Courses in Hellenic Studies
Our full academic curricula (courses and descriptions; requirements; etc) will be found in the respective sections of our website (undergraduate program and graduate program).
Listed below are Hellenic Studies courses currently offered FALL 2013.
UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
Elementary Modern Greek I
HLS 101/MOG 101
This course is the first part of the Modern Greek language sequence regularly offered every year. It aims to set the foundations for acquiring a command of spoken and written Modern Greek. The pace is intensive: readings and grammar from textbook, with accompanying daily exercises, and regular language laboratory attendance. Auditors welcome with instructor's permission.
Staff (Class: 11:00-11:50 am MTWTh)
Intermediate Modern Greek
HLS 105/MOG 105
This course is the third part of the Modern Greek language sequence offered every year. It will introduce students to themes in the Hellenic tradition through readings in Modern Greek literature (Cavafy, Seferis, Ritsos). We will read newspaper articles, listen to Greek songs, and study documentary films. The emphasis will be on improving students' oral and written skills. Classes will be held entirely in Greek. Auditors welcome with instructor's permission.
Staff (Class: 12:30-1:20 pm MTWTh)
Byzantine Art and Architecture
ART 206/HLS 206
This course introduces the student to the art of the Byzantine Empire and its aftermath from ca. 800 to ca. 1600. Byzantine art has often been opposed to the traditions of western naturalism, and as such has been an undervalued or little known adjunct to the story of medieval art. In order to develop a more sophisticated understanding of our visual evidence, this course will stress the function of this art within the broader setting of this society. Art theory, the notions of empire and holiness, the burdens of the past and the realities of contemporary praxis will be brought to bear upon our various analyses of material from all media.
Staff (Class: 11:00 – 11:50 am TTh)
Classical Mythology
CLA 212/HUM 212/GSS 212/HLS 212
An introduction to the classical myths in their cultural context and in their wider application to human concerns (such as creation, sex and gender, identity, transformation, and death). The course will offer a who's who of the ancient imaginative world, study the main ancient sources of well-known stories, and introduce modern approaches to analyzing myths.
Janet Downie (Class: 10:00 – 10:50 am MW)
Ancient and Medieval Political Theory
POL 301/CLA 301/HLS 303
A study of the great works of political theory in four periods: ancient Greece, including Athenian democracy, Thucydides, Plato and Aristotle; ancient Rome from republic to empire, including Polybius, Cicero, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius; medieval Christian political thought in Augustine, Aquinas, Marsilius, and others; and a brief survey of Renaissance meditations on classical themes. Fundamental topics are examined, including nature and convention; constitutional analysis, including democracy, oligarchy, tyranny, kingship, and the mixed constitution; property, virtue, law, and republicanism; church and state; consent and representation.
Melissa S. Lane (Class: 11:00 – 11:50 am MW)
Medieval Architecture
ART 315/ARC 315/HLS 315
A survey of medieval architecture and urban design from ca. 300 to ca.1500 A.D. The aim will be to explore the major developments in religious and secular architecture in the West and in Byzantium from Early Christian times to the Renaissance. Various aspects of architecture will be considered (patronage, functional requirements, planning, form, structure, construction techniques, symbolism, decoration) with the aim of attaining as complete an understanding as possible of architectural developments and urban design in their historical context.
Daniel R. McReynolds (Class: 1:30 – 2:20 am MW)
The Crusaders
HIS 345/HLS 345/MED 345
The Crusades were a central phenomenon of the Middle Ages. This course examines the origins and development of the Crusades and the Crusader States in the Islamic East. It explores dramatic events, such as the great Siege of Jerusalem, and introduces vivid personalities, including Richard the Lionheart and Saladin. We will consider aspects of institutional, economic, social and cultural history and compare medieval Christian (Western and Byzantine), Muslim and Jewish perceptions of the crusading movement. Finally, we will critically examine the resonance the movement continues to have in current political and ideological debates.
