Ancient History

Objectives

1. To recognize the Greco-Roman world as one of the paradigms of the Western Civilization.

2. To develop an intellectual interest to understand the roots of our civilization and culture.

3. To encourage the development of imagination by a hermeneutical analysis of historical data.

4. To recognize the historical facts through the subjectivity of the different historians.

Program

1. The Proto-Greeks: Minoans and Mycenaeans

1.1. Homer and the formation of the Greek spirit: Iliad and Odyssey. Colonization versus Polis. Two political paradigms: Sparta and Athens. Crisis and social conflicts. The tyranny and the role of the legislators for the emergence of democracy. The Greek economy. The Macedonian expansion and the Greek Hellenistic period The arts: architecture, sculpture and theater. The Greek legacy.

2. The proto-Romans: Italiotas and Etruscans

2.1. From the monarchy to the empire, brief summary of the political, economic and social organization. The conquest of the Italian peninsula. Expansion in the Mediterranean. The Roman society after the conquests. Political crisis and civil war. The heyday of the Roman Empire: the century of Augustus. Essential aspects of Roman culture: the law, the administrative organization of the empire, the religion, the theater and the arts in general. The Roman legacy.

Teaching Methodologies

Expositive classes on the fundamental contents of program and practical, interactive classes, having as learning activities the gathering of information, the research of specific topics connected with the course, and the critique and development of analytical and critical skills.

Bibliography

ALARCÃO, J., O domínio romano em Portugal, Europa-América, Mem-Martins, 1988.
BLOCH, Raymond, As origens de Roma, Ed. Verbo, Lisboa, 1979.
BONNARD, André, A civilização grega, Ed.70, Lt, 1980.
FINLEY, M. I., Os Gregos Antigos, Edições 70, 1977.
GLOTZ, Gustave, La Cité Grecque, Albin Michel, Paris, 1968; (...) História Económica da Grécia, Ed. Cosmos, Lisboa.
GRIMAL, Pierre, A civilização romana, Ed. 70, Lisboa, 1974.
PEREIRA, Maria Helena da Rocha, Estudos de História da Cultura Clássica, vol.I, e II F. C. Gulbenkian, Lisboa, 1975.