Jason Rheins
Ancient Greek Thought and Civilization, Part I: The Archaic Era (c. 776-510 BCE) | 2025
In this course we will examine key works and developments in the history, art, and literature of Ancient Greek civilization as it grows and flourishes during the so-called “Archaic Period” from the middle of the 8th century to the end of the 6th century BCE.
Price
$1,500.00
Level
100
Timing
Q2
Format
Live
About this course
In this course we will examine key works and developments in the history, art, and literature of Ancient Greek civilization as it grows and flourishes during the so-called “Archaic Period” from the middle of the 8th century to the end of the 6th century BCE. At the beginning of this period, the Greeks reacquire the art of writing, and the epic poems of Homer and Hesiod become the cornerstones of a Pan-Hellenic culture that would last for more than a thousand years. The autonomous city-state (polis) solidifies as the dominant form of Greek social organization and governance, and new Greek cities are founded throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea. New and rapidly evolving styles of art and music are invented and perfected, and philosophy emerges as a revolutionary new way of understanding humanity and nature.
After briefly looking at the Bronze Age cultures of Greece, their collapse, and the subsequent Greek “Dark Age”, we turn to the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer. Thence, we will survey the epic poems of Hesiod; the lyric poetry of Sappho, Archilochus, Solon, and others; the political developments of state formation, colonization, factionalism, and tyranny; and the philosophies of the Milesian naturalists (Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes), the early Pythagoreans, Xenophanes, and Heraclitus.
This course is strongly recommended for those intending to take Ancient Greek Thought and Civilization Part II. The Greek Enlightenment and the Golden Age of Athens (510-399 BCE
Course Prerequisites
Corequisite: Objectivism through Ayn Rand’s Fiction or Intensive Seminar on Objectivism Part I: Foundations
Instructors
About Ayn Rand University
Ayn Rand described Objectivism as “a philosophy for living on earth.” This idea is at the heart of the Ayn Rand University, an online school of philosophy whose mission is to educate our students about Objectivism and to provide them with the intellectual, career, and life guidance they need to flourish.
Ayn Rand University provides an online educational experience, giving you the flexibility to attend from anywhere in the world. Each quarter, you’ll take one or more courses that feature lectures, graded assignments, classroom discussion, and feedback from our expert faculty. You may also meet regularly with one of our mentors, who will work with you to help you reach your learning and career goals so you can achieve success in thought and action. Though our program is demanding, most students find that they can succeed by devoting about 10 hours a week to their studies. And while we strongly encourage live attendance, all of our classes are recorded so that you can conveniently fit our classes into your schedule.
