned. Students who are more interested in an overview than in a detailed view of one thinker or problem will write a 10-12 page paper synthesizing the material and will also write a final exam. A documentary history of English society from the time of Edward the Confessor through the reign of King John with an emphasis on constitutional growth.