13350 - Ancient Greek Institutions

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course unit students have in-depth knowledge of some of the main Greek public and private institutions and are able to analyze them through a critical reading and interpretation of literary, documentary, material and iconographic sources. Students are able to recognize how institutions changed and adapted to different social, political and historical contexts. They are able to discuss and communicate contents and themes of the discipline using appropriate technical terminology.

Course contents

This course studies how Greek institutions and culture spread in Egypt after the conquest of Alexander the Great and the establishment of the Ptolemaic dynasty (ca. 332-30 BCE). Through the analysis of literary and archaeological sources, including papyri and inscriptions, lectures address ancient colonialism, and political and cultural interactions between different Mediterranean people in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt. Part of the course focuses on the history of Egyptian antiquities collecting and looks critically at the birth of Egyptology and papyrology during the modern colonial age, and at the way Graeco-Roman Egypt is represented in museums and scientific publications.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Students who join lectures on a regular basis must prepare the following:

Personal lectures notes, lecture slides and readings (e.g. articles and chapters), shared weekly on the course virtual site;

One of the following books at their discretion: 

1. A. Bowman, L’Egitto dopo i faraoni, Firenze: Giunti Editore 1986

2. P. Parsons, La scoperta di Ossirinco. La vita quotidiana in Egitto al tempo dei Romani. Roma: Carocci 2019.

International students can use the English original of both volumes (A. Bowman, Egypt after the Pharaohs; P. Parsons City of the Sharp-nosed Fish: Greek Lives in Roman Egypt).

Students who are not attending classes must prepare one of the two books above listed and an ancient literary source in translation chosen from the following:

1. Lettera di Aristea a Filocrate. A cura di F. Calabi. Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli.

2. Plutarco, Iside e Osiride, a cura di M. Cavalli. Adelphi.

International students are allowed to use the English translation of these ancient texts (any edition, e.g. Loeb).

Students who are not taking the course in person must contact the lecturer in advance, at least one month ahead of the examination to confirm their program and readings.

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars in class with the use of Powerpoint presentations and other materials, is be made available online in pdf format on a weekly basis. Active participation to discussions in class is required: time will be dedicated to the analysis and discussion of ancient sources, key-issues and topics to facilitate the learning process.

Assessment methods

Oral examination, to evaluate the following:

• knowledge of ancient sources and bibliography studied for the course;
• understanding of the issues and problems analyzed in lectures and readings;
• ability to critically address topics, themes and issues from lectures and readings;
• ability to sustain an argument in verbal form using appropriate terminology, including technical words.

You will be marked according to the following criteria and marking/grading grid:

• insufficient: very limited to no knowledge of the topics and sources studied for the course;
• sufficient (18-24): basic knowledge of topics, materials and sources of the course; notional and superficial understanding of the course contents and materials, with very limited ability to critical, independent analysis;
• good (25-27): good knowledge of the course contents and methods; correct interpretations and analyses of themes and sources, although not always fully developed and/or appropriately expressed;
• very good to excellent (28-30 cum laude): full command of the subject; interpretations of sources and issues follow correct methodologies and show a high degree of critical, independent analysis. Excellent ability to develop arguments in oral form using technical, appropriate vocabulary and terminology.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint, PDF files, images, maps and videos uploaded on Unibo virtual platform (https://virtuale.unibo.it/ ).

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the university office in charge of these issues (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. Agreed adjustments and adaptations must then be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam) to the lecturer, who checks that they are in line with the learning objectives of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Mazza