Greek 201 is designed to introduce the student to two of the greatest prose authors of ancient Greece, the philosopher, Plato, and the historian, Thucydides. These two writers set the terms in the disciplines of philosophy and history for millennia, and philosophers and historians today continue to grapple with their ideas and influence.
Through reading the prose narrative of Herodotus, students will gain fluency in the reading of ancient Greek prose and develop strategies for the comprehension of the text. The class will provide opportunities to review the morphology and syntax of the Greek language and to build upon the vocabulary learned in the first year, as well as to learn the differences in Herodotus’ Ionian dialect from the dialects of Attic and Koine. Students will also expand their understanding of the cultural context in which Herodotus worked, as well as the tradition of historiography that stems from his work. The course will also introduce students to the tradition of scholarship, starting in antiquity, that has examined Herodotus and to the tools with which scholars ancient and modern have used to understand his narrative.