History I

Greek & Roman History
UC Approved

Pre-requisites:  None
Textbooks:

This course is the first in a two-year cycle that concludes with the history of Christendom, i.e. the medieval world.  This first course provides students a solid grounding in the history of Greece and Rome, and the broader ancient Mediterranean world.  The texts read are written during the period under study and so offer students a first hand look at the period. Students will not only learn about some of the principle events and figures of the ancient world, but will also learn to read critically, to locate the most pertinent information in their reading, to trace themes within one book and through many books, to appreciate the achievements of the Greeks and Romans and to compare and contrast these ancient societies with our own, to understand the international relationships among the peoples living around the Mediterranean basin during this period,  and to trace the rise of the democratic and republican forms of government so important to the understanding of our own Constitution. 

Texts to be read are selected from a variety of genres: history biography, and essay.  The reading is supplemented by lectures delivered by the instructor and audio-visual aids.  Students will have the opportunity to sharpen their analytical and writing skills through essays on the books read.  Oral skills are also improved through class discussions led by the teacher.  Students will also be introduced to the geography of Europe and the Middle East, Including North Africa.