Department of Classical Studies

This course traces the rise and fall of the major cultures of the pre- and proto-historic Aegean world. It explores the region’s art, architecture and archaeology beginning with the Paleolithic era and concluding with the transitional Early Iron Age period. The primary focus is on the Bronze Age societies that flourished on the Aegean islands (the Cycladic culture), on Crete (the Minoans) and on Mainland Greece (the Mycenaeans). The rise, expansion, and ultimate decline of the Minoans and Mycenaeans as seen through their cultural remains will be reviewed. Important places covered include Troy, Knossos, Malia, Phaistos, Akrotiri on Thera, Mycenae, Tiryns, Thebes, and the Palace of Nestor at Pylos among others.