ANCS 350 - Alexander The Great

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:20:01 -0500

Alexander the Great died young but left the world forever changed. This course examines both the historical figure of Alexander and the legacy and symbolic impact of the man in Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, and Modern literature, art, and thought. In pursuit of Alexander and what has meant and still means today as a figure of history, literature, and culture, this course will take students from the Macedonian Court of Pella, the fields of Afghanistan, and the cities of Alexandria and Rome to modern Greece and the soundstages of Hollywood. The course will address questions and issues related to finding the "real" Alexander in the ancient sources, Greek identity, cultural exchange between East and West, the impact of "Great Man" history, and the influence of Alexander on traditions of Western and non-Western art and literature, among others. By the end of this course, students will come to know both the man and the legend and how they are often indistinguishable.