This course introduces students to the literature and culture of the Greeks and Romans, with particular attention paid to texts whose influence will be seen in later parts of the curriculum. It includes a brief overview of the history and geography of the ancient Mediterranean world and includes some discussion of material culture, but its primary focus is textual. The course aims to introduce students to some of the major genres of writing to come out of the ancient Mediterranean, with special emphasis placed on epic, tragedy, comedy, historiographical prose, and philosophy. Although philosophical texts are taught as a separate segment, they will be read as part of a broader ancient discussion, played out in other genres as well, of questions of justice, freedom, and the like. Given the nature of the texts read, students will require grounding in the basics of ancient Greek and Roman religion and ritual practice. Since this will be one of the first literary courses taken by students, special focus will be placed on close reading and analysis. · Segment 1: Greek Literature Students will focus on the genres of epic (Homer and Hesiod), tragedy (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides), comedy (Aristophanes and Menander), and historiography (Herodotus). In addition to discussing how these texts treat major issues like the relationship between individuals and the broader polity, as well as between humans and the divine world (with special attention paid to the explaining the existence of injustice in a world ruled by supposedly just gods), students will consider the formal conventions of these genres so that they can understand how these conventions were manipulated by later writers. The texts will be read against the background of Greek history, and in particular the development of the polis.· Segment 2: Roman Literature The focus of this segment will be on the ways in which Romans writers engaged with the Greek literary past (including philosophy and history as well as poetry) in order to create works of art that resonated in special ways in their own political and social circumstances. Once again, issues of genre will be emphasized, as will the significance of Rome’s transition from a Republic to a imperial state.· Segment 3: PhilosophyThis segment will focus on Plato and Aristotle within the context of ancient Greek culture and thought. Some attention will thus be paid to their pre-Socratic forebears and other schools of Hellenistic philosophy. Students will be introduced to the basic methods of philosophical reading. Some attention will also be paid to anticipating the ways that ancient thinkers were appropriated in medieval thought, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment.