Course Details

Course offered Autumn 2020

HONORS 394 A: Women in Greek and Roman Antiquity (A&H / SSc, DIV)

HONORS 394 A: Women in Greek and Roman Antiquity (A&H / SSc, DIV)

SLN 16142 (View UW registration info »)

Catherine Connors (Classics)
Office: Denny 262 B, Box 353110
Phone: 206- 543-2266
Email: cconnors@uw.edu

Credits: 5
Limit: 40 students

5 seats reserved for incoming freshmen
5 additional seats added (40 students max)

In this course we shall read and discuss ancient sources on religion, philosophy, medicine and law, along with modern scholarly analyses of ancient society, to explore the roles of women in ancient Greek and Roman society. Readings are chosen and discussions are structured with the aim of developing three types of awareness: historical awareness –knowledge of basic historical realities of women and of family life, limitations and biases of surviving evidence, how different Greece and Rome are from each other, and from now; a sense of how political institutions can intervene in family relations critical awareness — an understanding of the history of changing interpretations of the ancient world — how what people see in ancient Greece or Rome can also articulate what they value in their own cultures self-awareness — a sensitivity to the forces (laws, customs, stereotypes, images and more) shaping our own social relations.

I anticipate using the assigned class time synchronously for discussions and group project work; to prepare for these meetings, students will use short video presentations posted on canvas in addition to course readings. Students for whom synchronous participation poses a challenge are welcome to contact the instructor at cconnors@uw.edu” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>cconnors@uw.edu to discuss alternative arrangements.