The world of early Greece (c. 1200 to 500 BCE) is an exciting period of experiment and adventure. Homer’s epic poetry has inspired—and continues to inspire—historians of all times. Yet neither Iliad nor Odyssey were historical accounts, and stunning archaeological remains such as the palaces of Mycenae and Pylos tend to conceal the events that caused their destruction rather than disclose them. Our understanding of the late Helladic World, the Dark Age (“Geometric Greece”) and the Archaic Age depends on refined methodologies and skillful interpretations of scattered evidence. The class traces the structural development of the Aegean world. It also touches on intellectual paradigms that apply to the history of civilizations of all ages and regions: e.g., the notion of legislation and institutionalization in pre-modern societies, approaches to oral traditions, and concepts and models of colonization.
Learning goals: in-depth knowledge of the course content and subject matter; basic comprehension of research operations; development of critical thinking and analytical skills (intermediate level).
- Lehrende/r: Hans Beck