Occidental College Spring 2022
Hist. 220 Ancient Athens and
Renaissance Florence
Professor Maryanne Horowitz
Class Hours: Tues & Thurs. 1:30-2:55 p.m. Break 2:15-2:25
45 minutes & 30 minutes Room: Fowler 209
Email: horowitz@oxy.edu good way to communicate---please mention the course you are in as Prof. Horowitz is teaching 3 Oxy courses. Label .doc file of any attached assignment with your full name and hist220.
Office Hours: on zoom: Reserve 15 or 30 minute meetings in ZOOM, Wed. 3-4:30 or
Fri. 12-1:30
Reserve appointment at https://www.oxy.edu/academics/faculty/maryanne-horowitz.
Prof. Horowitz appreciates
that students upload a profile photo to https://occidental.zoom.us/profile.
4 credits: History Survey and Pre-1800; CORE Regional Focus (CPRF); Classical Studies
Minor; GWSS Minor.
History 220 Spring 2022
Catalogue Description: This course provides an opportunity to vicariously
"live" in historical cities considered to be creators of democratic
or representative forms of government, as well as of great literature and art.
Historian Thucydides, comic Aristophanes, and philosopher Plato draw us into
Athenian gender/class socialization, politics, and culture; likewise,
Boccaccio, the Medici family, and Machiavelli inform us of Florentine
gender/class socialization, politics, and culture. Monumental architecture and
gendered sculpture continue to serve to decorate and sustain the individuality
of each city. By examining documents of daily life (including court cases
concerning sexual acts) and the luxury products of the diverse crafts, we
increase our knowledge of the controversial behavior and productivity of a wide
spectrum of women and men. By focusing on two cities in their "golden
age," the class will emphasize the shared positive, as well as negative,
characteristics of ages historians have designated as "golden."
History majors may petition for 300-level credit for this class with the
completion of additional work and arranged with the instructor. (May be taken
as History 397 by writing one research paper in place of one class paper.
Books in Bookstore (also
available used from Amazon.com)
H John Camp and
Elizabeth Fisher, The World of the Ancient
Greeks (Thames and Hudson, 2010)
Kenneth Bartlett, Florence in the Age of the Medici and Savonarola 1464-1498 Judith
Testa, An Art Lover’s Guide to Florence
Course Objectives:
· To gain familiarity with major events, people, and movements in the
history of pre-modern Western Civilization
· To learn basic methods of historical investigation, particularly
analysis of textual and visual sources in the context of two very influential
city-states (with many documents available in English) Try Horowitz
form for Document and Image Analysis
· To experience the process of interpreting major movements in
ancient and Renaissance history (including Renaissance interpretation of
antiquity)
· To develop skills in historical argument, writing, and oral
presentation.
Course
Outcomes:
· Students gain a critical awareness of the
past as resource for imagining new ways of thinking, creating,
acting, organizing society, and forming community.
· Students will write a historical essay defending an interpretation
on a historiographical issue by properly citing and critically evaluating
primary and secondary sources.
· Students will understand the tumultuous
political history of two city-states prized for their culture and
representative government
Major
Due Dates:
Tue., Feb. 22, 2022 In-class Exam on ancient
Greeks
Mon. April 1, 2022 noon Email Paper, MLA notes,
Works Cited (described after Schedule)
Thu., Apr. 21, 2022 In-class exam on Renaissance Florence
Tuesday-Thursday
Schedule for Spring 2022
1) If possible, read in The
World of the Ancient Greeks, ch. I & II &
III and prepare oral report for Thurs.
In class Moodle, folder of Reserve Readings is 3rd item from
top: ”Electronic” ones easy to access. Easy summary on Athens from a Western
Civilization book focused on the great cities: start on Willis, “The Athens of
Pericles.”
Tue., Jan. 25, 2022 Intro. Minoans (sculptures), Myceneans.
Slide set on Monumental Architecture of Athens (located in Moodle,
Topic 3)
Thu., Jan. 27, 2022
Optional oral discussion starting from assignments in chs. I-V in The World
of the Ancient Greeks
Powerpoint lecture on ancient Greece, especially
Athens.
