Legacy of Greece and Rome

Classics 260 – George Mason University

“Let others melt and mould the breathing bronze
To forms more fair,—aye! out of marble bring
Features that live; let them plead causes well;
Or trace with pointed wand the cycled heaven,
And hail the constellations as they rise;
But thou, O Roman, learn with sovereign sway
To rule the nations. Thy great art shall be
To keep the world in lasting peace, to spare
humbled foe, and crush to earth the proud.”

P. Vergilius Maro; The Aeneid, VI.847 – 853

Course Description

The Greek and Roman civilizations have left an imprint on western civilization that has shaped our modern world. This course will examine what legacies the Greeks and Romans bequeathed to the western world, and how well those legacies have stood the test of time. We will consider such diverse fields as literature, art, architecture, philosophy, politics, and engineering, seeking to identify the contributions the Greeks and Romans have made to our intellectual, social, economic, and political life.

Course Objectives

As this is a survey course, we will examine a broad range of topics and works. Throughout our far ranging inquiry we will concentrate on the answers to several key questions:

  1. How have the ideas, practices, and beliefs of the ancient Greeks and Romans been transmitted through the centuries to the world of today?
  2. What elements and institutions of our modern world are built upon those transmitted ideas, practices, and beliefs?
  3. What portions of the legacy of Greek and Roman civilization have faded with time? What portions continue to endure?

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

A detailed schedule is available. If you will be unable to attend class regularly and attend all quizzes and examinations, you should not take the class.

The texts for the course will be posted on the course website, which is available at http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/legacy/. You are responsible for printing the indicated texts and reading them before the class for which they are assigned. Be aware that the internet is fickle; print your readings well in advance of the class for which they are assigned!

Assignments, Examinations, and Grading

There will be four examinations, two covering the legacy of Greek civilization, the other two covering the legacy of Roman civilization. Each examination will count for twenty–five percent of your grade. The examinations will be made up of four sections as follows:

  1. Objective Chronology & Geography. Lists of places and dates will be made available in class and on the course website.
  2. Identifications of important terms – people, places, events, literary works et cetera. Guidelines for writing good identifications are available.
  3. Identification of quotations and passages from the assigned readings. Guidelines for writing good quotation identifications are available.
  4. A brief, synthetic, interpretive essay drawing on the content and themes of the lectures.

If you cannot attend all four examinations (scheduled for Monday 22 September, Wednesday 15 October, Wednesday 12 November, and Wednesday, 10 December) you should not take the course. No make up examinations will be given.

Academic Policies

Please make a note of the following important deadlines to drop or withdraw from the course. Note as well that you are responsible for ensuring that your registration status for the course is correct.

If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Office of Disability Resources at 703.993.2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office.

The Honor Code

Remember that you are bound by the honor code as described in the University Catalog. While it is permissible to work collaboratively to prepare for the quizzes and examinations, it is forbidden to give or receive any assistance during the quizzes or examinations themselves. If you have any doubts as to whether a particular action falls outside the bounds of the honor code, do not hesitate to ask.

The Instructor

Mr. William Carey
703.851.7037 (mobile)
wcarey1@gmu.edu (e-mail)

I will announce my office hours in class. Apart from office hours on campus, I am available by mobile phone anytime from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m and by e–mail throughout the day.