Honors 195J (section 003): Antiquity for Dummies: Handbooks and How-To Guides in the Ancient World

*Note: This is an old document. Some of the links may be broken.*

Instructor:	John Bauschatz
Time/Location:	M, 11:00–11:50 a.m.; Education 432
Contact Info:	Office: Learning Services Building 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 Art of Love of Ovid (love affairs), the On Architecture 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 HNRS 195J are available for download from the course D2L site. Any additional reading assignments for the course will be provided to you in class or emailed to you. Many (most?) of the readings will be in .pdf format. 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 (25%): How often you come to class (duh). Your grade for attendance = the number of hours you actually spend in the classroom / the total number of hours you're scheduled to spend in the classroom. There are no exceptions to this policy, but I will allow you to make up 1 missed class. The only way to do this is a 1/1 time trade: i.e., you'll spend an hour in my office doing work related (somehow) to the course.
Participation (25%): The quality and quantity of your participation in class discussions. I expect you to actively engage in class discussions! To a degree, your participation will be forced, as I will call on you. But I also expect you to volunteer. 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 site (see the "Paper Topics" folder) within two weeks of each due date. The first short paper is due in class at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 23; the second in class at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 28; the third in class at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 2. Late papers will lose one letter grade for each day late. For information on how I will grade your papers, see below (under "GRADING").

Quizzes (20%): At the beginning of each class (save for the first day), 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. There are 13 of these over the course of the semester, and your lowest four quiz grades will be dropped. If you miss a quiz, you must make it up during office hours or at another mutually agreed-upon time before the next class.

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 M–Th, noon–1 p.m. in my office (#215) in the Classics Department (on the second floor of the blandly-named Learning Services Building). You are also welcome and encouraged to make an appointment to meet with me. Call, email or holler.

D2L: As mentioned above, students in HNRS 195J will be expected to be familiar with D2L ("Desire2Learn"), the University's online course content management system. If you are unfamiliar with D2L, see the D2L homepage. As noted above, course readings will be posted on the course D2L page. Your grades will be posted there, as well.

Paper Grading: The following rubric will be used to compile your grades on papers in HNRS 195J (with thanks to Jennifer Kendall!):

Point Category Description	Max Points
A.) Paper Mechanics 15 points: The essay adheres to all of the mechanical requirements (formatting, length, margins, proper citations and following any specific instructions for content in the paper assignment). 10 points: The essay has one or two mechanical errors. 5 points: The essay has numerous mechanical errors. 0 points: The essay has numerous mechanical errors and/or is less than the required length.	15
B.) Grammar/Spelling/Composition 15 points: No/almost no spelling, grammar, punctuation or other compositional errors are present. The essay clearly appears to have been proofread and edited. 10 points: There are a few grammar, spelling, punctuation or other compositional errors but the essay appears to have been proofread and edited. 5 points: There are many grammar, spelling, punctuation or other compositional errors present. 0 points: Numerous errors make the essay difficut to read and/or excessively long quotations or paraphrases are used.	15
C.) Content 70 points: The depth of analysis greatly exceeds expectations, details are many and organization is excellent. 55 points: The depth of analysis is good, as are details and organization, and minimum expectations are exceeded. 40 points: The essay is basic with an adequate analysis. 25 points: The essay is poor all around, but there is at least an attempt to follow directions. 10 points: The essay is poor all around, and there is little to no evidence that the author followed instructions. But at least he/she handed something in!	70
Total Possible Points:	100

Students with disabilities should contact the UA Disability Resource Center (520 621-3268) for any special needs or accommodations.

If you would like help with your writing, the University’s Writing Skills Improvement Program (http://wsip.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 me 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 Mondays from 4–5 p.m. starting on September 9. Click here for more information.

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 source on crime and punishment in translation, and we'll discuss it. I may 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 and (potentially) improve your quiz grades.

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	Monday
1	8/26 Introductions
2	9/2 No Class: Labor Day
3	9/9 Popular Mythology (mythology) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Hesiod, Theogony here (under "Texts")
4	9/16 Better Homes and Gardens (agriculture) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Cato, On Agriculture sections 1–52 here
5	9/23 Field and Stream (hunting and fishing) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Oppian, Halieutica (book 1, pp201–281 [odd-numbered pages only]) here *First short paper due at beginning of class*
6	9/30 Frommer's Guide to Classical Antiquity (travel and geography) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Egeria, Pilgrimage sections 1–44 here
7	10/7 Better Living through Science (engineering) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Vitruvius, On Architecture (book 1, pp21–32; notes optional), on D2L
8	10/14 Guns and Ammo (warfare) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Aineias Tacticus, How to Surive Under Siege (sections 1–21, pp45–69; introduction and notes optional), on D2L
9	10/21 Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) (love affairs) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Ovid, The Art of Love (book 1) here
10	10/28 The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies (medicine) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Hippocrates, The Law, The Oath and On Surgery here (see the right-hand column) *Second short paper due at beginning of class*
11	11/4 Chicken Soup for the Classical Soul (philosophy) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Lucretius, On the Nature of Things (book 1, pp3–35; introduction and notes optional), on D2L
12	11/11 No Class: Veterans Day
13	11/18 Psychology Today (psychoanalysis) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Theophrastus, Characters here (read at least the Proem and the first 20 of the 30 character types described)
14	11/25 The Star (astrology and astronomy) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Manilius, Astronomica (book 1, pp3–79 [odd-numbered pages only]), on D2L
15	12/2 Poor Roman's Almanac (calendars) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Ovid, Fasti (book 1, pp3–25; introduction and notes optional), on D2L *Third short paper due at beginning of class*
16	12/9 Dream Interpretation for Dummies (dream interpretation) READ FOR CLASS/QUIZ: Artemidorus, Oneirokritika (book 3, pp159–181; introduction and notes optional), on D2L
17	12/16 No Class: Final Exams

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