Classics 195A: Handbooks and How-Tos: The Didactic Tradition in the Ancient World

Instructor:

John Bauschatz
Time/Location: F, 2:00–2:50 p.m.; Psychology 309
Contact Info:

Office: LSB 215
Phone: (520) 621-7422 (office)
email: jbausch1@email.arizona.edu

OVERVIEW

Classical antiquity is famous for its epic poetry, drama and history, but decidedly less so for the dozens of learned volumes that survive on subjects ranging from the interpretation of dreams to the construction of aqueducts, the classification of fishes to the healing powers of plants. Ancient readers devoured such works, even if the topics contained within them were frowned upon by high society (e.g., astrology) or far removed from their everyday lives (e.g., siege tactics). The writers who fed the public craving for such texts wrote both in poetry and in prose and their works were products of meticulous research drawing upon the extensive scholarship available in their day (much of which has not survived).

In this course students will read selections (in translation) from a number of ancient Greek and Roman handbooks. Of great importance to the course will be questions of readership and practicality. The course will serve not only as a springboard for discussions about the nature of literature, but will also expose students to views of classical antiquity far different from those portrayed in history textbooks and Hollywood blockbusters.

GOALS

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

  • Identify the readership of ancient handbooks and how-to guides.
  • Explain what the popularity of these volumes tells us about ancient cultures and their priorities and values.
  • Discuss the usefulness, accuracy and practicality of ancient handbooks and how-to guides.
  • Compare and contrast the preoccupations of ancient handbooks and how-to guides with those designed for modern readers.

PREREQUISITES

None.

READINGS

The readings for this course will include selections from a number of ancient handbooks and how-to guides, both poetry and prose: among these, parts of the Astronomica of Manilius (astronomy and astrology), the Halieutica of Oppian (fish and fishing), the Ars Amatoria of Ovid (love affairs), the De Architectura of Vitruvius (architecture and engineering), the works of Galen (medicine) and the Oneirokritika of Artemidoros (dream interpretation). The full list of readings appears below (see the Course Schedule).

The readings for CLAS 195A are available for download from the D2L website for CLAS 195A as pdf files: see the "Readings" folder. To view/download them, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download available here).

GRADING

Grading for the course will be based on the following breakdown:

  • Attendance/Participation (50%): How often you come to class and how ably and enthusiastically you participate in class discussions. As the course meets only once per week, enthusiastic attendance is crucial. I will permit one unexcused absence during the course of the semester. After that, you'll lose a letter grade for each unexplained/ unjustified/undocumented disappearance. It should also be noted that perfect attendance does not guarantee a perfect attendance/participation grade. I expect you to actively engage in class discussions. If you do not, your grade will suffer.

  • Short Papers (30% [10% each]): Three 2–3-page response papers based on course readings will be assigned over the course of the semester. These are meant to be exercises in analytical thinking and should not require any additional research or reading (though you are certainly welcome to do additional work, if you like!). The topics for each paper will be posted on the D2L website (see the "Paper Topics" folder) within two weeks of each due date. The first short paper is due in class at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 26; the second in class at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 31; the third in class at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 5. Late papers will lose one letter grade for each day late.

  • Quizzes (20%): At the beginning of each class, students will take a brief (5 minute) quiz on the reading assigned for that day. If you do the readings, you will have no trouble acing the quizzes. When tabulating your final grade, I will drop your lowest quiz grade. There will be no make-up quizzes for absences, excused or otherwise.

OTHER INFO

Surprise! Cheating is not allowed. If you cheat, and I find out, you will receive a grade of 0 for the assignment and other bad things will happen. (See the U of A's code of academic integrity.)

Office hours will be held whenever I am in my office. One can generally find me there between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., M–F (save when I am in class; a more specific breakdown of my availability is posted on my office door). You are also welcome and encouraged to make an appointment to meet with me. Call, email or holler.

If you would like help with your writing, the University’s Writing Skills Improvement Program (http://wsip.web.arizona.edu/) may be a valuable resource. The Program offers professional individual tutoring in writing for students referred by faculty. If you are interested in such tutoring, please inform your TA and it can be arranged. The program also hosts weekly writing workshops. These are free, open to the public and require no advance registration. This semester, the workshops will be held on Monday evenings, 5–6 p.m. in Modern Languages 413. The first session is on September 8.

D2L: As mentioned above, students in CLAS 195A will be expected to be familiar with D2L ("Desire2Learn"), the University's online course content management system. Our use of D2L in CLAS 195A will be extremely limited, however: we will use D2L solely as a repository for course documents (readings, reading guides and course handouts) and as a place to post grades. We will NOT use D2L for quizzes, discussions, paper submissions, email or anything else. If you are unfamiliar with D2L, see the D2L homepage.

COURSE SCHEDULE

What follows is an outline of the Fall semester. Reading assignments are due on the dates specified. For a typical class you'll read a chunk of an ancient handbook/how-to guide in translation, and we'll discuss it. I will often supply you in advance with a list of reading questions to keep in mind while you're doing the reading. These questions will help direct our class discussions.

Check this page often. Readings and assignments are subject to change. I'll try to give a heads-up in class if a major shake-up is imminent. I'll also try to provide you with the readings at least one week in advance.
Week Friday
1

8/29 Introductions
2

9/5 Popular Mythology (mythology)

Ovid, Metamorphoses (book 1, pp15–47; introduction and notes optional)

3

9/12 Better Homes and Gardens (agriculture)

Hesiod, Works and Days (pp23–51; introduction optional)

4

9/19 Guns and Ammo (warfare)

Aineias Tacticus, Poliorketika (sections 1–21, pp45–69; introduction and notes optional)
5

9/26 The Right Way to Write (composition and literature)

Aristotle, Poetics (whole class reads pp57–63; those with last names beginning with A–Led read pp64–82; those with last names beginning with Lee–Z read pp82–95; whole class reads pp96–97; introduction and notes optional)

*First short paper due at beginning of class*

6

10/3 Better Living through Science (engineering)

Vitruvius, De Architectura (book 1, pp21–32; notes optional)

7

10/10 Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex (but Were Afraid to Ask) (love affairs)

Ovid, Ars Amatoria (books 1 and 2, pp13–117 [odd-numbered pages only])

8

10/17 Frommer's Guide to Classical Antiquity (travel and geography)

Pausanias, Description of Greece (book 1, sections 1–20, pp3–103 [odd-numbered pages only])
9

10/24 The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies (medicine)

Galen, On the Sects for Beginners (pp3–20) and An Outline of Empiricism (pp23–45)

10

10/31 Field and Stream (hunting and fishing)

Oppian, Halieutica (book 1, pp201–281 [odd-numbered pages only])

*Second short paper due at beginning of class*

11

11/7 The Star (astrology and astronomy)

Manilius, Astronomica (book 1, pp3–79 [odd-numbered pages only])
12

11/14 Chicken Soup for the Classical Soul (philosophy)

Lucretius, De Rerum Natura (book 1, pp3–35; introduction and notes optional)

13

11/21 Poor Roman's Almanac (calendars)

Ovid, Fasti (book 1, pp3–25; introduction and notes optional)
14 11/28 Thanksgiving holiday - no class
15

12/5 Dream Interpretation for Dummies (dream interpretation)

Artemidoros, Oneirokritika (book 3, pp159–181; introduction and notes optional)

*Third short paper due at beginning of class*

16 12/12 Final Exams begin - no class
17 12/19 Final Exams end - no class

U of A | Classics | Bauschatz