FLIT 150: Reading List
SUGGESTED READINGS
(revised: 08/01/2010)
- Gochberg, D.S. (ed.) Classics of Western Thought: The Ancient World 7th ed (HBJ) paper
- Chambers, Mortimer et al. (ed.) The Western Experience: Vol A (of the 3 volume paperback ed.) 9th edition (2006)
WEEK 1
INTRODUCTION. Course Materials. "Psalm 23"
THE MIDDLE EASTERN BACKGROUND:
-"Sumerian King List"
-"Enuma Elish" (Mesopotamian Creation Epic)
THE BEGINNING OF THE EPIC. Flood Stories
-"Epic of Gilgamesh" (Gochberg, Ch. 24)
-Chambers, pp. 8-13.
WEEK 2
THE HEBREW CREATION STORY
-"Book of Genesis" (Gochberg, pp. 543-561)
-Chambers, pp. 24-28.
WEEK 3
EPIC: WARFARE AND VALUES. THE HOMERIC VIEW OF HUMANITY.
-Homer, The Iliad (Gochberg, Ch. 1)
-Text: `Homer and the Military' in the Handouts section
-Chambers, pp. 38-44 (Mycenaean Greek Civilization); 50-51 (Homer).
WEEK 4
POLIS VALUES IN SOCIETY. DRAMATIC AND PHILOSOPHIC VIEWS.
-Sophocles, Oedipus Rex (Oidipous Tyrannos) (Gochberg, Ch. 3.).
-Outline on the Handouts list.
-Aristotle, The Poetics (Gochberg, Ch. 13)
POLIS VALUES. ARISTOTLE and the Invention of Political Science
-Aristotle, The Politics (Gochberg, Ch. 12)
-Chambers, pp. 44-56 (The Greek Renaissance; The Polis).
WEEK 5
SPARTA: One kind of real polis: Lycurgus
-Xenophon, Constitution of the Spartans, (Gochberg, Ch. 5)
-Handout: Xenophon, "Some Spartan Stories"
The SPARTAN GOVERNMENT: Ephors, Krypteia
-Handout: "Spartan Stories"
SPARTA: Working with Greece. (Persian Wars, 490 and 480/79)
-Herodotus, pp. 148-159.
-Handouts on Sparta [in Adams, Course Materials]
-Chambers, pp. 56-57 (Sparta).
WEEK 6
HERODOTUS and the historical tradition. Solon the Athenian.
-Chambers, pp. 57-61 (Early Athens).
-Outline in Handouts section
-Herodotus, The Histories(Gochberg, pp. 148-159)
HERODOTUS. THE PERSIAN WARS (499-479 B.C.)
-Herodotus, The Histories (Gochberg, pp. 131-148)
WEEK 7
THUCYDIDES: The Virtues of a Statesman (Pericles, d. 429 B.C.)
-Handout: "The Roman Concept of FIDES'"[list of virtues]
-"Thucydides" Handout
-Chambers, pp. 61-70.
THUCYDIDES AND THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR (432-404). SCIENTIFIC HISTORY.
-Gochberg, pp. 173-195 (Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War).
-Chambers, pp. 84-85.
WEEK 8
THE END OF THE WAR: SOCRATES. ATHENIAN JUSTICE.
-Socrates' trial: texts in the Handouts section.
-Plato, The Apology of Socrates (Gochberg, pp. 294-313).
-Chambers, pp. 97-98.
MIDTERM EXAM. In the regular classroom, at the regular hour.
WEEK 9
ROME, I. THE ROYAL PERIOD (753-510 B.C.). CIVIC VIRTUE.
-Gochberg, pp. 384-392 (Livy and the Early Kings of Rome)
-Chambers, pp. 104-109.
ROME, The Kings: Myth and History. Law and Society
-Handout: "The Twelve Tables"
-Handout Fides
-Gochberg, pp. 384-392 (Livy and the Early Kings of Rome) -Chambers, pp. 109-112.
THE ROMAN REPUBLIC: Civic Virtue, Military Discipline
-Gochberg, pp. 392-402
WEEK 10
CATO. War With Carthage
-Gochberg, pp. 403-416 (Plutarch, Cato the Elder)
-Chambers, pp. 115-119.
EPICUREANISM: An Alternative to public duty.
-Gochberg, pp. 450-469 (Lucretius, On the Nature of Things)
-Chambers pp. 98-99 (Epicurus). pp. 119-124 (end of the Republic).
WEEK 11
ZENO and the Stoic Universe
-"Some Stoic Texts"
STOICISM: Cicero's version of Stoic LAW (Imperialism)
-Gochberg, pp. 430-439.
CHRISTIANITY: Jesus and his message.
-Gochberg, Chapter 26.
-Chambers, pp. 158-163.
WEEK 12
PAUL and his message. Founding the Church.
-Handout: "Early Christian Organization"
-Chambers, pp. 163-170.
CHRISTIANITY and Values: Persecutions and Triumph
-Handout: "Pliny on Christians; Acts of the Apostles"
-Chambers, pp. 165-167.
WEEK 13
EMPERORS AND PHILOSOPHY: Marcus Aurelius (161-180), Stoic and Christian persecutor.
-Marcus Aurelius, Thoughts (Gochberg, Ch. 22)
-Chambers, 138-149 (Good Emperors).
WEEK 14
SATIRE the Collapse of Ideals, I.
-Petronius, Satyricon (Gochberg, pp. 470-496)
PIETY AND SATIRE. The Isis Cult.
-Apuleius, The Golden Ass (Gochberg, ch. 23)
