HIST 374
This course was last taught in Fall 1997 by Hugh Elton.
Description
The course covers the life and times of Alexander the Great, a man who was able to subjugate most of the known world, but failed to erect a lasting political structure, leaving a vast empire to be torn to pieces by his successors. His achievements were more than military, and his colonists built cities in places as far from Greece as Afghanistan. This world was one in which, despite the best efforts of men like Alexander, the primary political unit was always that of the city-state. In addition to the literary sources, use is made of the substantial archaeological evidence for this period, while inscriptions and coins also play a valuable part.
Required Books (in Bookstore)
- Arrian, The Campaigns of Alexander [A in readings]
- Plutarch, The Age of Alexander [P]
- Xenophon, A History of my Times (Hellenica) [X]
- Bosworth, A.B., Conquest and Empire (Cambridge, 1988) [B]
- Harding, P., From the End of the Peloponnesian War to the Battle of Ipsus (Cambridge, 1985) [H]
Course Requirements
- Regular attendance and participation in discussion of reading assignments.
- Paper on Plutarch and his sources, 1000 words, with detailed reference to one Life. Wednesday 1st October (20%)
- Paper on bias in Xenophon, 1500 words. Friday 29th October (20%)
- Paper on Arrian's views of Alexander, 1500 words. Wednesday 3 December (20%)
- Research Paper, any topic, 5000 words. Title and ten item bibliography by Friday 10 October. Draft by Friday 14 November. Final Paper due Friday 12 December (40%)
Failure to complete all assignments will result in automatic failure of the course. Extensions will only be granted for family or medical emergencies. Lots of work in other courses is an unacceptable reason.
There is a full Alexander Bibliography in Bosworth, but feel free to ask me about any problems in finding material. All papers must be typed and double-spaced with a bibliography. I expect analytical answers on all papers with use of articles in periodicals and of primary (literary, archaeological, epigraphic, etc.) evidence. I have attached some comments on Essay Writing: Tips and Pitfalls and a Bibliographical Guide.
Classes and Reading Assignments
1. Introduction Wednesday 3 September 2. Alexander the Great Friday 5 September P: Alexander FOURTH-CENTURY GREECE (404-362) 3. Fourth-century Greece: Sources Wednesday 10 September H 1; X Books 1 4. Persia Friday 12 September H 12, 23, 24; X Book 3.1-3 5. Spartan Leadership Wednesday 17 September H 4, 13; P: Agesilaus; X Book 3.4-5 6. Warfare Friday 19 September X Book 4
Additional material: Bibliography on Greek Warfare
7. The Second Athenian Confederacy Wednesday 24 September H 35-41; X Book 5 No Class - Friday 26 September 8. The Theban Hegemony and Thessaly Wednesday 1 October H 14, 15, 26, 49, 59; P: Pelopidas; X Books 6-7 9. The West Friday 3 October H 20, 52; P: Dion
Additional material: Plato's Seventh Letter
THE RISE OF MACEDON 10. Macedonia and Philip Wednesday 8 October H 21, 43, 50, 61, 63, 64, 67, 70, 73; X 5.2 11. Asia Minor and the Satrap's Revolt Friday 10 October H 57, 72 Reading Week 12. Sacred and Social Wars Wednesday 22 October H 69, 71, 74 13. Philip and Greece Friday 24 October H 61, 64, 70, 95, 99; P: Demosthenes ALEXANDER THE GREAT 14. Alexander: Sources Wednesday 29 October A pp13-40, Book 1; B 295-300 15. Alexander and Persia Friday 31 October A Book 2-3; B 229-277 16. Alexander the God Wednesday 5 November A Book 4; B 278-290 17. Alexander and India Friday 7 November A Book 5-6; B 120-139 18. Alexander and Greece Wednesday 12 November H: 109, 120, 123; Arrian Book 7: P: Phocion; B 187-220 THE WORLD AFTER ALEXANDER 19. Successor Councils Friday 14 November B 174-181; H 125 20. Antigonus and Demetrius Wednesday 19 November H 132, 133, 136; 138; P: Demetrius 21. Seleucus Friday 21 November Thanksgiving November 26-28 22. Ptolemy and Alexandria Wednesday 3 December H 126 23. Hellenistic Warfare Friday 5 December
Additional material: Bibliography on Greek Warfare
24. Hellenistic Greece Wednesday 10 December 25. Pyrrhus and the West Friday 12 December P: Pyrrhus