2) Read in The World of the
Ancient Greeks, chs. IV, V, VI (Classical
Athens). Kagan problem set on “Unpopularity of the Athenian Empire” and of
Kagan problem set on “Periclean Athens—Was it Democratic?” are on MOODLE top
section below RESERVES.
Tue., Feb. 1, 2022 In MOODLE, top section, RESERVES, be
reading electronic textbook section by Willis, 2a, 2b Lecture on Hellenistic
Schools of Philosophy. Then students choose among 5 schools: Plato’s Academy,
Aristotle’s Lyceum, Stoa, Epicurean Garden, Carneades’ Academy
Thu., Feb. 3, 2022 Discussion of Kagan problem set “Periclean Athens—Was it
Democratic?” Discussion of preferences
among ancient schools of Academy, Lyceum, Stoa,
Epicurean Garden. Start thinking on “To what extent was Athenian empire
unpopular, especially during Peloponnesian war?”
3) Read in The World of the
Ancient Greek, ch. VII and VIII
Tue., Feb. 8, 2022 Continue reading in RESERVES, Willis, 2c, 2d.
Student suggested reports on Greek gods, goddesses, religious
practices, heros, heroines OR topic chosen from
reserve readings. Introduction to ArtStor (Oxy login)
for tracing a god or heroine from antiquity through the Renaissance)
Lecture on Greek sculpture-archaic, Hellenic, and Roman copies Signups for analysis of trial of Socrates on
Tues. Feb. 15.
Thu., Feb. 10, 2022 Meeting in Special Collections, 3rd floor
Academic Commons. Hands-on Visit to a
Renaissance library (where classical Greek and Latin texts were revived)
4) Alexander the Great, Hellenistic Civilizations, early
Christianity and
in The World of the Ancient
Greeks, chs. IX and 202-207 Review pp.138-139 on
philosophers. We would benefit from a
student enactment of Socrates questioning his accuser Miletus lines 24d-25c in
Plato’s Apology, trans. Jowett,
http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html
All
Greek and Roman classics in English translation are at classics.mit.edu
Tue., Feb. 15, 2022 Students report
on alternative historical explanations of jury finding Socrates guilty. See
section in MOODLE. Lecture on
Hellenistic Sculptures.
Wed. Feb. 16
Study Sheet for Exam posted on MOODLE Study some documents in Kagan’s “Unpopularity
of the Athenian Empire” as part of the problems of Athenian democracy.
Thu., Feb. 17, 2022 Discussion on studying for exam. Discussion of
paper topics. Introduction to Florentine
Renaissance
5) Tue., Feb. 22, 2022
In-class Exam on ancient Greeks
35 minute Essay questions comparing Hellenistic
philosophical schools, or discussing alternative explanations for Socrates
found guilty by the jury, or discussing assets and defects of Athenian
democracy and its role in Delian League, or comparing stages of Greek
sculptures, or discussing role of other Greek places on Athenians. Choice between 2, break, choice between 2.
Thu., Feb. 24, 2022 Willis “Renaissance Florence” (Reserves, Moodle) Bring to
class your Florence in the Age of the
Medici and Savonarola for individual analysis of documents.
6) Browse in class books in library stacks listed on MOODLE
“reserve” or on MOODLE new topic “Books for starting your paper” and check
books out of Oxy library for research paper.
Tues.
March 1, Noon Stage l of paper
assignment: Email Times Roman 12 point. 1 page proposal. 1 page Works Cited. State the issues, conflicting
historical interpretations, and documents (texts or images) that interest
you. Include your Works Cited divided into Primary and Secondary
Sources. Formation of student discussion groups for related paper topics.
Tue., Mar. 1, 2022 Bring
your paper proposal for a small group work.
Thu., Mar. 3, 2022 Student
Individual presentations on documents for topic & on secondary sources for
topic. Lecture: Florentine contribution
to development of humanistic curriculum
separate from religion in the Renaissance & Early Modern Europe.
