CLCS 481 POSSIBLE TOPICS FOR RESEARCH PAPERS

Biographical:

Solon, Cleisthenes, Peisistratus, Hippias, Isagoras, Miltiades the Elder or Younger; Pausanias, Leonidas, Darius, Xerxes, Cleomenes, Themistocles, aristides, Cimon, Callias, Anaxagoras, Pericles, Aspasia, Herodotus, Phocon, Croesus of Lydia, Thucydides, Ephialtes, Cleon, Nicias, Alcibiades, Conon, Lysander, Agesilaus, Epaminondas, Pelopidas, Jason of Pherae, Plato, Critias, Socrates, Aristophanes, Xenophon, Aristotle, Isocrates, Hiero and Dionysius of Syracuse, Lycurgus of Sparta, Theramenes, Gylippus, Sapho, Archilochus, Phiedias, Ictinus.

Political issues: the Persian Wars (international relations; the Greek alliance); Athenian democracy (developments: Solonian reforms; Cleisthenic reforms; dikasteria; Areopagus; Council of 500; the archons; the 10 strategoi; sycophants and demagogues; the coup of 411; the thirty tyrants; procedural questions of democracy (hearings, rules of order in the assembly)); the Delian League; the Athenian Empire (its mechanics, ambassadors, governors, garrisons, cleruchies, revised constitutions of member states; the tribute lists and popular decrees); Spartan hoplite aristocracy (its constitution -- the kings, the gerousia, the ephors; the rhetra; role of women in Sparta; training of Spartan youths; the role of the helots and the perioikoi; the Peloponnesian League); the Peloponnesian War (its causes, its strategies; its use of naval warfare or land warfare); the return of Persia (Cyrus II and Lysander).

Art and Archaeology: some aspect of any excavated site, e.g., Delos, Delphi, the Athenian Acropolis (Propylia; Parthenon; Erechtheum) or Agora (Tholos, Council House, dedications), the Piraeus, Sparta, Olympia, Thebes, Corinth, Argos, Epidaurus, Messene, Miletus, Ephesus, Byzantium, Didyma, Colophon, Samos, Erythrae, Halicarnassus. Statuary, kouros statues, role of bronze work. Function of specific structures: Temples, Council houses, agoras, city walls; a typical Greek house. Infrastructure -- sewer systems, bathing, granaries, docking installations. Architecture: the Greek orders, aesthetics of friezes and architraves, use of reliefs; pediment displays. the rise of Doric temples.

pottery: Geometric, Corinthian oriental style; Athenian Red and Black figure; particular iconography; aspects of life as portrayed on vases (artisan work, or household labor, death and childbearing); particular potters and sculptors (the Phintias painter; Pheidias, Polyclitus, Praxiteles).

social issues and domestic life: status of women (married matrons v.s. courtesans?); Greek sexuality; slavery; child-rearing; old age; health, diet and medicine; dress, costume, and jewelry;

intellectual life, philosophy and religion: the preSocratics, meaning of various plays, point of Aristophanes' satire; Socratic or Platonic ideals; Mystery and hero cults; life after death; Greek mythology.

HERE ARE ESSAY TOPICS USED IN THE PAST, ALSO POSSIBLE RESEARCH TOPICS

THE AEGEAN BRONZE AGE: Explain how the archaelogical evidence at Knossos, Mycenae, and Troy, seems tosupport (or deny) the Homeric tradition for the collapse of the Aegean Bronze Age. Include in your discussion mention at least @U(FIVE) of the following: 1. Linear A and B tablets; 2. Thera; 3. Grave Circle A; 4. Troy VIIa; 5. Cyclopean walls of Mycenae; 6. Hittite Archives; 7. Ramses III and the Sea Peoples; 8. Dendra panoply.]

1.RELIGIOUS WORLD VIEW OF HERODOTUS) Discuss the religious world view of Herodotus. Specifically, what does he seem to believe about the FATES or predetermination, and the role of the gods in human existence?

CAUSES OF GREEK TYRANNY): Discuss the contradictory forces which led to tyranny in the Sixth Century B.C. Specifically, what economic, social, and political forces brought it about?]

2.FOUR GREEK TYRANTS). Describe the careers of the following Greek tyrants: Cypselus and Periander of Corinth, Polycrates of Samos, and Cleisthenes of Sicyon. Focus particularly on their relations with nobles, the hoplite phalanx, and comment on their foreign policy, public works, and urban development.

THE REFORMS OF SOLON). Discuss the Laws of Solon, what were his declared intentions, what were his accomplishments, to what degree was his program ultimately successful?]

3.TYRANNY IN SPARTA OR ATHENS): Discuss the development of Tyranny as it affected Sparta or) Athen in the Archaic Age (WRITE ON ONE ONLY). How did the citizens of either state resolve the underlying problems which led to tyranny (e.g., did either state avoid tyranny; if so, how--if not, what did tyranny accomplish)? (If you use Athens as the example, mention at least 3 leaders).

THE IONIAN REVOLT. Discuss the causes of the Ionian Revolt against Persia in 499-494 B.C. Who and what provoked it, how and why did it fail, how did Persia take measures to prevent its recurrence, and what was the role of Athens in it?

