Classical Studies I

Description: This class starts with the Greeks in Crete and ends in the Hellenistic Age ushered in by Alexander the Great. Students learn about Greek civilization, the development of democracy, the defense of democracy in the Persian wars, the Golden Age, and the Peloponnesian wars. The second half of the course entails a detailed reading and study of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. 

During the first semester, the average reader will need 1 hour per week to complete the required reading. During the second semester, the workload becomes more arduous; the average reader will need 2-3 hours per week for required reading and completion of study guide questions. The grade is based upon participation, quizzes, mid-term exam, final exam, and an essay exam at the end of each semester. This class is worth 1 high school credit in History, or 1/2 a credit in History and 1/2 in Literature.

Grade Level: 7-12 (ages 12-18)

Prerequisites: We highly recommend that your student reads Famous Men of Greece and The Trojan War prior to the start of the class if the student has no background in the ancient world.

Required Materials: The Book of the Ancient Greeks (text and student guide), by Dorothy Mills; The Iliad & The Odyssey (texts and student guides – Note: Texts must be Butler’s prose translation, available from Memoria Press). Students will also need a USB headset microphone (built-in microphones will also work).