OVERVIEW

The course treats the basis of Greek history with particular attention to historical evolution, the main related issues (political-military aspects, institutions, society, religion, and economy) and research methodologies; specific attention is reserved to historiography and epigraphy. Issues related to the problems of social inequality, gender inequality, and the relationship between education, citizenship, and political participation will be dealt with as part of the teaching in a historical reflection on a civilization that had a fundamental impact on the orientation of European thought in the modern era.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Having a basic knowledge of the historical development of the Greek world, the main events from the Bronze age to the Hellenistic-Roman era, and the fundamentals of its civilisation, in the context of the ancient history of the Mediterranean world; - attaining necessary methodological competencies and techniques for approaching the documentary bases of Greek history with particular reference to literary and epigraphical texts and without neglecting archeological accounts and the contribution of documentary science (papyrology, numismatics etc.); - knowing how to carry out bibliographical research and knowing the modalities of its updating by using both traditional and telematic research tools; - recognising the essential characteristics - political, economic, social, religious - of the Hellenistic world and the main evolutionary lines of Greek political institutions in a diachronic and synchronic sense by analysing surviving documents; - knowing the lines of development of Greek historiography and the works of the main authors of historical works by reading, interpreting and commenting texts; - knowing how to evaluate historical information taken from authors of different literary genres (historiography, tragedy, comedy, oratory, biography etc.) and place witness accounts in their historical-cultural context

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course (6-9 CFU), students will:

- have a basic knowledge of the events of the Greek world and of the relations the Greeks had with non-Greek populations, in an extended space-time framework (6-9 CFU)

- possess the methodological skills necessary to deal with the documentary basis of Greek history (6-9 CFU)

- be able to critically evaluate information from various types of sources (literary, archaeological, epigraphic) and use them for historical reconstruction (6-9 CFU)

- will be able to reflect critically on central aspects of Greek civilization (social inequality, gender gap, the relationship between education, citizenship, and political activity) both in ancient historical reality and in terms of their reception in modern political thought (6-9 CFU)

- know their way around basic bibliographical research (6-9 CFU)

- recognise the peculiarities of Greek political institutions in their historical development (6-9 CFU)

- know the lines of development of Greek historiography and the works of the main historians (9 CFU)

- know how to develop a personal learning and self-assessment strategy through self-study guidance of the textbook (6-9 CFU)

- know how to communicate their thoughts in written form, integrating and re-elaborating information drawn from different types of sources (ancient literary sources, modern bibliography, also in foreign languages, online databases), adopting terminology and style appropriate to the context, developing critical thinking and argumentative skills (for those who take the written exercise, 6-9 CFU)

PREREQUISITES

The knowledge of the ancient Greek language is not mandatory. Students must be able to read and study the handbooks by themselves (some lessons will be a guide to studying the handbook)

TEACHING METHODS

Classes will be held in presence. Attendance, although not compulsory, is recommended. only students who attend the lectures in person will prepare the syllabus indicated as 'attending'.
At the specific request of each student, the professor will allow the use of the lecture recordings via the Teams platform.
An optional intermediate self-assessment test will be reserved for those attending (see assessment methods).

There will also be an optional written exercise, the discussion of which will be an integral part of the oral interview. The methodological preparation for the test will be carried out by the professor in dedicated lectures that will allow students to organize their individual work on the basis of preliminary discussions held in groups.

Please register on Aulaweb

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Program for students taking the course for 6 cfu

General part: Method, sources, the geography of ancient Greece; periodization; main historical events in the Greek world from the 2nd millennium BCE to the Hellenistic period; Greek political institutions.
The course offers a general introduction to the discipline - main problems of methodology, source-based approach, guidance among research tools - and a thematic overview of the main historical events that occurred in the Greek world, focusing on political-military and institutional aspects. "The geo-ethnographic perspective in Greek historiography" will be the subject of a specific segment of the course (8 hours), developed as supplementary teaching by Prof. Marco Martin.
A written essay (optional) agreed upon with the lecturer, preliminary to the oral examination, is also envisaged.
Non-attending students should contact the lecturer by e-mail (francesca.gazzano@unige.it) for the written essay and for any other clarifications.

