Course: 5,000 Years of Scrolling: Writing and Archives from Antiquity to Today

Section outline

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General

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- Select activity Announcements
  
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  Syllabus
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  Writing Assignments
  
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  Writing Assignments File PDF
  
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Select section Week 1

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Week 1
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  9/1
  
  Select activity • Aulus Gellius, John C. Rolfe (trans.), Attic Nights, 6.13, 58-61.
  
  • Aulus Gellius, John C. Rolfe (trans.), Attic Nights, 6.13, 58-61. File PDF
  
  Read the English beginning at number 13 ("Whom Marcus Cato calls classici or “belonging to a class,” and whom infia clctssem or “below class.”)"
  
  Some discussion questions:
  
  • What do you think a classical text is?
  
  • What is a classical text according to Gellius?
  
  • What is an “archive”? Who decides what goes into an archive and what doesn’t?
  
  • What is “transmission”? How do we get the texts we have?
  
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  9/3
  
  Select activity 9/3 QCQ
  
  9/3 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity • Charles Martindale “Introduction,” in Redeeming the Text (1993), 1-10.
  
  • Charles Martindale “Introduction,” in Redeeming the Text (1993), 1-10. File PDF
  
  Things to grab from Martindale:
  
  1. What does it mean to take a positivist approach to history
  
  2. Is the past recoverable, according to Martindale? Yes? No? Both? Why?
  
  3. What are some critiques of canonicity, according to Martindale?
  
  4. Is Martindale pro or contra having a canon?
  
  5. Can you detect what the difference is between a subjectivist and objectivist approach to meaning? (pp. 29-32). Try to parse them out.
  
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- Select activity Week 1 Powerpoint
  
  Week 1 Powerpoint File PPTX
  
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Select section Week 2

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Week 2
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  9/8
  
  Select activity WA 0a
  
  WA 0a Assignment
  
  Opened: Saturday, September 5, 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Select activity 9/8 QCQ
  
  9/8 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity • Rex Winsbury, “Format Wars,” in The Roman Book (2009) 15-34.
  
  • Rex Winsbury, “Format Wars,” in The Roman Book (2009) 15-34. File PDF
  
  7.5 MB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 14:38
  
  Select activity • Herwig Maehler, “Books, Greek and Roman” in Oxford Classical Dictionary.
  
  • Herwig Maehler, “Books, Greek and Roman” in Oxford Classical Dictionary. File HTML
  
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  9/10
  
  Select activity QCQ 9/10
  
  QCQ 9/10 Forum
  
  Select activity Martial Epigrams 1.1-4, 1.66, 1.117.
  
  Martial Epigrams 1.1-4, 1.66, 1.117. File PDF
  
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  MEETING 1
  
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  Meeting 1 Scheduler
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Week 3

Current week
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  9/15
  
  Select activity 9/15 QCQ
  
  9/15 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity Pettegree and Weduwen, “Chapter 1: A Confusion of Scrolls” in The Library: A Fragile History (2021), 17-28.
  
  Pettegree and Weduwen, “Chapter 1: A Confusion of Scrolls” in The Library: A Fragile History (2021), 17-28. File PDF
  
  4.3 MB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 15:02
  
  Select activity Eleanor Robson, “Reading the libraries of Assyria and Babylonia” in Ancient Libraries (2013), 38-56.
  
  Eleanor Robson, “Reading the libraries of Assyria and Babylonia” in Ancient Libraries (2013), 38-56. File PDF
  
  177.4 KB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 15:04
  
  Select activity Kim Ryholt, “Libraries in Ancient Egypt,” in Ancient Libraries (2013), 23-37.
  
  Kim Ryholt, “Libraries in Ancient Egypt,” in Ancient Libraries (2013), 23-37. File PDF
  
  131.5 KB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 15:07
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  9/17
  
  Select activity WA 0b
  
  WA 0b Assignment
  
  Opens: Monday, September 14, 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Thursday, September 17, 2026, 10:00 AM
  
  Select activity 9/17 QCQ
  
  9/17 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity Introduction (skim xiii-xxx, skip the rest) and Tablet 1 (ll. 1-50), Epic of Gilgamesh, trans. Andrew George (1999)
  
  Introduction (skim xiii-xxx, skip the rest) and Tablet 1 (ll. 1-50), Epic of Gilgamesh, trans. Andrew George (1999) File PDF
  
  10.7 MB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 15:14
  
  Select activity Plato, Phaedrus 274-278
  
  Plato, Phaedrus 274-278 File PDF
  
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  Select activity Freud, “A Note upon the Mystic Writing Pad,” in Standard Works, Vol. 6 227-232.
  
  Freud, “A Note upon the Mystic Writing Pad,” in Standard Works, Vol. 6 227-232. File PDF
  
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Week 4
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  9/22
  
  Select activity 9/22 QCQ
  
  9/22 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity Jacques Derrida, Introduction in Archive Fever (first pub. 1995), 1-23, 36-41
  
  Jacques Derrida, Introduction in Archive Fever (first pub. 1995), 1-23, 36-41 File PDF
  
  1.6 MB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 15:18
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  9/24
  
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  9/24 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity Callimachus, Introduction and Aetia fr. 1 (trans. Christopher Childers) in The Penguin Book of Greek and Latin Lyric (2024), 255-59
  
  Callimachus, Introduction and Aetia fr. 1 (trans. Christopher Childers) in The Penguin Book of Greek and Latin Lyric (2024), 255-59 File PDF
  
  8.3 MB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 15:19
  
  Select activity Peter Marshall Fraser, “II. The Mouseion,” “III. The Library” in Ptolemaic Alexandria (1972), 312-336.
  
