Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2017 - HIST 307 D100

Selected Topics in Hellenic Studies (4)

Warfare in Antiquity

Class Number: 8700

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 7, 2017: Tue, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Selected Topics. Content may vary from offering to offering; see course outline for further information. HIST 307 may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Students with credit for HS 307 may take HIST 307 for credit only when a different topic is taught.

COURSE DETAILS:

Ancient War in Popular Media: From Thermopylae to Game of Thrones

Perhaps no other element of Hellenistic culture has captured the popular imagination as its relationship with warfare. Including the movies Troy and 300, there have been no shortages of films that examine ancient Greek warfare. Even the series Game of Thrones draws upon elements of what scholars associate with ‘Greek’ warfare in its representations of battle. Are these portrayals, however, accurate? What do they get right? What do they get wrong? Are these films useful for analyzing the battles they represent? How have these popular representations of warfare influenced our perception of war? This course examines how warfare in the ancient and classical Greek world was actually fought and its relationship with society, and if these films accurately capture this dynamic. Students will engage with the primary sources from the period to critically assess whether modern representations of warfare in the Hellenistic world either improve, or hinder, our ability to understand the past.


HIST 307 is cross-listed with HS 307 and you may take this course under the HIST designation of the HS designation.

Grading

  • Participation: 20%
  • Paper Proposal: 10%
  • 3 Quizzes: 3 x 10% 30%
  • Final Paper: 40%

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS