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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "CL/RL 288"
COURSE NAME: "Religion in the Graeco-Roman World"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall Semester 2012
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Bessi Benedetta
HOURS:
MW 11:30-12:45
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is a survey of the elements of traditional religion in the Graeco-Roman world. It is designed to introduce the student to the tenets, beliefs, and certain spiritual practices of Classical antiquity and to familiarize them with the social, cultural and political background ancient religion was part of.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Among the topics covered are the range of religious expression in Greece and Rome, including the approach to the divine, ritual practices, the organization of time and space, human and divine actors. While the first part of the course is dedicated to Greece, in the second half we will concentrate on Roman religion both as a phenomenon in itself and a factor integrated in the socio-political organization of the empire.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Ability to historically contextualize and evaluate religious phenomena.
- Improve research and writing skills.
- Greater facility in working independently and in teams.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Ancient Greek Religion | J.D. Mikalson | Blackwell Publishing Limited | 978-0631232230 | | | | | |
| An Introduction to Roman Religion | J. Scheid | Indiana University Press | 0-253-34377 | | | | | |
| Religion in the Roman Empire | J. Rives | Blackwell Publishing Limited | 978-1-4051-0656-6 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| midterm exam | short answers and essay question | 30 |
| reaction paper | reaction paper to the visit of a Greek or Roman temple/sanctuary of choice, followed by a background research, further details TBA in class | 20% |
| In class oral presentation | presentation on a chapter from Rives'book | 10% |
| Final exam | short answers and essay question | 30% |
| attendance and participation | granted that the student does not miss more than 2 sessions and you show full active participation to class activities | 10% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
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Although not sufficient, regular attendance is at the base of successfull results. Attendance will be taken at each scheduled class session. Each unjustified absence after the second absence will result in your course grade being lowered by 3 points, e.g. after the second unjustified absence, a cumulative total of 87 would be lowered to an 84, changing one’s grade from a B+ to a B.
In the event of justifiable absences, i.e. illness or serious injury, please bring a note from the doctor or the Dean of Student Affairs.
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| Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy. |
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Monday 9/3
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Intro- Identifying Ancient Religion
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Rives, Ch. 1
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Wednesday 9/5
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Ritual Space and the Space of Ritual in the Greek world
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Mikalson, Ch. 1
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Monday 9/10
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Greek Religion and Mythology
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Mikalson, Ch. 3
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Wednesday 9/12
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Greek Cultual Practices
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Mikalson, Ch. 4
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Monday 9/17
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Religion of the Greek Family
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Mikalson, Ch. 5
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Wednesday 9/18
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Religion of the Greek City-State
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Mikalson, Ch. 6
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Monday 9/24
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Greek Religion and the Individual
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Mikalson, Ch. 7
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Wednesday 9/26
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Greek Religion in the Hellenistic World
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Mikalson, Ch. 8
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Monday 10/1
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Problems and Definitions of Roman Religion
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Scheid, Ch. 1 and 2
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Wednesday 10/3
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Roman Rituals
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Scheid, Ch. 3
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Monday 10/8
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The Division of Time and Space
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Scheid, Ch. 4-5
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Wednesday 10/10
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midterm
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Monday 10/15
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Class cancelled (make up TBA)
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Wednesday 10/17
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Class cancelled (make up TBA
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Monday 10/22
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Religious Rituals of Rome
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Scheid, Ch. 6-7
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Wednesday 10/24
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The Actors of Roman Religion I: Priests and Priestesses
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Scheid, Ch. 8
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Monday 10/29
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The Actors of Roman Religion II: The Double Life of the Gods
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Scheid, Ch. 9
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Wednesday 10/31
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Interpretations of Roman Religions
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Scheid, Ch. 10
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Monday 11/5
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Regional Religious Traditions of the Empire
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Rives, Ch. 2
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Wednesday 11/7
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The Presence of the Gods
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Rives, Ch. 3
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Monday 11/12
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Religion and Community
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Rives, Ch. 4
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Wednesday 11/14
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Religion and Empire
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Rives, Ch. 5
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Monday 11/19
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Religious Options in the Roman Empire
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Rives, Ch. 6
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Wednesday 11/21
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Magic in the Graeco-Roman world
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Handouts
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Monday 11/26
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Roman Religious Policy
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Rives, Ch. 7
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Wednesday 11/28
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From Paganism to Christianity
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Rives, Epilogue
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Monday 12/3
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Christianity
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Selected readings
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Wednesday 12/5
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Wrap up and discussion
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| Session | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
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