DEREE COLLEGE SYLLABUS FOR:
HY 3009 THE SPARTANS
UK LEVEL: 5
UK CREDITS: 15
US CREDITS: 3/0/3
(Updated Fall 2015)
PREREQUISITES:
None.
CATALOG
DESCRIPTION:
The society, culture and history of ancient Sparta.
RATIONALE:
This course is designed for any student interested in the achievements
of ancient Sparta and the creation of the ‘Spartan mirage’.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
As a result of taking this module, the student should be able to:
1. Evaluate the political, social, and economic development of Sparta
using both historical sources and physical evidence.
2. Compare and contrast the Spartan political system to other ancient
Greek political systems with particular emphasis on Athens.
3. Compose a guided analysis of the ancient and modern
contributions to the ‘Spartan mirage’.
METHOD OF TEACHING
AND LEARNING:
In congruence with the teaching and learning strategy of the college,
the following tools are used:
- Classes consist of lectures and interactive learning
- Use of field trips when possible.
- Use of visual materials
- Office hours: Students are encouraged to make full use of the
office hours of their instructor, where they can discuss the
course material.
- Use of a Blackboard site, where instructors can post lecture
notes assignment instructions, timely announcements, and
additional resources.
- Use of library facilities: Students are encouraged to make use of
the library facilities for their assignments as well as for
preparation for the final exam.
ASSESSMENT:
Take home short answer and essay questions 0
formative
Essay (1,500 to 2,500 words) – summative
40%
Final examination (2-hour, comprehensive) - 60%
summative
The formative work aims to prepare students for their exams.
The essay examines Learning Outcomes 3.
The final examination tests Learning Outcomes 1-3.
INDICATIVE READING:
REQUIRED READING:
Kennell, N., Spartans: A New History. Oxford and Malden: WileyBlackwell Press 2010.
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL:
Excerpts from:
Buckley, T. Aspects of Greek History. 750-323 BC, London and
New York: Routledge 1996.
Cartlege, P. Sparta and Lakonia: a regional history, 1300-362
B.C. London and New York: Routledge and Kegan 1979
Cartledge, P. Agesilaos and the crisis of Sparta. London:
Duckworth 1987.
Cartledge, P. Spartan Reflections, Berkeley: University of
California Press 2001.
Cartledge, P. and A. Spawforth. Hellenistic and Roman Sparta, a
tale of two cities. London and New York: Routledge 2002.
Dillon, M. and L. Garland. Ancient Greece: Social and Historical
Documents from Archaic Times to the Death of Socrates. London
and New York: Routledge 1994.
Additional primary source material such as the instructor sees fit
to assign.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Catling, H.W. Sparta : Menelaion I : the Bronze Age. London and
Athens: British School at Athens 2010.
Cavanagh, W.G. ed. Sparta and Laconia : from prehistory to premodern. London and Athens: British School at Athens 2009.
Chrimes, K.T. Ancient Sparta, a re-examination of the evidence.
Westport: Greenwood Press, 1971.
Hamilton, C.D. Agesilaus and the failure of Spartan hegemony.
Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1991.
Hodkinson, S. Sparta : new perspectives. Swansea: Classical Press
of Wales 1999.
Hodkinson, S. Property and wealth in classical Sparta, Swansea:
Classical Press of Wales 2000.
Huxley, G.L., Early Sparta. New York: Barnes and Noble 1970.
Kennell, N.M. The gymnasium of virtue : education & culture in
ancient Sparta. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press,
1995.
Pomeroy, S.B. Spartan Women, Oxford: Oxford University Press
2002.
Powell, A. Athens and Sparta : constructing Greek political and
social history from 478 BC. Portland: Areopagitica Press 1988.
Powell, A. Classical Sparta : techniques behind her success.
London and New York: Routledge, 1989.
Powell, A. ed. The shadow of Sparta. Swansea, London and New
York: Routledge for The Classical Press of Wales 1994.
Powell, A. ed. Sparta : beyond the mirage. Swansea and London:
Classical Press of Wales : Duckworth, 2002.
REQUIRED MATERIAL: N/A
INDICATIVE MATERIAL:
(e.g. audiovisual, digital material,
etc.)
RECOMMENDED MATERIAL: N/A
COMMUNICATION
REQUIREMENTS:
Effective oral communication in class discussions
Written reports
Oral reports
Oral and written quizzes
Exams
SOFTWARE
REQUIREMENTS:
Word.
WWW RESOURCES:
www.perseus.tufts.edu/
www.tlg.uci.edu/index/resources.html
www.stoa.org
Plus further resources as deemed appropriate by the instructor.
INDICATIVE CONTENT:
1. Historical Outline from the Archaic Age to the Roman period
2. The physical setting of Laconia
3. The Prehistory of Laconia
4. Defining the polis (city-state) with respect to Sparta
a. A listing of various forms of political structure in the Greek
world—terminology and typology
b. A typology of the polis
c. An examination of Athens as ‘exemplar’ of the polis (or
not)
5. Problems with our primary sources in dealing with Laconian
history
6. Sparta: politics and law
6.1. The reforms (Rhetra) of Lykourgos and oligarchy
6.2 citizenship
6.3 family law and structure
7. The peoples of Laconia
7.1 The ‘citizen-soldier’
7.1.1Common meals (syssitia) and political rights
7.1.2 The army
7.2. women
7.3. The enslaved populations (helots)
7.4. The other people of Laconia
7.4.1. (perioikoi)
7.4.2. landless Spartans and non-citizenship
8. Sparta and Archaeology
9. The Spartan ‘mirage’
10. Sparta and the modern world.