First-Year Ancient History & Classics

The Department of Ancient History & Classics studies the culture of the ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as their Old World neighbours, through the interdisciplinary combination of history, literature, and archaeology. Through these sub-fields, introductory courses in this program explore aspects of the ancient Mediterranean cultures that lie at the foundations of our own society. Our first-year courses introduce students to the building blocks and approaches that scholars use to study ancient texts and material remains, and teach skills in written and verbal communication that will serve students in whatever discipline they choose as a major. At the first year level, students can take in-translation courses (i.e., all readings are in English) and/or study the ancient Greek and/or Latin languages. Our first-year courses are open to all Trent students; there are no prerequisites.

The First-Year Courses

AHCL 1000Y – The Trojan War
AHCL 1001H – Case studies in classical archaeology
GREK 1000H – Elementary Greek 1
GREK 1001H – Elementary Greek 2
LATN 1000H – Elementary Latin 1
LATN 1001H – Elementary Latin 2

Note: first-year students may also take AHCL 2100Y (Introduction to Ancient History) and/or AHCL 2300Y (Introduction to Classical Literature). Although these are technically second-year courses, they are popular with first-year students and are not too challenging for new students. In fact, in past years, many of the top students in those courses have been first-year students. For more information on these courses, please see the descriptions at the website for Ancient History & Classics: www.trentu.ca/ahc/courses.php

AHCL 1000Y – The Trojan War

The Trojan War, an epic battle fought between the Achaeans (ancient inhabitants of Greece) and the citizens and allies of Troy (whose site has been identified in present-day Turkey), has arguably had one of the most long-lived and widespread impacts of all events on the course of humanity in the past four millennia. From antiquity to today, it has inspired literary, visual, and musical artists; famous political and military leaders have manipulated the legend for their own political gain; and, in our own society, phrases like “Achilles’ heel” and “Trojan Horse” are everyday terms, while the legend has been glorified in TV series like The Simpsons and on the big screen with movies like O Brother Where Art Thou and Troy. This course places the legend in its historical, literary, and archaeological context and explores its pervasive effects on ancient cultures of the Mediterranean, as well as through the Medieval and Renaissance periods and up to the present day. The main textbooks are the ancient epic poems that describe the human and divine fortunes of the War and its aftermath: Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, and Vergil’s Aeneid.

AHCL 1000Y is a required course in the General and Honours B.A. program in Ancient Greek & Roman Studies.

There are no prerequisites for this course; any Trent student may take AHCL 1000Y. No ability to read Greek or Latin is required, as translations for all ancient works are provided.

COURSE FORMAT

AHCL 1000Y typically consists of two hours of lectures per week and a one-hour seminar every other week. Seminars, which are held in small groups (normally about 15 students) are opportunities for students to engage in discussions and debates based on the readings; in addition, they provide an opportunity to follow up on points raised in lecture discussions and to ask for clarification on any component of the course.

COURSE TEXTS

Homer, The Iliad, translated by R. Fagles (Penguin Classics)
Homer, The Odyssey, translated by R. Fagles (Penguin Classics)
Vergil, The Aeneid, translated by Fitzgerald (Vintage)
All required textbooks are available in the Trent University bookstore.

TOPICS

The general framework of the course follows the progression of the ancient works being read, starting with two works recorded by Homer in the eighth century B.C. (originally in Greek): The Iliad, which takes place during the Trojan War, then The Odyssey, which describes the aftermath of the War from an Achaean viewpoint. The third text is Vergil’s Aeneid (written in the first century B.C. in Latin), which provides a Trojan perspective on the events that followed the Fall of Troy, pointing the way to the foundation of Rome. Interspersed with discussions of the literary works is a wide range of approaches to studying the legend, such as:

• Learning about the cultures under discussion and how the archaeological and historical evidence compares to their presentation in the epic poems
• assessing how the time period at which the poets were writing influenced their telling of the legend
• evaluating both textual and physical evidence that the War actually took place
• investigating the primary and controversial place that the Trojan legend held for the development of archaeology as both a profession and a source of public interest
• exploring the field of Classical reception, i.e., how later ages re-used and adapted the familiar material to speak to the issues of their own time.

Many lectures are delivered by guest speakers who have special expertise in individual lecture topics. These guest lectures also enable students to become familiar with the faculty members of Ancient History & Classics as a whole.

AHCL 1001H – Case studies in classical archaeology

This course explores the origin, development, challenges and lessons of archaeological practice in the Classical world, with a focus on specific, illustrative case studies drawn from the history of the discipline, such as Pompeii, the Elgin/Parthenon Marbles, and the legacy of Sir Arthur Evans (‘discoverer’ of the Minoan culture of Crete).

Classical Archaeology is the study of the physical remains of the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. This course introduces students to the challenges of the field and its sub-disciplines through a series of lectures and case studies involving finds spanning the second millennium B.C.E .to the seventh century C.E. across the Mediterranean and beyond. By investigating a variety of sites, events, and individuals whose contributions have helped to shape what archaeology is today, we will explore the past, present, and future of the discipline. A key focus will be the roles and responsibilities of archaeologists as investigators and curators of cultural heritage.

AHCL 1001H is an optional credit in the B.A. and B.Sc. programs in Archaeology, and in the General and Honours degrees in Ancient Greek & Roman Studies. This course will be particularly appealing for those who choose a Specialization in Classical Archaeology, but its content is pertinent to archaeologists worldwide. For more information about Trent’s Archaeology program, go to the Archaeology homepage.
There are no prerequisites for this course. Any Trent student may take AHCL 1001H. No ability to read Greek or Latin is required.

COURSE FORMAT

AHCL 1001Y consists of two hours of lectures per week and an hour-long seminar every other week. The purpose of the seminar is to foster discussion in a smaller group (12-15 students) about controversial topics that have been raised in seminar readings and in lectures, and to allow students to ask questions or raise matters for clarification.

COURSE TEXTS

Talbert, R. J. A. 1986. Atlas of Classical History. London: Routledge
AHCL 1001H coursepack: a series of articles and book chapters
All textbooks are available in the Trent University bookstore.

TOPICS

Each lecture has its own discrete topic within overarching themes, which include:

• Pioneers and advancements in the development of Classical Archaeology
• Significant discoveries in excavation (both on land and underwater), field survey, and remote sensing
• Heritage versus ‘progress’ (i.e., when today’s political or economic agendas threaten the preservation of the past)
• The perversion of archaeology for nationalistic or entertainment purposes
• Ethical and legal debates between governments, special interest groups, archaeologists, museums, and private collectors

GREK 1000H – Elementary Greek 1

Without the ancient Greeks, we would not have helicopters, microscopes, telephones, antibiotics, or even technology in general. Biology, philosophy, physics, anthropology, and many other university disciplines would be unknown. Well, they might still exist, but we would call them something else, because all of those words come from ancient Greek.

While some of our students take ancient Greek in order to explore the culture, many others take it because it is a sure way to improve their English communication skills in terms of vocabulary and grammar – skills that will benefit them in courses of any discipline. In addition, students who are considering a future in the history, archaeology, or literature of the ancient Greeks and Romans should plan on taking at least two years of ancient Greek.

Elementary Greek 1 introduces students to the basic elements of the ancient Greek language, providing the fundamentals of grammar and vocabulary. The course is designed to have students reading Greek sentences and abridged passages early on. It should be noted that modern Greek and ancient Greek are not the same, just as Chaucer’s English was quite different from the English spoken today.
There are no prerequisites for this course.

Elementary Greek 1 is a required course for the Honours B.A. in Greek & Latin Language & Literature and for the Minor in the same area; it is also an optional course for the Emphases in Linguistics and in Medieval, Antique, and Renaissance Studies. In addition, students who are considering a future in Greek and Roman history, archaeology, or literature should plan on taking at least two years of Greek.
Please note that the availability of a degree program in Greek & Latin Language & Literature, of a minor in Greek & Latin, and of Greek and Latin courses beyond the 2000-level is subject to departmental staffing conditions. In most cases, achieving a degree in Greek and Latin Language & Literature in four years is only possible if a student starts both Greek and Latin in the first year. Interested students must consult the chair of the department as early as possible in their degree program.

GREK 1001H – Elementary Greek 2

Following on GREK 1000H, this course continues the investigation of the basic elements of ancient Greek. Some easy selections of ancient Greek will be read in this course. The textbooks are the same as for GREK 1000H.

Elementary Greek 2 is a required course for the Honours B.A. in Greek & Latin Language & Literature and for the Minor in the same area; it is also an optional course for the Emphases in Linguistics and in Medieval, Antique, and Renaissance Studies. In addition, students who are considering a future in Greek and Roman history, archaeology, or literature should plan on taking at least two years of Greek.
Prerequisite: 60% or higher in GREK 1000H or permission of department.

LATN 1000H – Elementary Latin 1

Latin is a primary ancestor of English and the Romance languages (French, Italian, Spanish, etc.). This course introduces students to the Latin language as it was written in the first centuries B.C. and A.D., at the time of Julius Caesar, Cicero, and Ovid. Special emphasis is placed on acquiring a working vocabulary and on a grasp of Latin syntax, to enable students to read sentences and abridged passages early on.
As in our ancient Greek courses, some Latin students are interested in engaging with the ancient Roman culture, while others take it to improve their communication skills in English or the Romance languages.
Elementary Latin 1 is a required course for the Honours B.A. in Greek & Latin Language & Literature and for the Minor in the same area; it is also an optional course for the Emphases in Linguistics and in Medieval, Antique, and Renaissance Studies. In addition, students who are considering a future in Greek and Roman history, archaeology, or literature should plan on taking at least two years of Latin, which is also a common requirement for advanced Medieval studies.

COURSE TEXT

F.M. Wheelock and R.A. LaFleur, Wheelock's Latin: The Classic Introductory Latin Course, Based on Ancient Authors (HarperCollins).
This textbook is available through the Trent University bookstore.
There are no prerequisites for this course. Students who have Grade 12 Latin should contact the Department <ahc@trentu.ca > to ascertain which level of Latin they should enter.

Please note that the availability of a degree program in Greek & Latin Language & Literature, of a minor in Greek & Latin, and of Greek and Latin courses beyond the 2000-level is subject to departmental staffing conditions. In most cases, achieving a degree in Greek and Latin Language & Literature in four years is only possible if a student starts both Greek and Latin in the first year. Interested students must consult the chair of the department as early as possible in their degree program.

LATN 1001H – Elementary Latin 2

A continuation of the skills-building undertaken in LATN 1000H, with progressive engagement with the language and ancient readings. The textbook is the same as for LATN 1000H.

Elementary Latin 2 is a required course for the Honours B.A. in Greek & Latin Language & Literature and for the Minor in the same area; it is also an optional course for the Emphases in Linguistics and in Medieval, Antique, and Renaissance Studies. In addition, students who are considering a future in Greek and Roman history, archaeology, or literature should plan on taking at least two years of Latin, which is also a common requirement for advanced Medieval studies.

Prerequisite: 60% or higher in LATN 1000H or permission of the department

For More Information

Course notes, assignments, and other details are available to enrolled students of AHCL 1000Y and 1001H via myTrent >> learning sysytem. For more information regarding these course offerings, AHCL 2100Y, AHCL 2300Y, or the Greek and Latin courses, or if you have any other questions, please contact the Ancient History & Classics department.