00996 - Greek History

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide a basical knowledge of greek history in its historical development, of the main topics and research methodologies related to greek history. At the end of the course, studens should be able to know the most important themes and topics of greek history (concerning politics, institutions, mentality, religion, economy) putting them in their context. They should have basical knowledge too of historical research and be able to use different kinds of sources, especially the historiographical and the epigraphical ones. 

Course contents

First set (6 CFU).  Themes and problems of the Greek history, from the beginnings to the Hellenistic age.
Second set (the following 6 CFU). Analyis of the topic: Tyrant and deliverers of Sicily from archaic ages to Hellenism.

Readings/Bibliography

For the first  6 CFU:

1) D. Musti, Introduzione alla storia greca, Roma-Bari, Editori Laterza 2003 or, otherwise, F. Lefèvre,  Storia del mondo greco antico, trad. it., Torino, Einaudi, 2012.

2) M. Bettalli (a cura di), Introduzione alla storiografia greca, Nuova edizione, Roma, Carocci editore 2009.

3) G. Daverio Rocchi, Il mondo dei Greci, Milano, Bruno Mondadori 2008 o, in alternativa, L. Braccesi, Guida allo studio della storia greca, Roma-Bari, Editori Laterza 2005 (optional reading).

For the second 6 CFU reading of the Plutarch's Lives of Dion and Timoleon  (ed. BUR), of loci from the works of Diodorus, Plato, Iustinus and other ancient authors, with the study of:

4) F. Muccioli, La storia attraverso gli esempi. Protagonisti e interpretazioni del mondo greco in Plutarco, Milano-Udine, Mimesis, 2012, pp. 11-89, 185-192, 261-277.

5) S. De Vido, Le guerre di Sicilia, Roma, Carocci editore 2013.

6) M. Bettalli, Mercenari. Il mestiere delle armi nel mondo greco antico, Roma, Carocci editore 2013 (in particular, the pages about Sicily between V e IV/III Century BC).

If students can't attend the course they must study on the previous books with the following recommended readings:

7) Tucidide. Epitafio di Pericle per i caduti del primo anno di guerra, a cura di O. Longo, Venezia, Marsilio 2000.

8) Tucidide. La disfatta a Siracusa, a cura di A. Corcella, Venezia, Marsilio 1996.

9) L. Braccesi, Guida allo studio della storia greca, Roma-Bari 2005, Editori Laterza.

Teaching methods

All the lessons are direct, with the help of copies and photographs to explain some topics.

Assessment methods

The exam is oral.  For students with 12 CFU it wil be given at the same time, without separating the two lesson plans. During the exam the teacher will assess the critical and methodological skills of the student, by asking questions about the topics discussed during the course and, more generally, about archaich greek history, classic greek history, hellenistic greek history and greek historiography (first 6 CFU), and the topics discussed in the second lesson plan (second 6 CFU). If the student will show an organic view of greek history and of topics discussed, with a good knowledge of sources and good comunication skills, he will get an excellent mark. If he will have a mechanical or mmnemonic knowledge, without showing always good comunication skills, he will get a more than sufficient mark. If he will have some minor gaps in the knowledge and an inappropriate language, his mark will be sufficient. If gaps in the knowledge are very deep, with negative communication skills, his mark will be insufficient.

 

Teaching tools

Notes of the lessons and didactic copies availabe on the website.

Office hours

See the website of Federicomaria Muccioli