GREEK AND ROMAN HISTORIANS
Week 1: Introduction
Outline of the course.
Survey of historiography.
Historiography, ethnography, mythography.
Social basis of history in the ancient world.
Ancient approaches to history and history writing
Week 2: Herodotus I
Introduction: 1.1-5
The Story of Croesus: 1.26-56 & 71-91
Customs of the Persians: 1.131-140
The Nile: 2.19-34
Darius and the Persian Empire: 3.80-97
Indian Gold: 3.98-105
Identifications & Discussion Questions
Week 3: Herodotus II
Sparta, Athens and Persia: 5.49-54 & 97-105
Battle of Marathon: 6.94-117
Xerxes' Decision: 7.8-21
The Greeks Prepare: 7.138-144
Battle of Thermopylae: 7.198-238
Delphi and the Battle of Salamis: 8.36-97
Beginnings of the Athenian Empire: 9.114-122
Identifications & Discussion Questions
Week 4: Thucydides I
Introduction: 1.1-23
The Debate at Sparta: 1.66-88
Pentecontaetia (479-431 B.C.): 1.89-146
The Funeral Speech: 2.34-46
Plague at Athens: 2.47-54
The Mytilenean Debate: 3.25-28 & 35-50
Identifications & Discussion Questions
Week 5: Thucydides II
Revolution at Corcyra: 3.70-85
The Melian Dialogue: 5.84-116
The Sicilian Expedition: 6.8-53; 96-104; 7.1-8; 42-87
Athenian Defeats & the Council of 400: 8.1-5; 63-70; 89-98
Identifications & Discussion Questions
Week 6: Xenophon
The Battle of Aegospotami (405 B.C.): 2.1.10-32
Tyranny of the Thirty at Athens & the Death of Theramenes: 2.3.1-56
The Peace Conference of 371 B.C. & the Battle of Leuctra: 6.3.1-4.20
Alliance of Sparta and Athens & Theban Invasions of the Peloponnese: 7.1.1-46
Campaign of Mantinea (362 B.C.): 7.5.1-27
Identifications & Discussion Questions
Week 7: Polybius
Introduction and the Rise of Rome: 1.1-5
Origins of the Second Punic War: 3.1-17 & 20-33
The Battle of Cannae (218 B.C.): 3.106-118
The Roman Constitution: 6.11-18
The Roman Military System 6.19-42
The Customs of the Romans 6.51-56
Identifications & Discussion Questions
MID-TERM EXAM
Week 8: Livy I
Preface to the History of Rome
Romulus and the Founding of Rome: 1.1-16
The Battle of the Horatii and Curiatii: 1.22-26
Aftermath of the Battle of Cannae: 22.58-61
The Spolia Opima: 4.19-20
Identifications & Discussion Questions
Week 9: Sallust
The Conspiracy of Catiline (entire) (Latin) (English) (French)
Identifications & Discussion Questions
Week 10: Caesar
Caesar Subdues the Nervii and Treviri; Caesar Invades Germany
Gallic Revolt; Defeat of Vercingetorix
The Civil War Begins
Caesar in Rome; Pompey Prepares in the East
The Battle of Pharsalus
The Death of Pompey the Great
Identifications & Discussion Questions
Week 11: Tacitus I
Introduction to the Annales & Death of Augustus (1.1-15)
Treason Trial under Tiberius (1.83-86)
From Republic to Monarchy (3.25-29)
Condemnation of Cremutius Cordus; Tiberius and Sejanus (4.23-41; 57-59; 67)
Death of Livia (5.1-5)
Identifications & Discussion Questions
Week 12: Tacitus II
New Sibylline Book, Treason Trials, Financial Crisis, Tiberius and Astrology, Deaths of Drusus and Agrippina (Book VI, A.D. 32-33)
Death of Tiberius (A.D. 37)
Claudius the Emperor, Provincials Added to Senate; Conspiracy of Silius and Messalina (Book XI, A.D. 47-48)
Claudius Marries Agrippina the Younger, Claudius Adopts Nero, War with Caractacus in Britain, Death of Claudius (Book 12, A.D. 48-54)
Promising Beginning of Nero's Reign, Murder of Britannicus (Book 13, A.D. 54-58)
Murder of Agrippina the Younger (Book 14, A.D. 59) & The Great Fire at Rome (Book 15, A.D. 64)
Identifications & Discussion Questions