Program for students taking the course for 9 cfu

General part: Method, sources, the geography of ancient Greece; periodization; main historical events in the Greek world from the 2nd millennium BC to the Hellenistic period; Greek political institutions.
The course offers a general introduction to the discipline - main problems of methodology, source-based approach, guidance among research tools - and a thematic overview of the main historical events that occurred in the Greek world, focusing on political-military and institutional aspects. "The geo-ethnographic perspective in Greek historiography" will be the subject of a specific segment of the course (8 hours), developed as supplementary teaching by Prof. Marco Martin.
A written essay (optional) agreed upon with the lecturer, preliminary to the oral examination, is also envisaged.
Non-attending students should contact the lecturer by e-mail (francesca.gazzano@unige.it) for the written essay and for any other clarifications.

Part Two

Writing History. In this part of the course, historiographical aspects will be explored in-depth, starting with a profile of the main historians and through a guided and commented reading of selected passages (from Hecataeus, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Ephorus, Theopompus, Polybius, Diodorus, Arrian, Plutarch). In particular, the focus will be on questions of method, the relationship between the historian and his audience, and the connection between historiography and political leadership.The involvement of external lecturers, specialists, and Ph.D. students is also planned for this year in the form of seminars.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bibliography for students using the 6 cfu course

For all:

A handbook of your choice among:

1. C. BEARZOT, Manuale di storia greca, Bologna, Il Mulino 2011 (and subsequent editions)

2. M. BETTALLI, A.L. D’AGATA, A. MAGNETTO, Storia greca, Roma, Carocci 2013

3. M. GIANGIULIO (a cura di), Introduzione alla storia greca, Bologna, Il Mulino 2021: Part I, chapters III, V, VI, VII, X, XIII, XV, XVI, XVII, XIX. Part Two: integral study (chapters XX-XXXIV).

Study aid (optional): F. CORDANO, P. SCHIRRIPA, Le parole chiave della storia greca, Roma Carocci, 2015 (2nd ed.)

A reading of your choice from:
1. V. AZOULAY, Pericle. La democrazia ateniese alla prova di un grande uomo, Turin, Einaudi 2017.
2. M. LUPI, Sparta. Storia e rappresentazioni di una città greca, Rome, Carocci 2017
3. C. BEARZOT, Alcibiade. Il leone della democrazia ateniese. Stratega, politico, avventuriero, Rome, Salerno Editrice, 2021
4. S. TUFANO, Epaminonda di Tebe. Vita e sconfitte di un politico di successo, Milano, LED Edizioni Universitarie, 2023
5. O. COLORU, Il regno del più forte. La lunga contesa per l'Impero di Alessandro Magno (IV-III sec. B.C.), Rome, Salerno Editrice, 2022
6. F. FARIELLO, L. GALLO, Alessandro Magno eroe dei due mondi. La storia, le fonti, l'archeologia e il mito, (Le Monnier Università), Milano: Mondadori Education 2023.
7. P. CARTLEDGE, Ancient Greek Political Thought in Practice, Cambridge 2009 (in English)

Non-attending students:

In addition to the above texts:

G. DAVERIO ROCCHI, Il mondo dei Greci, Pearson 2020 (new edition).

Alternatively, those who have chosen to study the handbook of M. GIANGIULIO (ed.), Introduzione alla storia greca, Bologna, Il Mulino 2021, may complete their preparation by adding to the parts already in the program (for all), the chapters (Part I): I, IV, VIII, IX, XI, XII, XVIII.

Bibliography for students using the 9 cfu course

PART I

For all:

A handbook of your choice among:

1. C. BEARZOT, Manuale di storia greca, Bologna, Il Mulino 2011 (and subsequent editions)

2. M. BETTALLI, A.L. D’AGATA, A. MAGNETTO, Storia greca, Roma, Carocci 2013

3. M. GIANGIULIO (a cura di), Introduzione alla storia greca, Bologna, Il Mulino 2021: Part I, chapters III, V, VI, VII, X, XIII, XV, XVI, XVII, XIX. Part Two: integral study (chapters XX-XXXIV).

