HIST 311-01, The Rise and Fall of Athens, Spring 2012

Abstract

This course offers a comprehensive survey of one of the most fascinating epochs of European history: Athens from the age of Solon and the birth of democracy in the 6th century BCE to the tumultuous post-Peloponnesian War period (404-399), which saw the collapse of the Athenian empire, tyranny and foreign occupation, and the execution of its greatest citizen, Socrates. Significant attention will be paid to the major political, social, and cultural developments, as we try to understand the factors that contributed to the growth and decline of Athenian democracy. Two questions in particular will concern us, both of which have a positive and negative corollary: 1) why and how did the Athenians create the world’s first democracy; why and how did the Athenians come to subvert and then actually dissolve their democracy?; and 2) why and how did the Athenians create an environment fertile for the development and growth of artistic and philosophical modes of expression; why and how did the Athenians come to undermine arts and philosophy, culminating in the decline of the dramatic chorus and the death of Socrates. As is the case with all 300-level history courses, historiography will play a significant role in our quest to answer the aforementioned questions. While this course is designed as an introduction and assumes no prior experience with Greek history, there will be an emphasis on the critical use and interpretation of primary sources, both literary and archaeological. Mastering these sources will be crucial for success in the course, especially during our running of the “Reacting to the Past” simulation.