Topics in Ancient Studies

While the Hellenistic world was dominated by great kingdoms only to be conquered by Rome, the city-state of Athens survived, albeit transformed and often tempting its own destruction. Athens began the era as a significant military and economic power but emerged through a long period of subjugation to the Macedonians as a much smaller city-state whose political heritage and cultural dexterity positioned it to thrive in unheralded ways. Athens thus emerged as a city of unusual importance to Rome and served as a principal node by which the eastern Mediterranean became Roman. The historical processes, events, and persons by which this smaller Athens survived and came to play a significant role in Mediterranean affairs are the subject of this seminar. We will closely examine the whole range of available evidence, especially inscriptions (in translation), on a host of subjects such as religion, diplomacy, urban life, and economics, and we will do so also in conjunction with a number of sites, especially Delos, that were of critical importance to Hellenistic Athens. Prerequisite: L08 346C
Course Attributes: EN H; AS HUM; CFH MH; FA HUM

Topics in Ancient Studies

CLASSICS 4361

Section 01