Programme

The course aims to offer: (1) an introduction to the Hellenistic world, to the world of the Greek poleis at that time and to the new phenomenon of royalty: greek poleis’ political institutions (in the aspects of continuity and evolution), the role of the élite, poleis relationships with the sovereigns, and the intense mutual interconnection between them, made of diplomatic relations, exchange of honors and judges, recognition of syngeneia, common participation in cults will be studied and considered. The topics will be addressed taking into account literary, epigraphic, archaeological and iconographic sources. (2) An introduction to the main databases of Greek literary texts and inscriptions and to the most important bibliographic research tools. (3) The presentation by the students of some topics related to the course and agreed with the teacher.

Core Documentation

A) M. Mari (a cura di), L’età ellenistica. Società, politica, cultura, Roma, Carocci Editore, 2019 (intero volume).
B) J. Ma, “Peer Polity Interaction in the Hellenistic Age”, P&P, 180, 9-40.
C) A. Chaniotis, “The Divinity of Hellenistic Ruler”, in A. Erskine (ed.), A Companion to the Hellenistic World, Oxford 2003, 431-445.
D) L. Moretti, La scuola, il ginnasio, l’efebia, in R. Bianchi Bandinelli (dir.), Storia e civiltà dei Greci, 8. La società ellenistica. Economia, diritto, religione, Milano 1977, 469-490.
E) Two essays chosen from the following ones:
- essays by John Ma, Riet van Bremen, Patrice Baker, David Potter in A. Erskine (ed.), A Companion to the Hellenistic World, Oxford 2003;
- Chr. Müller, “Oligarchy and the Hellenistic City”, in H. Börm – N. Luraghi (eds.), The Polis in the Hellenistic World, Stuttgart, F. Steiner Verlag, 2018, 27-52.
F) Material provided by the teacher.

Type of delivery of the course

Frontal lessons and practical training. In the case of an extension of the health emergency from COVID-19, all the provisions that regulate the methods of carrying out the teaching activities and student assessment will be implemented. In particular, distance teaching will be applied, integrated, where possible, by face-to-face teaching.

Attendance

Optative, but highly recommended.

Type of evaluation

Oral. Still during the course, each student will present an oral report on an argument related to the topics covered by the lessons, and selected by the teacher. On the same argument, each student will also have to prepare a written paper, which will have to be informative and complete, and written according to the rules for scientific texts (the teacher will provide guidance); the student will find independently reference bibliography. The paper must be delivered at least seven days before the examination. The exam will consist of a discussion about the paper delivered by the student and will test the knowledge of the course contents (i.e. knowledge of the handbook and of the other recommended essays, in-depth and punctual knowledge of the texts, inscriptions and images discussed during the course). The student will have to be able to proceed to historical commentary, correct reading, translation, grammatical and syntactic analysis of the literary and epigraphic texts in Greek language discussed during the course. In case of an extension of the health emergency from COVID-19, all the provisions that regulate the methods of carrying out the teaching activities and student assessment will be implemented. In particular, the following methods will apply: oral exam on the Teams platform (upon presentation of the required written work)