Tues., Mar. 8, 2022 No Class. SPRING BREAK
Thu., Mar. 10, 2022 No Class. SPRING
BREAK
7) Renaissance Florence Tues: Judith Testa, An Art Lover’s Guide to Florence, ch. 1 Historical Background and ch
3 on The Cathedral Baptistery and ch. 2 on building the dome, pp. 28-40 only. Ch 8 on Monastery of San Marco where Cosimo kept his manuscript books. Ch 9 on Medici Palace Thurs.:
Bartlett, Florence in the Age of the
Medici and Savonarola, ch. 1 Florence before the
Medici and students reporting on documents 1-8.
Tue., Mar. 15, 2022 Bring Testa. Students assigned chs 2, 3, 8, 9.
Thu., Mar. 17, 2022 Bring Bartlett. Students assigned to analyze
documents 1-9 in Bartlett. Apply Document Analysis Form.
8) Stage 2
of paper assignment. Email Mon. March 21, noon, with Word.doc labelled by your
first and last name. Pass in title suggesting
thesis, 2 paragraphs from any part of intended paper with M.L.A. references to
primary and secondary sources, followed by Works Cited divided into Primary and
Secondary Sources. Prof. Horowitz will keep a copy of her
suggestions passed back, hoping that they are followed.
Tue., Mar. 22, 2022 Bring Testa. Student reports on Testa:
ch. 9 Medici Chapel, ch. 4 Brancacci Chapel, ch. 5 Palazza della Signoria,
ch. 6 Orsanmichele
(sculptures).
Thu., Mar. 24, 202 Lecture on the Medici: Giovanni, Cosimo. Piero, Lucrezia Tuornbuoni,
Lorenzo, Pazzi Conspiracy
Sun. March 27, 2022 11:40 a.m. Bus pickup
Campus Rd/Alumni Ave. Be at 2:00 p.m. at bus in front of Norton Simon Museum for
return by 2:30. OK to bring snacks for
eating in bus. The donor museum as a contributor to a great city. Class trip to
Norton Simon Museum—Our main attention will be Renaissance & Early Modern
art in Italy and Low Countries and on the human body as a global focus of
sculpture and painting.
9) Bartlett, ch. 2 The Medici Hegemony (1434-1494) Student reports on documents in
Bartlett, docs. 9—16 on Florence in 1400s.
Reading of Testa, chs. 4-7.
Tue., Mar. 29, 2022 Discuss 2 works that interested you at the
Norton Simon Museum or thoughts on Donor Building as asset to a Great
City.
Lecture on most famous cultural movement patronized by Cosimo,
Piero, and Lorenzo: Neo-Platonic gatherings as Ficino translated Plato into
Latin.
Thu., Mar. 31, 2022 Bring Bartlett. Student analysis of documents
9-16 (Leonardi Bruni to Pazzi Conspiracy)
10) Read Bartlett, ch.
3 Savonarola and Florence.
Mon. April 4, 2022 noon Email Paper that argues a thesis by analyzing
primary sources and rival historical viewpoints on a topic related to ancient
Athenian or Renaissance Florentine history. Label .doc “first name last name
h220 paper” See instruction below.
Tues. April 5 Bring Bartlett. Student
reports on Bartlett 17-24 (Ficino to Savonarola)
Thurs. April 7
Pairs of students report on art and architecture in Testa, chs. 10-13, pp. 140-197.
11) Machiavelli and Machiavellianism.
Tue., Apr. 12, 2022 Lecture on Machiavelli. Study Sheet passed out
for Florence Exam.
Thu., Apr. 14, 2022 Pairs of student
report on paintings, sculpture, and Medici Chapel, Testa pp. 197-256.
12) Michelangelo. Testa, ch. 14-16 and Epilogue. Bartlett completed.
Tue., Apr. 19, 2022 Bring
Bartlett. Student analysis of documents 25-32.
Thu., Apr. 21, 2022 In-class exam on Renaissance Florence
13) Tue., Apr. 26, 2022 Lecture
on Renaissance Italian Diplomacy as Influential on European Diplomacy
Thurs. April 28, 2022 Date for submitting improved paper.
Student Evaluations
Grading
Policies, Hist. 220
Paper:
8- page paper in Word.doc, paginated, including
M.L.A. parenthetical notes plus
Works Cited divided into the Primary and Secondary Sources utilized. Optionally, Figure List with artist, title,
date, and website or book and page. Images might be in an Appendix.