Teresa Shawcross (Class: 11:00 – 11:50 am TTh)
Seminar: Medieval Art
ART 430/HLS 430/MED 430
This seminar considers the implications of contesting and destroying the work of art. We will seek to understand manifestations of these phenomena as historical and philosophical/theological events. As we do this, we will problematize the power of verbal discourse over visual materials and give thought to the sacredness of art. Our focus will be on the debates found in primary and secondary readings that address the origins and nature of Byzantine iconomachy. Research papers will be able to address other manifestations of iconoclasm, including those from: the Carolingian period, later Medieval Europe, the Reformation, and the Modern era.
Staff (Seminar: 1:00 – 3:50 pm W)
The Ottoman Empire, 1300-1800
NES 437/HIS337/HLS 337
This course surveys the history of the world's most enduring Islamic state, the Ottoman Empire. With its beginnings in the fourteenth century, it lasted into the early years of the last century. At its height it ruled over much of the Mediterranean as well as Central Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East and today's Turkey.
Molly Greene (Class: 1:30 – 2:50 pm TTh)
GRADUATE COURSES
Problems in Greek and Roman Philosophy: Sages, Savants, Sophists:
The Economy of Knowledge Before Plato
CLA 526/HLS 527
This seminar aims to combine the usefulness of a survey course with the excitement of close readings and interpretations of specific texts. We shall be concerned with such questions as the origins of western philosophy, orality and literacy, the transition from poetry to prose writing, the too facile distinction between mythos and logos, and the politics of knowledge acquisition and distribution. Texts to be studied include selected fragments of the Presocratic philosophers (esp. Anaximander, Heraclitus, Parmenides and Empedocles), Aesop, the Seven Sages, some Hippocratic writings and the sophists.
Christian Wildberg (Seminar: 1:30 – 4:20 pm Th)
Problems in Byzantine History: Byzantium in the 10th Century: The Age of Re-conquest
HIS 542 /HLS 542 /MED 542
This course examines the sources and critically assesses the modern literature on the social, political and military history of the tenth-century Byzantine state at the height of its power, and seeks to understand the background to the recovery of Byzantine political strength at that time, in the context of both internal social, economic and administrative developments, and in that of the wider political world, in particular, relations with Abbasid Caliphate and the regional emirates of Syria and Iraq, and with the various western powers with which Byzantium had dealings.
John F. Haldon (Seminar: 1:30 – 4:20 pm W)
The Origins of the Middle Ages
HIS 543/HLS 543
This seminar explores the transition from the late ancient to the medieval world through the lens of the historians of the time. What role did the writing of history play in understanding social change? Which preexisting historical models or texts were used, how were they reconfigured, and what new ones were created in order to respond to the fundamental social changes? How did the writing of history not only reflect but also encourage social change? The course explores these processes and introduces students of late antique and medieval studies to techniques such as codicology, palaeography, and the art of editing.
Helmut Reimitz (Seminar: 1:30 – 4:20 pm Th)
Problems in Ancient History: The Presence of the Divine
CLA 547/PAW 503/HLS 547
This interdisciplinary seminar explores the various ways in which supernatural beings were believed to interact with mortals. The temporal and geographical range is broad, including the near East, Greece and Rome, from early times to Late Antiquity. Topics include anthropomorphism, epiphany, healing and mystery cults, sacrifice and prophecy. The class spends fall break in Rome exploring various sites and objects that are relevant to the topics covered.
Michael A. Flower and AnneMarie Luijendijk (Seminar: 1:30 – 4:20 pm T)
Monotheism and Society from Constantine to Harun al-Rashid
HIS 555/HLS 555
This seminar introduces students to some of the most important ideas and debates surrounding the major religious revolutions of Late Antiquity, including the triumph of Christianity over paganism and the advent of Islam followed by astonishing world conquests. The course focuses on reading both primary and secondary literature; texts may also be read in Greek, Syriac, and Arabic. No prior knowledge of Late Antiquity, Christianity, or Islam will be assumed in the course.
Jack B. Tannous (Seminar: TBA)
COURSES OF INTEREST
Introduction to the History of Art: Ancient to Medieval
ART 100
An introduction to art and architecture from Antiquity to the late Middle Ages, including non-Western traditions. The course gives an overview of key monuments and works of art from diverse historical periods, regions, and cultures and introduces students to the basic interpretative tools of art historical research as well as to the history of the discipline.
Christina T. Halperin (Class: 10:00 – 10:50 am MW)
Ancient Egyptian Archaeology
ART 294
Everyone knows of Ancient Egypt's monumental pyramids, temples and tombs. Yet it also had cities, fortresses, palaces, potters, and even trash. The archaeological record informs us greatly about Egyptian daily life, craft and economy. In this class students will study the archaeology of Egypt to learn about their history, culture, religion and society. Students will grapple with original material in their presentations of objects, tombs, houses and sites. Moreover students will engage with the collection of the Princeton Museum of Art in a semester long, hands-on project to identify scarab-shaped amulets. The class may also travel to museums.
Kate Liszka (Class: 10:00 – 10:50 am TTh)
Court, Cloister, and City: Art and Architecture in Central and Eastern Europe
ART 337
Painting, sculpture, and architecture in Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, and Russia, ca. 1450-1800. Special emphasis is placed on the changing roles of court, city, cloister, and aristocracy and the relation of local styles to international trends, including art elsewhere in Europe.
One three-hour seminar.
Thomas D. Kaufmann (Seminar: 1:30 pm – 4:20 pm W)
Seminar in Roman Art: The Historated Columns
ART 513
The seminar will analyze the great historical columns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius.
Michael Koortbojian (Seminar: 1:30 – 4:20 pm M)
The Roman Empire, 31 B.C. to A.D. 337
CLA 219
To study the Roman Empire at its height; to trace the transformation of government from a republican oligarchy to despotism; to study the changes wrought by multiculturalism on the old unitary society; to trace the rise of Christianity from persecution to dominance; and to assess Rome's contributions to western civilization.
Edward J. Champlin (Lecture: 2:30 pm – 3:20 pm MW)
Topics in Ancient History: The Fall of the Roman Republic
CLA 326
The decay of republican government came in one of the best attested periods in the history of Rome and has fascinated commentators and historians from ancient times to the present. This course will cover Roman politics and society over the century from 146 BC (the destruction of Carthage) to 44 BC (the murder of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March). Students will be able to research a chosen topic in detail.
Harriet I. Flower (Class: 3:00 pm – 4:20 pm MW)
Homer: The Odyssey
CLA 504
We will read through the Odyssey, sampling recent critical approaches and commentaries on the poem. Basics of meter, language, style and transmission will be covered.
Andrew L. Ford (Seminar: 1:30 pm – 4:20 pm W)
Historical/Comparative Grammar of Greek
CLA 562
Introduction to Greek historical/comparative grammar, based in significant part on early epic and with special attention to Homeric linguistics and poetics. There will be ample time to explore whatever topics in the history of the Greek language are of particular interest to whoever is enrolled.
Joshua T. Katz (Seminar: 9:00 am – 11:50 am M)
Greek Rhetoric: Theory and Practice
CLG 306
An introduction to Greek oratory, with attention to social context and technical artistry. We will focus on several orations by Lysias, a speech-writer known for his lively style and vivid depiction of character, supplementing these with other examples from the forensic arena of fifth and fourth century Athens.
Janet D. Downie (Seminar: 11:00 am – 12:20 pm TTh)
The Classical Roots of Western Literature
COM 205
An introduction to comparative literature, this course will investigate the many forms of cultural transmission: literary, historical, intellectual, political, religious. Readings of major works of the Greek, Roman, Arabic, and European traditions. From Greeks and barbarians to the Library of Alexandria, the foundation of Rome, the sacred texts of Christianity and Islam, and the traditions of learning in medieval Europe, we shall examine the different ways in which pagan, Jewish, Christian and Muslim cultures of Europe and the Near East have understood themselves as products of transmission.
Daniel Heller-Roazen (Class: 12:30 pm – 1:20 pm MW)
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Western Culture I: History, Philosophy, and Religion
HUM 217
In combination with HUM 216, this course explores the landmark achievements of European civilization from antiquity to the middle ages. Students must enroll in both 216 and 217, which constitute a double-course. The lecture component for HUM 217 is listed as TBA because all meetings are listed under HUM 216. There are no separate meeting times for HUM 217.
Constanze Güthenke, Daniel Heller-Roazen, Matthew M. McCarty (Class: TBA)
The World of the Middle Ages
MED 227
An introduction to medieval culture in Western Europe from the end of the classical world to ca. 1400. The course focuses on themes such as the medieval concepts of self, humanity, and God; nation-building, conquest and crusade; relations among Christians, Jews, and Moslems; literacy, heresy, and the rise of vernacular literature; gender, chivalry, and the medieval court. Material approached through various cultural forms and media; some lectures by invited guest lecturers. Seminar discussion format with some lecturing.
Helmut Reimitz (Lecture: 11:00 am – 12:20 pm MW)
Comparative Ethnic Conflict
POL 356
This course introduces students to the study of ethnic conflict. We will examine different theories of ethnically-based identification and mobilization; cover different types of ethnic conflict such as riots, genocide, hate crime and war; and study past and present cases of ethic conflict around the world.
Deniz Aksoy (Class: 11:00 am – 11:50 am TTh)
Turning Points in European Culture
ECS 301
Multi-disciplinary seminar on turning points in European culture from the late middle ages to the present. Gateway course for ECS and Contemporary European Politics and Society. Seminar draws on expertise of guest faculty from Princeton and elsewhere and includes topics in Literature, Art, Music, Philosophy, Political Theory and History of Science.
Thomas A. Trezise (Lecture: 1:30 pm – 4:20 pm M)
Topics in Country and Regional Economics:
Economics of the European Union and Economies in Europe
ECO 372
This course studies the economies of current and prospective European Union (EU) members and economic integration in Europe after 1945. It explores the political motivation for, and the economic implications of, the European Union's moves towards ever deeper integration and enlargement. Topics include policy-making in the EU, adoption of common policies including European Monetary Union and the Euro and their implications for fiscal and labor market policies, problems raised by an EU enlargement to the East, and economic transition in EU applicant countries. The course uses economic analysis to study policy issues.
Silvia Weyerbrock (Lecture: 3:00 pm – 4:20 pm)
Thinking Translation:
Language Transfer and Cultural Communication
TRA 200
What is translation? What is a language? So essential and widespread is translation today that it has become a central analytic term for the contact of cultures, and a paradigm for studying many different aspects of our multilingual world. This course will consider translation as it appeared in the past, but especially as it constructs everyday life in the contemporary world. It will look at issues of anthropology, artificial intelligence, diplomacy, film, law and literature that involve interlingual and intercultural communication. Students should acquire an understanding of the problems and practices of modern translation.
Sandra L. Bermann (Lecture: 11:00 am – 12:20 pm T)
Senior Seminar in Translation and Intercultural Communication
TRA 400
A required course for students taking the certificate in Translation and Intercultural Communication but open to all who are interested in translation or any of its aspects, that is in movements between languages of any sort. Readings will focus on recent contributions to the emerging disciplines of translation studies across a wide spectrum of thematic fields (science, law, anthropology, literature, etc.). The seminar will incorporate the individual experiences of the students in their contact with different disciplines and idioms and, where relevant, in developing their senior theses. One three-hour seminar.
David M. Bellos (Seminar: 1:30 pm – 4:20 pm M)
Topics in Policy Analysis (Half-Term): The Eurozone Crisis and Beyond
WWS 593 H
In the second half of 2011, the crisis in the eurozone threatened to run out of control. This course will discuss four themes: 1) the critiques of the concept of the eurozone prior to January 1999; 2) why the eurozone appeared a major success at its 10th anniversary, which coincided with the beginning of the global economic crisis; 3) the interconnected nature of the crisis, weak sovereigns, weak banks, and weak growth prospects; and 4) the domestic and multilateral measures to deal with the crisis. The course will also consider the future of the eurozone.
Ashoka Mody (TBA)
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