We discuss ancient evidence and modern theories of sexuality that challenge our conceptions of the Greek and Roman worlds. Besides excerpts from such classics as Sappho's poems, Plato's Symposium, Ovid's The Art of Love, and Petronius' Satyrica, we examine erotic handbooks, ancient art, myth, religious ritual, and legal, medical, and documentary texts in order to develop a critical historical understanding of this subject. We trace a strong conceptual dichotomy of active and passive sexual roles in Greece and Rome and reflect on sexual renunciation in late antiquity. An introduction to the birth and development of religious thought and practice in the Middle East from the age of the Neanderthals to the present. Zoroaster, Abraham, Jesus, Mohammed, and Baha'ullah all were born, grew up, developed their doctrines, and died in the Middle East.
Special attention is paid to historical and cultural settings.
Marjorie G. Jones Eurocentricity and its legacy are being hotly debated. Europe's relevance in our lives is the main focus of this survey, which takes us from the end of the Middle Ages into the period of European exploration and conquest of lands east, south, and west, through the Industrial Revolution, social and political revolutions, and worldwide wars, to the end of Europe's economic and political hegemony in the later 20th century. Special topics include the role of gender in history, the accommodation of minorities in multicultural societies, and the impact of specific historical events on societies and cultures. Art, music, and film supplement readings. The class follows current events in Europe, and discussions incorporate current events into a historical context.