Alexander and the Hellenistic World AHC 325: 32905, 32910, 32915, HIS 351D: 39515, 39520, 39525, Spring 2017

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1 Alexander and the Hellenistic World AHC 325: 32905, 32910, 32915, HIS 351D: 39515, 39520, 39525, Spring 2017 Instructor: Dr. Cristina Carusi Phone: Overview This course covers Greek history from the subordination of Greece to Philip II, king of Macedonia, and his heir and successor Alexander the Great, in 338 BCE through the Hellenistic world s loss of independence to Rome some 300 years later. This era is defined by the charismatic figure of Alexander the Great and by his military campaigns, which led to the conquest of all the eastern Mediterranean and made possible the spread of Greek culture all over Anatolia, Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria, and Egypt. After Alexander s death, his empire was divided into the three Hellenistic kingdoms of Egypt, Syria, and Macedonia until Rome s progressive absorption of them in the 2 nd and 1 st c. BCE. The course will devote roughly equal time to covering major events and personalities, exploring key developments in culture and society, and examining the various types of evidence available for the era (literary, epigraphic, papyrological, and archeological sources). There will be two lectures and four discussion sections each week. Each student is required to attend the two lectures (on Monday and Wednesday) and the discussion section in which s/he is enrolled (on Thursday or Friday), for a total of three 50-minute classes per week. The two lectures will combine historical outline with the exploration of specific themes and problems, such as systems of government, social structures, economy, culture, religion, and war, while the discussion sections will be focused on how to analyze and interpret ancient sources. The course carries the Global Cultures flag. Required texts 1. J. Romm, The Landmark Arrian, Anchor Books 2012, ISBN: F.W. Walbank, The Hellenistic World, Revised Edition, Harvard University Press 1993, ISBN: Additional readings will be posted on Canvas as PDF files in the MODULES section. Grading Grade scale A ; A ; B ; B 83-86; B ; C ; C 73-76; C ; D ; D 63-66; D ; F 59 and below. When merely quantitative methods cannot be applied, I will assign grades according to the following qualitative standards: an A-range grade indicates complete mastery of the material and skills involved in the assignment; a B-range grade indicates advanced competency; a C-range grade indicates basic competency; a D-range grade indicates effort but insufficient competency; an F means that either you put no effort in the assignment or something went dramatically wrong. 1

2 Grade components 20% Midterm (Wednesday March 08 - Week 8). 26 multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions (2 points each), 7 short-answer questions (4 points each), 1 short essay covering a major theme from the course (20 points). The exam will cover material from lectures and sections up to Week 7 included. 25% Final (Wednesday May 03 - Week 15). 26 multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions (2 points each), 7 short-answer questions (4 points each), 1 short essay covering a major theme from the course (20 points). The exam will mainly cover material from lectures and sections from Week 9 up to Week 14, although some questions concerning previous material should be expected. 15% In-Class Exams (Monday February 13 - Week 5 and Monday April 10 - Week 12). Both exams will last 30 minutes and will include 26 multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions (2 points each) and 7 short-answer questions (4 points each). The first exam will cover material from lectures and sections up to Week 4 included, while the second exam will cover material from lectures and sections from Week 9 up to Week 11 included. Both exams will last 30 minutes and will be followed by an in-class workshop. 20% In-Class Presentation. Each student will choose one item among the underlined primary source readings assigned for each weekly section (see below) and present it in class. 10% Weekly Canvas Quizzes. Every week on Tuesday afternoon a quiz concerning the primary source readings assigned for the Thursday-Friday sections will be set on Canvas. You are required to complete it online in advance of your section. The quiz will be available up to 10 minutes before the start of the section. Remember that weekly quizzes must be completed even in case of absence at lectures or sections or if, for any reason, the relevant section is canceled. 10% Discussion Section Participation. Informed participation in discussions is required, meaning that you must contribute regularly to the in-class conversation and demonstrate your knowledge of the primary source readings assigned for each section. Attendance Attendance is mandatory for both lectures and discussion sections. Each student is allowed only 2 unexcused absences from lectures and 1 from sections without penalty. Any other absence must be appropriately documented (e.g. with a doctor s note or a note by Student Emergency Services Office of the Dean of Students). Notify me of your situation as soon as possible and document it immediately upon your return. Failure to comply with these rules will result in the loss of 1% of your final grade for each missed lecture or section. Use your free passes wisely! Make-up exams and presentations Make-up exams and presentations will be arranged only in the event of documented illness or other documented emergencies. Notify me of your situation as soon as possible: unless your emergency leaves you physically unable to communicate, I will look much less favorably on excuses that are offered after the exam (or presentation) date. Unexcused absences at exams and presentations will result in zero points for the assignment. Keep in mind that there will be no make-ups for the weekly Canvas quizzes. If you do not complete a quiz, you will get zero points for it. 2