Study aid (optional): F. CORDANO, P. SCHIRRIPA, Le parole chiave della storia greca, Roma Carocci, 2015 (2nd ed.)

A reading of your choice from:
1. V. AZOULAY, Pericle. La democrazia ateniese alla prova di un grande uomo, Turin, Einaudi 2017.
2. M. LUPI, Sparta. Storia e rappresentazioni di una città greca, Rome, Carocci 2017
3. C. BEARZOT, Alcibiade. Il leone della democrazia ateniese. Stratega, politico, avventuriero, Rome, Salerno Editrice, 2021
4. S. TUFANO, Epaminonda di Tebe. Vita e sconfitte di un politico di successo, Milano, LED Edizioni Universitarie, 2023
5. O. COLORU, Il regno del più forte. La lunga contesa per l'Impero di Alessandro Magno (IV-III sec. B.C.), Rome, Salerno Editrice, 2022
6. F. FARIELLO, L. GALLO, Alessandro Magno eroe dei due mondi. La storia, le fonti, l'archeologia e il mito, (Le Monnier Università), Milano: Mondadori Education 2023.
7. P. CARTLEDGE, Ancient Greek Political Thought in Practice, Cambridge 2009 (in English)

Non-attending students:

In addition to the above texts:

G. DAVERIO ROCCHI, Il mondo dei Greci, Pearson 2020 (new edition).

Alternatively, those who have chosen to study the handbook of M. GIANGIULIO (ed.), Introduzione alla storia greca, Bologna, Il Mulino 2021, may complete their preparation by adding to the parts already in the program (for all), the chapters (Part I): I, IV, VIII, IX, XI, XII, XVIII.

PART II: Texts and materials related to this part of the course will be distributed in class and made available to students on Aulaweb; for those who can, constant attendance is recommended.

For all:

A handbook of Greek historiography to be chosen between:

1. M. BETTALLI (a cura di), Introduzione alla storiografia greca, Roma, Carocci 2009 (and subsequent editions)

2. C. BEARZOT, Introduzione alla storiografia greca, Bologna, Il Mulino 2022

Non-attending students:

In addition to the above, knowledge (in Italian or English) of a classic of your choice among:

Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War, Book I or Book II (any edition; for students in the classical curriculum an edition with a facing text is recommended).

Herodotus, The Histories, Book I or Book VIII (any edition; for students in the Classical curriculum an edition with a Greek text opposite is recommended).

Xenophon, Anabasis, Book I (any edition; for students in the Classical curriculum an edition with a facing text is recommended).

Polybius, The Histories, Book I (any edition; for students in the Classical curriculum an edition with a facing text is recommended).

Lucian of Samosata, How to Write History (any edition; for students in the Classics curriculum a text-to-speech edition is recommended).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FRANCESCA GAZZANO (President)

FRANCESCO CARRIERE

MARCO ENRICO (Substitute)

VALTER LAPINI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

I Semester. For the exact date see the Italian version.

Class schedule

GREEK HISTORY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral interview (and discussion of a written essay, which is not mandatory)

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Written test (optional): analysis of a theme agreed with a bibliography supplied by teaching staff, the acquisition of a correct enquiry methodology and knowledge of a specific topic of Greek history as well as the ability to move between ancient sources and modern bibliography will be assessed.

Oral exam: it examines the basic knowledge of events of Greek history and relative historiography as well as the level of knowledge of issues and texts discussed in lectures. The threshold of sufficiency is reached if, in relation to the topics under examination, one demonstrates a basic knowledge of the events, protagonists, and historical-geographical contexts of Greek history, considered in their chronological development, and achieves a level of methodological competence that allows one to orient oneself in the evaluation of the documentary bases. The threshold of excellence is reached, in relation to the topics to be examined, with the demonstration of a broad knowledge of events, protagonists, and historical-geographical contexts of Greek history, considered in their synchronic and diachronic development and in their cause/consequence dynamics, and a level of methodological competence is reached that allows one to evaluate the documentary bases with critical capacity.

Exam schedule