44376 - Greek Institutions (1)

Learning outcomes

Students will become acquainted with the use of inscriptions as historical sources for the study of Greek institutions, public as well as private. They will get knowledge of the basic topics concerning the institutions of the Greek city through direct approach to ancient authors and documentary sources. Students will learn how to employ epigraphic collections of texts available on line and to use traditional and digital research tools concerning Greek epigraphy and institutions. 

Course contents

1. Sources and tools for the study of Greek institutions.    
2. Greek institutions of the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic period. The institutions will be explored through:  a. passages of ancient authors;  b. analysis of selected inscriptions (reading, translation, dating, historical interpretation).

It should be noted that knowledge of ancient Greek language (understanding a text with the dictionary or at least understanding the correspondence with the translations offered), if not already acquired, must be reached before oral examination. Inscriptions are to be read in ancient Greek also during oral examination.

Students who won't be able to attend lessons must talk with the teacher to define specific course contents.

Readings/Bibliography

Students are required to study:
G. Camassa, Forme della vita politica dei Greci in età arcaica e classica, Bologna 2007.  
Sources to be read will be announced and supplied in photocopy or via web.

Teaching methods

The course requires students' active participation in studying institutions and solving related problems. 

Those who never studied ancient Greek language and alphabet before are strongly recommended to start immediately. The knowledge of ancient Greek will be strengthened through the reading of selected inscriptions.

Assessment methods

Oral examination will test the knowledge of the course contents (including selected inscriptions) and of the individual study text. It will take place in three steps: 1. a question about the text by Camassa with discussion of related problems; 2. a question about the sources examined during the course; 3. students will be required to read, translate and explain one of the Greek inscriptions studied during the course.

If the student achieves a complete and critical vision of the topics discussed in class and required for the discipline, mastery of expression and of specific language, he obtains excellence in the evaluation.

Teaching tools

Original sources will be shown during lectures with the aid of videoprojector.

Office hours

See the website of Alice Bencivenni