3 Class Etiquette Please, arrive on time. Late arrivals and early departures are extremely disruptive and rude to me, the TA, and your classmates. If, for any reason, you arrive late or need to leave earlier, you must inform me or the TA at the end of class or before the class starts. Keep in mind that too many late arrivals and early departures might count as absences. Put away and turn off your cell phone during class time. The use of laptops and tablets is allowed only for taking notes and checking assigned readings. We will call you out if you appear to use your e-devices for any other reason than class activities. Phones, laptops, and tablets must be put away and turn off during exams. Failure to do so will result in the immediate invalidation of the exam. Office hours If you feel that you are struggling in this class, please come talk to me or the teaching assistant during office hours or by appointment. We will work together to address the sources of the problems. Tentative Course Schedule Note: We will try to follow this schedule as closely as possible. However, as we go through the semester, these plans may need to change. In case, changes will be clearly communicated in class and/or via Canvas announcements. Reading assignments and additional material will be posted on Canvas, in the MODULES section, a week in advance of the relevant class. Students will be responsible for checking Canvas regularly for class work and announcements. All readings must be completed in advance of classes. I strongly advise you to keep up with your reading throughout the semester and to maintain a running study timeline. PLEASE get into the habit of bringing the assigned readings with you to sections, either printed out or available on your e-devices. Readings key Romm = J. Romm, The Landmark Arrian. Walbank = F.W. Walbank, The Hellenistic World. Material from the following books will be posted on Canvas as [PDF] files: Austin = M. Austin (ed.), The Hellenistic World from Alexander to the Roman Conquest. Cheshire = K. Cheshire (ed.), Alexander the Great. Crawford = M. Crawford & D. Whitehead (eds.), Archaic and Classical Greece. Nagle = D.B. Nagle, The Ancient World. A Social and Cultural History. Pomeroy = S.B. Pomeroy et al., Ancient Greece. N.B.: underscored items are those available for in-class presentations Week 1 (Jan ) Monday 01/16 Wednesday 01/18 No classes (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) No readings Introduction to the course 3

4 Sections 01/19-20 Friday 01/ 20 Week 2 (Jan ) Monday 01/23 Wednesday 01/25 Sections 01/26-27 No readings None this week Last day of the official add/drop period Setting the stage Readings: Nagle, Chapter 4, pp (Geography and History), (Out of the Darkness), (A Tale of Two Cities), (Polis Society) [PDF] Context for 4 th c. Greece Readings: Nagle, Chapter 5, pp [PDF] Sources for Alexander & Hellenistic history Readings: Austin, pp [PDF]; Walbank, pp Week 3 (Jan. 30-Feb. 03) Monday 01/30 The rise of Macedonia Readings: Pomeroy, pp [PDF] Wednesday 02/01 The Macedonian domination of Greece Readings: Pomeroy, pp [PDF] Wednesday 02/01 Last day to drop a class without possible academic penalty Sections 02/02-03 How to organize the in-class presentation Readings: Crawford #322, 323, 325, 326, 327, 328, 330, 332, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350 [PDF] Week 4 (Feb ) Monday 02/06 Wednesday 02/08 Alexander rises to power Readings: Pomeroy, pp [PDF]; Romm, Appendix A Alexander in Asia Minor Readings: Pomeroy, pp [PDF]; Romm, Appendix G Sections 02/09-10 Readings: Arrian (Romm, pp ) + Austin #3 [PDF]; (Romm, pp ) + Austin #4 [PDF]; (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ) + Cheshire, p. 70 [PDF] Week 5 (Feb ) Monday 02/13 Wednesday 02/15 In-Class Exam #1 (30 minutes); Workshop No new readings (study for exam) Alexander in Egypt and Persia Readings: Pomeroy, pp [PDF]; Romm, Appendix H Sections 02/16-17 Readings: Arrian (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ) + Austin #8b [PDF]; (Romm, pp ) + Cheshire, pp [PDF]; (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ) + Austin #10 [PDF] + Cheshire, pp [PDF] Week 6 (Feb ) Monday 02/20 Wednesday 02/22 Alexander in Central Asia Readings: Pomeroy, pp [PDF]; Romm, Appendix I, J & K Return to the West and Death Readings: Pomeroy, pp [PDF]; Romm, Appendix O & P 4