  Peter Marshall Fraser, “II. The Mouseion,” “III. The Library” in Ptolemaic Alexandria (1972), 312-336. File PDF
  
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Select section Week 5

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Week 5
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  9/29
  
  Select activity Meeting #2
  
  Meeting #2 Scheduler
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  10/1
  
  Select activity WA 1a
  
  WA 1a Assignment
  
  Opens: Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Thursday, October 1, 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Select activity 10/1 QCQ
  
  10/1 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity Richard Neudecker, “Archives, books and sacred space in Rome,” in Ancient Libraries (2013), 1-20.
  
  Richard Neudecker, “Archives, books and sacred space in Rome,” in Ancient Libraries (2013), 1-20. File PDF
  
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Week 6
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  10/6
  
  Select activity 10/6 QCQ
  
  10/6 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity Pliny the Younger, Letter 3.5 (“To Baebius Macer”)
  
  Pliny the Younger, Letter 3.5 (“To Baebius Macer”) File PDF
  
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  Select activity Candida Moss, “The Secretary: Enslaved Workers, Stenography, and the Production of Early Christian Literature” (2023), 20-56.
  
  Candida Moss, “The Secretary: Enslaved Workers, Stenography, and the Production of Early Christian Literature” (2023), 20-56. File PDF
  
  375.9 KB · Modified 08/19/26, 16:15
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  10/8
  
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  10/8 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity • Horace Introduction and Odes 1.1, 3.30 (trans. Christopher Childers)
  
  • Horace Introduction and Odes 1.1, 3.30 (trans. Christopher Childers) File PDF
  
  6.1 MB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 16:51
  
  Select activity Juvenal Seventh Satire
  
  Juvenal Seventh Satire File PDF
  
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  Fall Break
Select section Week 7

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Week 7
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  10/20
  
  Select activity WA 1b
  
  WA 1b Assignment
  
  Opens: Thursday, October 15, 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Select activity 10/20 QCQ
  
  10/20 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity • Seneca, (“On Book-collecting”) from On Tranquility of Mind Book 9
  
  • Seneca, (“On Book-collecting”) from On Tranquility of Mind Book 9 File PDF
  
  39.1 KB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 16:44
  
  Select activity Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights, Praefatio (i.e. “Preface”).
  
  Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights, Praefatio (i.e. “Preface”). File PDF
  
  53.1 KB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 16:45
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  10/22
  
  Select activity 10/22 QCQ
  
  10/22 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity Pettegree and Weduwen, “Chapter 2: Sanctuary” in The Library: A Fragile History (2021), 29-51.
  
  Pettegree and Weduwen, “Chapter 2: Sanctuary” in The Library: A Fragile History (2021), 29-51. File PDF
  
  19.7 MB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 16:47
  
  Select activity Petrarch, “Epistulae Ad Marcum Tullium Ciceronem, pt. 1 and pt. 2"
  
  Petrarch, “Epistulae Ad Marcum Tullium Ciceronem, pt. 1 and pt. 2" File PDF
  
  117.9 KB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 16:50
Select section Week 8

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Week 8
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  10/27 - Meeting
  
  Select activity Meeting #3
  
  Meeting #3 Scheduler
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  10/29
  
  Select activity 10/29 QCQ
  
  10/29 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity Blair - 2010 - Introduction
  
  Blair - 2010 - Introduction File PDF
  
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  Select activity Blair - 2010 - Information Management in Comparative Perspective
  
  Blair - 2010 - Information Management in Comparative Perspective File PDF
  
  Briskly read first part, then carefully read 46-61.
  
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  Select activity Smits - 2023 - Institutional Libraries in Japan’s Classic Court A
  
  Smits - 2023 - Institutional Libraries in Japan’s Classic Court A File PDF
  
  224.8 KB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 17:12
  
  Select activity Steinhorst - Lost in the Scroll
  
  Steinhorst - Lost in the Scroll File PDF
  
  3.1 MB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 17:13
Select section Week 9

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Week 9
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  11/3
  
  Select activity Eisenstein - 2012 - Some Features of Print Culture
  
  Eisenstein - 2012 - Some Features of Print Culture File PDF
  
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  Select activity Pliny - Historia Naturalis Praefatio
  
  Pliny - Historia Naturalis Praefatio File PDF
  
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  Select activity 11/3 QCQ
  
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Week 10
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  11/10
  
  Select activity Borges - Library of Babel
  
  Borges - Library of Babel File PDF
  
  1.8 MB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 17:29
  
  Select activity 11/10 QCQ
  
  11/10 QCQ Forum
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  11/12
  
  Select activity WA 2
  
  WA 2 Assignment
  
  Opens: Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Due: Thursday, November 12, 2026, 12:00 AM
  
  Select activity 11/12 QCQ
  
  11/12 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity Bernhard - Shining a Light
  
  Bernhard - Shining a Light File PDF
  
  1.6 MB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 17:33
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Week 11
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  11/17
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  11/19
  
  Select activity Kittler - Introduction
  
  Kittler - Introduction File PDF
  
  5.7 MB · Uploaded 08/19/26, 17:36
  
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  11/19 QCQ Forum
Select section Week 13

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Week 13
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  12/1
  
  Select activity 12/1 QCQ
  
  12/1 QCQ Forum
  
  Select activity Bollacker - Avoiding a digital dark age
  
  Bollacker - Avoiding a digital dark age File HTML
  
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  Select activity Rogers - Digital Dark Ages Internet History, Old Websites Are Disappearing - Business Insider
  
  Rogers - Digital Dark Ages Internet History, Old Websites Are Disappearing - Business Insider File PDF
  
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  12/3
  
  Select activity Outline of WA 3
  
  Outline of WA 3 Assignment
Select section Week 14

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Week 14
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  Meeting #4
  
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  Meeting #4 Scheduler