SYLLABUS

This course involves the study of the Ancient City--from Mesopotamia to the Fall of the Roman Empire. It will focus primarily on the physical situation of the cities: living conditions, urban planning, defence, architecture, and sanitation, although it will also consider such issues as the political and economic basis of urban life in the ancient world. It will also investigate the overall importance of cities in the ancient world and their relationship with the surrounding countryside. The course assumes that students have a basic introduction to ancient history (such as provided in History 111), but no advanced study is expected.

Instructor: Professor Timothy E. Gregory, 365 Dulles Hall, 230 W. 17^th Avenue. Telephone: 292-1949 (office), 292-2674 (Department of History), 291-4015 (home). Fax: 292-2282.

Office Hours: Monday 2:30-3:30, Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-1:30, and by appointment.

E-mail: gregory.4@osu.edu

Personal web site: http://www.osu.edu/history/isthmia/teg

Class Web Site: http://www.osu.edu/history/isthmia/teg/hist50402

Richard Tomlinson, From Mycenae to Constantinople: The Evolution of the Ancient City. Paperback, 1992. Routledge; ISBN: 0415059984.

Richard Ernest Wycherley, How the Greeks Built Cities. Paperback 2^nd edition, 1976. W.W. Norton & Company; ISBN: 0393008142.

Ideally, you should read these assignments before the first class of each week. In addition to these assigned readings, there will be handouts and other material distributed in class for which you will be responsible. Finally, there will be assignments based on the Internet that will be announced in class. Regular class attendance is an important part of this class and you should not expect to do well unless you take advantage of all class meetings.

Week of September 22 INTRODUCTION

Tomlinson, pp. 1-16

Week of September 27 MESOPOTAMIA, EGYPT, AND THE PREHISTORIC AEGEAN

Tomlinson, pp. 31-42

Week of October 4 EARLY GREECE

Wyerchley, pp. 1-92

Week of October 11 CLASSICAL ATHENS

Tomlinson, pp. 45-72; Wyerchley, pp. 93-145

Week of October 18 OTHER GREEK CITIES

Tomlinson, pp. 75-95; Wyerchley, pp. 147-220

Week of October 25 THE HELLENISTIC CITY

Tomlinson, pp. 97-144

Week of November 1 ITALY AND EARLY ROME

Week of November 8 IMPERIAL ROME

Tomlinson, pp. 147-173

Week of November 15 OSTIA AND POMPEII

Tomlinson, pp. 175-189

Week of November 22 IMPERIAL CITIES: EAST AND WEST

Tomlinson, pp. 191-210

Week of November 29 THE ANCIENT CHRISTIAN CITY

Tomlinson, pp. 213-223

A. You will need to do two Internet assignments, each requiring you to look at Internet sites dealing with ancient cities and to write a brief review of the site. Specific details on these reports will be provided: they will be due on October 12 and November 9.

B. There will be one mid-term examination, on November 2. This will be a traditional hour examination, made up of short answers and a longer essay. You will be given a sample exam at least a week before the examination.

C. All students are to turn in a project, no later than November 24. This project should be imaginative and it should present, in an effective manner, some aspect of life in an ancient city. Further details on this project will be forthcoming later.

D. The final examination is comprehensive and it will comprise an essay written on the following topic:

The ancient city provides for us an example -- of good and bad -- of how we should organize our urban existence. It was for Western Civilization the only prototype on which we could base our own experiment in urban living. Write an essay in which you discuss the "lessons" which we can learn today from the experience of the ancient city. Which elements of ancient urbanism should we imitate and which should we avoid? Be specific and use examples drawn from real situations in real ancient cities. You will be graded largely on how well you bring information from the course to bear on the questions.

Your essay should be between 4 and 8 pages typed, double-spaced; it need not contain a bibliography or footnotes, but primary sources and other kinds of information should be carefully noted. The final examination is due by 5:00PM on Friday, December 3.

Extra credit will be awarded for attendance at either or both of the following lectures, both on October 14:

Dale Kinney, "Memory and History in the Church of St. Peter in Rome," 4:30PM, Hopkins 162

Robert Lindley Vann, "Sunken Cities of Ancient Lucia: An Archaeological Survey of Aperlae," 8:00PM, Grand Lounge, Faculty Club, 181 S. Oval Drive

Some other extra credit opportunities may be available

Grades:

Grades will be determined at the discretion of the instructor, but the following will give an idea of the value of the respective parts of the course:

Internet Assignments (Oct. 12 and Nov. 9) 20% (10% each)

Mid-Term Exam (Nov. 2) 20%

Project (Nov. 24) 25%

Final Examination 25%

Participation, etc. 10%

Remember that plagiarism in any form is dishonest and cannot be tolerated. All work in the course must be your own. Any kind of academic dishonesty can lead to serious disciplinary measures, including dismissal from the University.

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