5 Sections 02/23-24 Readings: (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ) + Cheshire, pp [PDF]; (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ) + Cheshire, pp [PDF]; (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ) Week 7 (Feb. 27-Mar. 03) Monday 02/27 Alexander in retrospect Readings: Romm, Appendix C, D & M Wednesday 03/01 TBA Sections 03/02-03 Readings: Arrian (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ) + Austin #21 [PDF]; (Romm, pp ); (Romm, pp ) + Austin #22 [PDF]; (Romm, pp ) + Cheshire, pp [PDF]; (Romm, pp ); Austin #11, 19, and 25 [PDF] Week 8 (Mar ) Monday 03/06 Wednesday 03/08 Sections 03/09-10 Review session Readings: revise the material so far (Study Guide #1) Midterm (50 minutes) No new readings (study for Midterm) None this week Spring Break: Mar Week 9 (Mar ) Monday 03/20 Wednesday 03/22 The Successors I Readings: Pomeroy, pp [PDF]; Romm, Appendix E & Epilogue 1-9 The Successors II Readings: Pomeroy, pp [PDF]; Walbank, pp ; Romm, Epilogue Sections 03/23-24 Readings: Austin #26, 28, 30, 31, 37, 42, 44, 47, 56, 57, [PDF] Week 10 (Mar ) Monday 03/27 Macedonia and Greece Readings: Walbank, pp Wednesday 03/29 Greek federal leagues Readings: Walbank, pp , Section 03/30-31 Readings: Austin # , 61, 62, 67, , 73 [PDF] Week 11 (Apr ) Monday 04/03 The Ptolemies and Egypt Readings: Walbank, pp Monday 04/03 Last day to drop a class or change pass/fail basis Wednesday 04/05 The Seleucids and the East Readings: Walbank, pp

6 Sections 04/06-07 Readings: Austin # , 182, 183, 187, 254, 258, 268, 274, 275, 276, 277, [PDF] Week 12 (Apr ) Monday 04/10 In-Class Exam #2 (30 minutes); Workshop No new readings (study for exam) Wednesday 04/12 The Attalids of Pergamon Sections 04/13-14 Readings: Austin # , 231, 232, 233, 239 [PDF] Week 13 (Apr ) Monday 04/17 Hellenistic religion Wednesday 04/19 Hellenistic culture and the library of Alexandria Sections 04/20-21 Week 14 (Apr ) Monday 04/24 The coming of Rome and the end of the Hellenistic World I Readings: Walbank, pp Wednesday 04/26 The coming of Rome and the end of the Hellenistic World II Readings: Austin #76, 77, 80, 84, 86, 89, 93, 94, 96, 100, 195, 205, 223, 251, 291 [PDF] Sections 04/27-28 Readings: Austin #83, , [PDF] Week 15 (May 01 - May 05) Monday 05/01 Review session Readings: revise the material so far (Study Guide #2) Wednesday 05/03 Final (50 minutes) No new readings (study for Final) Sections 05/04-05 None this week Disabilities: Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities at (voice) or (video phone) or Note: Instructors are not required to provide accommodations without an official accommodation letter from SSD. Students are expected to contact the instructor as soon as possible and present a UT accommodation letter authorizing specific accommodations. Religious holidays: A student shall be excused from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose. By UT Austin policy, students must notify instructors of their pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day so that arrangements can be made. Cf. UT Honor Code: The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is 6

7 expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community. As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall abide by the core values of the University and uphold academic integrity. Academic dishonesty: Academic dishonesty on any graded assignment or exam will result in zero credit on the assignment or exam. A second infraction will result in F for the course. All cases of scholastic dishonesty will be reported. For more information, contact Student Judicial Services at , or go to Academic dishonesty includes any kind of cheating or collaboration on tests, or submitting work that is not either your own or accurately attributed to its source (plagiarism see tutorial at Emergency Evacuation Policy: Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to evacuate buildings when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement requires exiting and assembling outside. Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy. Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building. Students requiring assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during the first week of class. In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class instructors. Do not re-enter a building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department, The University of Texas at Austin Police Department, or Fire Prevention Services office. Link to information regarding emergency evacuation routes and emergency procedures can be found at: utexas.edu/emergency. Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL): Weapons Policy: With the exception of concealed handguns, no weapons may be brought into the classroom. Course participants with a license to carry a handgun must keep it concealed at all times. If a gun or any other weapon becomes visible, the person who sees the weapon should leave the class and call 911 so that law enforcement personnel can take appropriate action. No weapons of any kind can be brought into the professor s office. Students will be given oral notice excluding handguns from the office before they meet with the professor. They will be required to sign a statement that they have received legally-binding oral notification that guns are not permitted in the professor s office. 7