Format:
Times Roman, 12 point, 1 inch margins, paginated
in Word.doc or .docx. List word count at end of text.
The
criteria for evaluating the paper are as follows:
● Provides thesis and
logical structure of paper
● Considers alternate
historical interpretations, the secondary sources (with M.L.A parenthetical
notes to scholars or students in the class)
● Argues for thesis
via detailed analysis of primary sources and differences between them
● Writes in proper
sentences and paragraphs (each with one topical sentence)
● Provides
parenthetical notes for quotations and summaries, leading reader to author and
page.
● Works cited
divided into Primary Sources and Secondary Sources M.L.A. Style( https://style.mla.org/works-cited/works-cited-a-quick-guide/essay)
Or use Turabian from
First Year Seminar or from CSP.
· As in Oxy’s first
year writing proficiency portfolio, this paper assignment is thesis-driven,
utilizes features of conventional expository essays, and demonstrates
integration of evidence from academically credible scholarly sources.
Grading: Prof.
Horowitz she seeks to work with you so that the final grades range only from B-
to A. Final course grades in this class
have the following meaning: (Prof. Horowitz is aiming to assign only grades B-,
B, B+, A-, A)
A Outstanding performance. You
have demonstrated very thorough knowledge and understanding of all the
material, truly superior critical thinking, and expressed insightful and
original thoughts clearly. You have completed all required assignments, and
they have been among the best in the class.
B Good performance. You
have demonstrated solid knowledge and understanding of the material and good
critical thinking. You have also shown the ability to express your ideas
clearly. You have completed all required assignments, and they have been of
good quality.
C Satisfactory performance. You
have demonstrated basic knowledge and understanding of the major concepts
taught in the class and some critical thinking. You have completed all or most
of the required assignments, and they have routinely been free of significant
problems.
D Deficient performance. You
have only acquired a limited understanding of the class material. You have
failed to complete all the required assignments, and they have routinely had
serious problems.
F Failure. You have failed to learn
a sufficient proportion of the basic concepts and ideas taught in the
class. You have failed to complete many required assignments, and they have
routinely had serious problems.
Resources in Academic Commons:
History Tutor: Senior Gus Gruneau
Mon. 6-8 p.m. and Wed. 10-12 Drop-in Ground Floor, Tutoring Nook.
● The Writing Center offers
opportunities to work on all forms of writing for any class or other writing
tasks such as personal statements, senior comprehensives, etc. We offer
peer-to-peer consultations with knowledgeable Writing Advisers and sessions
with Faculty Writing Specialists. See the Writing Center website for more information
about our fall hours and how students can sign up for appointments. Please
contact the Writing Programs-Center Director, Julie Prebel (jprebel@oxy.edu)
for more information on how the Center can work with you.
● The college offers library research consultations and discipline-specific peer tutoring for
coursework
● Attendance
Policy and Participation Definition. Quotations come from official Occidental College fall 2021 policy suggestions:
“Participation
is expected as the work that we do in class is critical to your understanding
of the material and you will be giving feedback to your peers on many
occasions. However, if there is a medical issue or family emergency
please let me know; I recognize that other life issues can sometimes arise
unexpectedly. If you must miss class due to an official Oxy event, or due
to reasons
of faith or
conscience, please let me know as early in the
semester as possible.”
“We are still in a public health
emergency, and students may have difficulties beyond their control that prevent
their attendance on a given day (e.g., symptoms that are consistent with
COVID-19, or a positive COVID-19 test). Your health and well-being, and
that of our community, are essential. If you are feeling any symptoms of
illness, even if they are slight, please refrain from attending class until
explicitly cleared by Emmons. Similarly, if you have a known exposure to
someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please do not return to class
until Emmons confirms that you are cleared to participate in your usual
activities.”
● Late
Assignment Policy. Please inform Prof. Horowitz ahead if
you are not able to meet the deadline for a paper assignment or an
exam. She will try to accommodate your
re-scheduling. Meanwhile, please utilize the many Resources
offered by Occidental College Student Affairs https://www.oxy.edu/student-life/student-affairs/resources-
Link to Occidental College Policies 2021-2022: