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POL 301
Ancient and Medieval Political Theory
Melissa Lane
MW, 9:00-9:50 am

This course focuses on classical political theory in ancient Greece and its appropriation and development in the Roman, medieval, and Renaissance periods. It examines Greek democracy, drawing on tragedy, rhetoric and history; the ethics and politics of Plato and Aristotle; and the Roman republican thought of Cicero and Livy. It considers the influence of Plato on Augustine and More, Aristotle on Aquinas and Marsilius, and Cicero and Livy on Machiavelli. Topics include nature and convention; democracy, oligarchy and tyranny; church and state; consent and representation; and virtue, property, and law.