HIST 323(S) Leadership, Government, and the Governed in Ancient Greece (Same as Classics 323 and Leadership Studies 323) (W)
Visionary, opportunist, reformer, tyrant, demagogue, popular champion:
concise characterization of influential leaders is often irresistible. But
placing leaders in their much less easily encapsulated political, social, and
religious contexts reveals them to be far more complicated and challenging
subjects. Among the questions that will guide our study of Greek
leadership: Was the transformative leader in a Greek city always an
unexpected one, arising outside of the prevailing political and/or social
systems? To what extent did the prevailing systems determine the nature of
transformative as well as of normative leadership? How did various
political and social norms contribute to legitimating particular kinds of
leader? After studying such leaders as the "tyrants" who prevailed in many
Greek cities of both the archaic and classical eras, then Athenian leaders
like Solon, Cleisthenes, Cimon, Pericles, Cleon, and Demosthenes, and
Spartans like Cleomenes, Leonidas, Brasidas, and Lysander, we will focus
on Alexander the Great, whose unique accomplishments transformed
every aspect of Greek belief about leadership, national boundaries,
effective government, the role of the governed, and the legitimacy of
power. Readings will include accounts of leadership and government by
ancient Greek authors (e.g. Homer, Solon, Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato,
Aristotle, Demosthenes, all in translation) and contemporary historians
and political theorists.
Format: discussion/lecture. Evaluation will be based on contributions to
class discussions, three short papers (4-6 pages each), a midterm exam, and
an oral presentation leading to a significant final paper (15-20 pages).
No prerequisites; but a background and/or interest in the ancient world,
political systems, and/or Leadership Studies is preferred. Enrollment limit:
19 (expected: 19).
Group B and D