INTRODUCTION TO ANCIENT GREEK HISTORY

We concentrate on the main issues in the early history of the ancient Greek world: The Homeric world - The rise of the Greek polis - Greek expansion and settlement overseas: the Greek Colonization - Social and political crisis (7^th -6^th c. BC) - The Hoplite “Revolution” – Lawgivers and Tyrants - Sparta and Athens until the end of the sixth century.

The course seeks to introduce the problems of the early history of the ancient Greek world and to acquaint the students with the basic economic, social, constitutional and political developments.

On completing the module the students will be in a position to understand the fundamental innovations introduced during the archaic period.

The course also aims to familiarize the students with the study methods of ancient sources. Special emphasis is given to acquainting the students with theoretical and methodological approaches in historical scholarship in order to foster the development of their critical thinking.

Week 1: Fundamental issues and historiographical tendencies. Sources and bibliography. Historical methodology.  Chronological issues.

Week 2: The Greek “Dark Ages”.

Week 3: The Homeric world: economy, society and political institutions.

Week 4: Innovations of the archaic period. The rise and the development of the polis (‘city-state’).

Week 5: The expansion of the Greek world: the Greek “colonization”.

Week 6: Conflicts and crises of the archaic period.

Week 7: Economic problems - The transformation of economic life – Agricultural crisis.

Week 8: Military developments and military tactics.

Week 9: Tyrants and Lawgivers: their critical role in Archaic history. The Tyrants of the Peloponnese: the example of the Cypselid tyranny at Corinth.

Week 10: Athens and Sparta (7^th c. BC) - Interstate relations in Archaic Greece.

Week 11: Athens: from Cylon to Solon’s Reforms.

Week 12: The tyranny of Peisistratus.

Week 13: The fall of the Peisistratids - The Spartan invasion in Attica. Sparta’s foreign policy. 

1. M. Austin & P. Vidal-Naquet, Economic and Social History of Ancient Greece. Cl. Mossé, La Grece archaique d'Homere à Eschyle. J. M. Hall, A History of the Archaic Greek World, ca. 1200-479 BCE. Α. Snodgrass, Archaic Greece. H. van Effenterre, La cité grecque. R. Lonis, La cité dans le monde grec. L. H. Jeffery, Archaic Greece: the city-states, c. 700-500 B.C. M. I. Finley, The Bronze and Archaic Ages. G. R. Stanton, Athenian Politics, c 800-500 B.C. A Sourcebook. M. Dillon & L. Garland, Ancient Greece: social and historical documents from archaic times to the death of Socrates. L. G. Mitchell & P. J. Rhodes (eds.), The Development of the Polis in Archaic Greece. M. H. Hansen, Polis: An Introduction to the Ancient Greek City. H. A Shapiro (ed.), The Cambridge companion to archaic Greece. K. A. Raaflaub & H. van Wees (eds.), A Companion to Archaic Greece.

The course is lecture-based, even as it seeks to foster critical discussion with the students, answering their questions and elaborating their critical comments.

We will examine the historical sources that document the institutions, political organization, economic, political and social developments in Greek cities during the Archaic Period.

Written examination.