TYRANNY IN ATHENS. Using Athens as the example, discuss the rise of tyranny in the Sixth Century B.C. What contradictory forces led to it, and how did these work themselves out in the Athenian polis (mention at least 3 leaders).

PERSIAN WARS:

HOPLITE WARFARE--Discuss hoplite military tactics employed at the battles of Marathon and Thermopylae. Include description of the opposing forces and commanders, and the manner in which they utilized terrain in each instance.

THE PERSIAN SIDE OF THE PERSIAN WARS Discuss the Persian Wars from the perspective of the Persian Kings, Darius and Xerxes. How would they explain the causes of these wars, the manner in which they affected the empire, and the manner in which they (the kings) organized their assault upon Greece? Give a few specific acts and events in sequence.

4.GREEK LEADERS OF THE PERSIAN WARS. Discuss how each of the following Greek leaders determined the course of the Persian Wars: Histiaeus, Miltiades, Leonidas, Themistocles, Pausanias.

NAVAL HISTORY OF THE PERSIAN WARS. Write a short naval history of the Persian Wars, based on Herodotus (499-478 b.c.). Which states contributed fleets, what do we know about their commanders?

EARLY RELATIONS BETWEEN ATHENS AND SPARTA. Describe Spartan-Athenian relations between 527-478 b.c. What effect did leaders such as Cleomenes, Pausanias, and Themistocles have on these relations?

THE ATHENIAN EMPIRE). Discuss the historical transition of the Delian League to the Athenian Empire in the 5th Century B.C. Begin with the inception of the Delian League; what was its origin, why was Athens given the command, what specific events and developments led to its transformation into Empire?

MOVERS OF ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY. Compare the social backgrounds and personalities of Solon, Themistocles, Cimon, and Pericles. How were they similar, how different (mention wealth, aristocratic status, etc.). How did each look upon the rise of the Athenian Democracy?

EXILE AND OSTRACISM. Themistocles, Aristides, Cimon, and Alcibiades all went into exile or were ostracized during their careers. Examine the causes or explanations for each man's departure, i.e., specific charges where available. How did each man behave in exile? Discuss where each went and what happened. Also, which of them was recalled and why?

GREEK WOMEN IN PLUTARCH AND ARISTOPHANES, LYSISTRATA)): Compare Aristophanes' presentation of women with the glimpses of female society which are provided by Plutarch's Lives of Solon, Themistocles, Pericles, Alcibiades). According to these two sources, what influence did Greek women have on their husbands (and/or lovers) and how did they go about exerting it? What does it tell us about the limits of female autonomy in Greek society? What does this say generally about the status of women in ancient Greece? Give specific examples and descriptions from both sources.

THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR). Discuss the contrasting strengths and weaknesses of Sparta and Athens at the outset of the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.). Specifically, what was the military strategy of each side at the outset of the war, and how did each change with the advent of Alcibiades and the Sicilian Expedition?

THE SICILIAN EXPEDITION. Discuss the Sicilian Expedition. Who proposed it, who commanded it, how did it turn out, and what effect did it have on the outcome of the Peloponnesian War? (Additional reading in Book 5 of Thucydides will be helpful to this topic).

SOCRATES IN PLATO AND ARISTOPHANES): Discuss the portrayal of Socrates by both these writers. Where is there agreement/where disagreement. What typically Socratic arguments in Plato appear to be being mocked by Aristophanes?

I. THE IONIAN REVOLT. Discuss the causes of the Ionian Revolt against Persia in 499-494 B.C. Who and what provoked it, how and why did it fail, how did Persia take measures to prevent its recurrence, and what was the role of Athens in it?

IV. SOCRATES IN PLATO AND ARISTOPHANES: Discuss the portrayal of Socrates by both these writers. Where is there agreement/where disagreement. What typically Socratic arguments in Plato appear to be being mocked by Aristophanes?

HERODOTUS BOOK REPORT TOPICS

1. Using the four components of Ancient Near East Empire building, describe the development and organization of the Persian Empire.

2. List and describe where possible Herodotus' sources for the section on Egypt. Particularly, what does he say about Hecataeus of Miletus?

3. By employing reverse logic, use Herodotus' description of Egyptian social habits to describe those of Greece.

4. Describe the careers of various Greek tyrants: Cypselus and Periander of Corinth, Polycrates of Samos, Cleisthenes of Sicyon, Peisistratus of Athens. Focus particularly on their relations with nobles, the hoplite phalanx, and comment on their foreign policy, public works, and urban development.

5. Compare and contrast the rule and personalities of Cyrus, Darius, and Croesus.

6. Write a short naval history of the Persian Wars, based on Herodotus (499-478 b.c.). Which states contributed fleets, what do we know about their commanders?

7. Discuss hoplite military tactics employed at the battles of Marathon, Thermopylae, and Plataea.

8. Describe Spartan-Athenian relations between 527-478 b.c. What effect did leaders such as Cleomenes, Pausanias, and Themistocles have on these relations?