The Greco-Roman world is very much alive in the popular imagination, evident in the abundance of references in modern media, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Greco-Roman influence in the time after is so ubiquitous that it is better to say that it paved the way for western civilization as we know it today. However pervasive, these influences can sometimes be subtle. We want to elucidate these influences, be it for better or for worse (and there definitely are some pretty bad examples). Through this course, students will be able to gain a multifaceted understanding of how Greco-Roman civilizations shaped and gave rise to western civilization after their times in visual art, philosophy, architecture, literature, religion, politics and so on. We hope that everyone can walk away with a better understanding of the growth and transformation of western civilization, with an appreciation for the continuity of innovations and stark awareness of the dangerous power of history (also some fun trivia!)

Class meetings will be held on Monday from 6-8PM (2hr lecture). Synchronous, in-person attendance at one of these sections each week is required for all meetings unless otherwise stated by the facilitators in advance. Absences will be excused under limited circumstances (i.e. illness, personal/family emergency, etc.). It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of such circumstances prior to the absence, if possible. Students are allowed a maximum of 3 unexcused absences throughout the semester. This course is mainly mediated through bcourses.

Quizzes: Multiple choice quizzes will be given before or after each lecture, occasionally there will be 1-2 sentences short answer questions. There will be both quizzes based on the reading and on lecture content. They are distributed on bcourses website and are graded based on accuracy.

Online discussion: Weekly online discussions will be posted on bcourses. We will discuss questions regarding the lecture topics of the week. Students are required to participate and reply to their peers for a grade. Discussion posts are graded based on completion.

Group presentation: At the end of the semester, students will form groups and present on any topic they like that is related to the focus of the class: the influence of Greco-Roman civilization in the time after. Formation of presentation group and topic check-in due Oct. 30th. The presentation should be 15-20 minutes long and each member of the group must contribute to the final product. The presentation will be graded based on effort and accuracy of information.