Ancient Studies (ANCS)

ANCS 1001  Ancient Civilizations of the Near East and Egypt (formerly CLAS 1001)    
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to the civilizations and cultural contributions of the ancient Near East and Egypt. Aided by illustrated lectures and the study of ancient literature, students will explore the history, political organizations, art and monuments of these early civilizations.
ANCS 1002  The Ancient Civilizations of Greece and Rome (formerly CLAS 1002)    
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome with particular regard to history, political organization, material culture, and contributions to western cultural development. Students examine primary sources relevant to the history, social, and political organization of Greek and Roman society, and be introduced to the art, architecture, and material culture of these two ancient cultures.
ANCS 1003  Material Culture from Prehistory to the Middle Ages (formerly CLAS 1003)    
3 credit hours  
Students examine the artistic, artifactual and architectural remains of Europe, the Mediterranean and Western Asia from prehistoric times to the 14th century CE.
ANCS 1004  Introduction to Archaeological Method and Theory (formerly CLAS 1004)    
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to the practice, method, and theory of the discipline of archaeology through a careful examination of select case studies drawn from archaeologists working on ancient Mediterranean sites.

ANCS 1800 – 1825 Special Topics in Ancient Studies
6 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

ANCS 1826 – 1849 Special Topics in Ancient Studies
3 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

ANCS 2000  Legacies: The Archaeology of Ancient Greece (formerly CLAS 2000)    
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to the art and archaeology of the ancient Greek world from the Late Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period. Students consider the “major arts” (ceramics, painting, sculpture, architecture) within their broader social, historical and religious contexts. Students apply art historical and archaeological method and theory as well as explore the relevance of the artistic and architectural innovations of the ancient Greeks on subsequent cultures, including our own.
ANCS 2100  Secrets of the Dead: Roman Archaeology (formerly CLAS 2100)    
3 credit hours  
Students investigate important issues and current problems in the art and archaeology of the ancient Roman world. Students focus on a careful examination of the material record of the ancient Romans, including architecture, works of art, and artifacts, and through the lens of art historical and archaeological method and theory, complex cultural phenomena such as imperialism, urbanism, gender definitions, ethnicity, economic behaviour, cultural interaction, and culture change. Students consider the images of the great works of art and architecture of the Roman world, such as the Pantheon and the Augustus Prima Port, and examine the great sites of the Roman world, including: Pompeii, Ostia, Rome, Ephesus, and Constantinople.
Note: Students who have taken CLAS 3312, “Art of the Hellenistic World and/or Rome,” are not eligible to receive credit for this course.
ANCS 2201  The Mythology of Greece and Rome I: Gods and Heros (formerly CLAS 2201)    
3 credit hours  
Students explore the nature of mythology in ancient Greece and Rome through a survey of the principal myths of the gods and goddesses. Emphasis will be placed on myths describing the creation of the universe, the gods and their powers, the origin of humans and the relationships between gods and mortals. Students read a selection of works of Classical literature and assess how these myths helped shape the life and thought of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome.
ANCS 2345  Greek Philosophy: The Presocratics and Plato (formerly CLAS 2345)  PHIL 2345  
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: nine(9) credit hours
Students examine Greek philosophy before the time of Socrates followed by careful readings of selected dialogues by Plato.
ANCS 2346  Greek Philosophy: Aristotle and The Hellenists (formerly CLAS 2346)  PHIL 2346  
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: nine (9) credit hours
Students study Aristotle’s views (focusing on topics in metaphysics, psychology, knowledge, and ethics), together with a brief examination of several Hellenistic philosophers.
ANCS 2450  The ‘Cradle of Civilization’: The Ancient Near East (formerly CLAS 2450)    
3 credit hours  
Students explore the history and cultures of Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and the Levant from the first cities, ca. 3000 BCE, to the fall of the Persian Empire, ca. 323 BCE. Students unravel the complex histories of the ‘first civilizations’, exploring such topics as kingship and religion, urbanization, commerce, legal and social structures and scientific innovations.
ANCS 2451  Greek History I: From Minos to the Medes (formerly CLAS 2451)  HIST 2451  
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to the history and culture of the ancient Greeks from the Bronze Age through the Persian Wars. Students explore Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations and the social, historical and cultural development of the Archaic period, including the origins of the Greeks and the evolution of the polis and early political systems. Among the topics students will examine are the evaluation of the Spartan military state, Athenian democracy, pre-Classical Greek religion, art, architecture and literature. Students read the works of various ancient authors and to consider the archaeological and epigraphical evidence for this period of Greek history.
ANCS 2452  Greek History II: The Golden Age of Greece (formerly CLAS 2452)  HIST 2452  
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to the history of the Greeks from the Persian Wars through the death of Alexander the Great. Students study the historical, political and cultural developments of the Greeks in the 5th and 4th centuries BC, including the rise and fall of Athens, democracy in action and the cultural achievements of Athens in her “Golden Age” (e.g. religion, theatre, philosophy, art and architecture). Students explore the activities of other Greek states (e.g. Sparta, Boeotia, Syracuse), the roles of men and women in Greek society, the causes and aftermath of the Peloponnesian wars, the conquest of Greece by Phillip II of Macedon and of the Persian Empire by his son, Alexander. Students read various works of ancient authors and to consider archaeological and epigraphical evidence relevant to this period of Greek history.
ANCS 2453  Republic and Revolution: Roman History I (formerly CLAS 2453)  HIST 2453  
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to the history of Italy and the city of Rome from the Iron Age through the end of the Roman republican system of government. Students explore the origins and evolution of the Roman Republic, including the interaction among Romans, their Italian neighbours such as the Etruscans, and the Greek and Phoenician peoples of the eastern Mediterranean. Among the topics students examine are the political and military history of the period as well as the social and cultural context that encapsulates and informs this history, and the eventual decline of the republican system amidst the political turmoil and revolution of the first century BC. Students read the works of various ancient authors and to consider archaeological and epigraphic evidence for this history of the Roman republic. Content will vary from year to year.
ANCS 2454  Bloody Caesars: Roman History II (formerly CLAS 2454)  HIST 2454  
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to the history of the Roman world from the establishment of the Principate under Octavian/Augustus to the decline of the Roman empire in the western Mediterranean and Europe. Students explore the evolution of the Principate and its eventual replacement by the Dominate, the nature of Roman imperialism, the role of the emperor as a political and religious figure, the interaction among the Romans and their neighbours in central Europe and the Near East, and the eventual political and economic disintegration of the imperial system. Students consider such topics as different models of Roman economic, social, and political organization, the role and status of women in the Roman world, the codification of the Roman legal system, and the intellectual and religious developments that laid the foundations for subsequent historical periods in Western Europe and the Mediterranean. Students read the works of various ancient authors and to consider archaeological and epigraphic evidence relevant to the history of the Roman imperial period. Content will vary from year to year.
ANCS 2455  Ancient Empires (formerly CLAS 2455)    
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to the empires of the ancient Near East, Egypt, and the Mediterranean, including Greece and Rome. Throughout the course various imperial systems and experiences will be contrasted, and models of imperialism and colonialism explored. Students are also introduced to ancient history, culture, art, architecture, and literature as these topics relate to imperialism.
ANCS 2500  War and Society in the Ancient Mediterranean (formerly CLAS 2500)  HIST 2500  
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to warfare as it was practiced by the peoples of the ancient Mediterranean and the degree to which military organization and the act of waging war affected other aspects of these societies, including political ideology, religious beliefs, and economic exchange systems.
ANCS 2600  Sport and Leisure in the Ancient World    
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to the centrality of athletics and spectacle in Ancient Mediterranean cultures. This includes a history and overview of ancient sports, leisure activities, and spectacles within the context of these cultures. Students look at specific examples of ancient sports, the culture of ancient athletes, the role of athletic competition in ancient societies, training, nutrition, and venues. Topics covered may include the ancient Olympics, gladiatorial games, and chariot racing, among others.

ANCS 2800 – 2825 Special Topics in Ancient Studies
6 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

ANCS 2826 – 2849 Special Topics in Ancient Studies
3 credit hours
Course content varies from year to year.

ANCS 3000  Topics in Greek Art and Archaeology (formerly CLAS 3000)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students address a specific topic, theme, period, or geographical region related to the study of Greek Archaeology. The specific topic and course content will be different each time the course is offered, so the students should check with the program coordinator for Ancient Studies about the specific topic on offer for the current semester. Topics may include art and architecture of the Aegean Bronze Age (Minoans and Mycenaean), urban life in the Greek city-state, art and politics in Archaic and Classical Greece, cultural interaction between Greece, the Near East and Egypt or Greek iconography. This course is intended to follow ANCS 2000, “Legacies: the Archaeology of Ancient Greece”, but students with a background in archaeology, history, Classics, or art history are also encouraged to enroll.
ANCS 3100  Topics in Roman Archaeology (formerly CLAS 3100)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students address a specific topic, theme, period, or geographical region related to the study of Roman Archaeology. The specific topic and course content will be different each time the course is offered, so students should check with the Program coordinator for Ancient Studies about the specific topic on offer for the current semester. Topics may include art and architecture of the Augustan Age, Etruscan art and archeology, the art and archaeology of the Roman provinces, or the art and architecture of empire. This course is intended to follow ANCS 2100, “Secrets of the Dead: Roman Archaeology,” but students with a background in archaeology, history, Classics, or art history are also encouraged to enroll.
ANCS 3303  Birth of Christianity in the Ancient World  RELS 3303  
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 30 credit hours
Students study the formation and development of Christianity as seen through the letters of Paul. They examine the origin of Pauline Churches, their separation from Judaism, their struggles, beliefs, and worship.
ANCS 3310  Ancient Literature (formerly CLAS 3310)  ENGL 3310  
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours of ANCS or ENGL courses
Students examine literature of the ancient world in English-language translation and retelling. Course content is organized either thematically or by genre. Students engage critically with the texts under study; they also have a chance to produce a creative retelling of their own.
ANCS 3317  Greek Sanctuaries (formerly CLAS 3317)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students explore ancient Greek religion and the role of the sanctuary in Greek culture. Students will study the archaeological remains and documentary evidence for the role and function of domestic, civic, and panhellenic sanctuaries (e.g., household cults, the Athenian Acropolis, Olympia, Delphi). Students consider sites which provide examples of specialty cults (healing, oracular, mystery religions) or which illustrate particular social, political or archaeological issues.
ANCS 3318  Classical Archaeology (formerly CLAS 3318)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students study the civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome based on the material remains (e.g., artifacts, architecture, epigraphy). Students learn how archaeology has helped shape our understanding of these ancient cultures through an exploration of the pioneer days of Classical archaeology, modern methods of interpretation, and of the sites, artifacts and monuments in their cultural contexts.
ANCS 3319  Pompeii (formerly CLAS 3319)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students examine the archaeological remains of Pompeii, including the site’s depositional history and the history of its excavation, as well as its architectural remains, material culture, and art. Students are introduced to current archaeological research at the site which is changing our understanding of Roman urban life.
ANCS 3320  Hellenistic Art and Culture (formerly CLAS 3320)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students gain a basic familiarity with the major trends in Hellenistic art and architecture. In addition to learning basic art historical analysis, students place the material studied in its appropriate cultural, historical and archaeological contexts.
ANCS 3321  Swords and Sandals: The Classical World Through Film (formerly CLAS 3321)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students examine aspects of the classical world through the lens of film as a means to understand ancient Mediterranean cultures. Students view and discuss modern versions of ancient stories, modern performances set in the ancient Mediterranean world, and films that present classical themes and allusions.
ANCS 3322  Greek and Roman Drama and Theatre    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students examine ancient Greek and Roman drama and theatre with a focus on representative playwrights and plays. Students explore the social, economic, and political context of Greek and Roman tragedy and comedy together with theatrical productions and settings. Students prepare and present to the public an ancient play.
ANCS 3352  Women and Family in Ancient Greece (formerly CLAS 3352)    
6 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students study the ancient Greek oikos (family, household) and the daily activities, roles and legal position of women, children and other dependents in the ancient Greek households (ca. 800-31 BCE). The focus will be on women of different social classes and family life in ancient Greece, with some comparative consideration of the lives of women in other regions of the ancient world (Italy, Mesopotamia, the Levant and Egypt).
ANCS 3354  Love and Sexuality in the Ancient World (formerly CLAS 3354)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students study Greek and Roman attitudes towards gender, love and sexuality. Literary and artistic evidence are used to explore the ancient Greek and Roman attitudes towards gender roles, social morality, homosexuality, marriage and adultery, sexuality and erotic art. Students study these topics in context and discuss how they relate to modern values and gender issues.
ANCS 3400  Rome’s Eternal Glory: The Age of Augustus (formerly CLAS 3400)  HIST 3400  
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students examine a key transitional historical period in the Roman world, with the dissolution of the republic and its replacement with a monarchy during the reign of Rome’s first emperor. Through a close analysis of ancient material and textual evidence, students will examine and evaluate the Age of Augustus.
ANCS 3409  On the Edge of Empire: Roman Britain and the Western Provinces (formerly CLAS 3409)  HIST 3409, ICST 3409  
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students examine the history, organization, material culture, and cultural diversity of Rome’s western provinces, with particular attention paid to Britannia. Students also consider Roman imperialism and the interaction of Romans and subject peoples.
ANCS 3411  Great Trials of Ancient Athens (formerly CLAS 3411)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students study Athenian democracy, law, life in 5th-4th century BC Athens through speeches (in translation) from a selection of cases (e.g. homicide, impiety, sexual misconduct and slander) in combination with other documentary evidence and archaeological remains. Topics include: aspects of the legal and political systems, Athenian social life and the core Athenian.
ANCS 3420  International Relations Eastern Mediterranean Style (formerly CLAS 3420)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students study the intercultural relationships among the inhabitants of the eastern Mediterranean during the Archaic and Classical periods of Greek history (ca. 900 to 323 BCE). The focus will be on the interactions among the Greeks, the Phoenicians and the Persians and the impacts their exchanges had on the political, commercial and cultural activities of the regions.
ANCS 3421  Identity and Mobility in the Western Mediterranean    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students explore encounters between Greeks, Phoenicians, Etruscans, and Indigenous Peoples in the Western Mediterranean in the Iron Age. Students focus on the modes and mechanism of interaction and investigates colonialist traditions in the Classical world to contribute to the understanding of Indigenous and foreign agency in trade, contact, and settlement patterns.
ANCS 3505  Museum Studies (formerly CLAS 3505)  HIST 3505  
3 credit hours  
Students are introduced to and given an overview of the world of museums and museum studies. Students learn about the history of museums, the constantly evolving purpose of such institutions, particularly during the twentieth century and in the contemporary world, their role in public education, archival and collections management, exhibitions, funding models, governance, and current debates in the field. This course is a combination of seminars and site visits to museums, which require that students engage with the museum community of Nova Scotia.
ANCS 3506  Cultural Property Protection in a Global World  ICST 3506  
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 30 credit hours overall
Students examine ethics, policies, and legal frameworks associated with the protection of cultural property in a global world with a cross-cultural perspective. The emphasis is placed on the roles of law enforcement, cultural institutions, and intergovernmental agencies with respect to the preservation of cultural property. International cases involving the restitution of material culture, illicit trafficking, destruction of cultural monuments, and looting is considered.
ANCS 3610  Field Study in Archaeology (formerly CLAS 3610)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students engage in the practical application of archaeological field techniques and method as it pertains to the study of sites in the Mediterranean and Europe. This course is always taught off-campus at one or more ancient sites in Europe, most frequently Italy. Consequently, the course is dependent upon external funds and has a limited enrollment. Please consult the Program Coordinator of Ancient Studies regarding availability.
ANCS 3611  Ancient Material Culture (formerly CLAS 3611)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students are introduced to the study of material culture based on the careful examination and analysis of finds recovered from archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. The course is taught on-site and is to be taken in conjunction with ANCS 3610 during the same academic year.
ANCS 3612  Ancient Cities and Sanctuaries (formerly CLAS 3612)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
Students engage in a field course of ancient Greek and/or Roman history and culture organized around visits to archaeological sites and major museums in one or more countries associated with these ancient civilizations (e.g.: Greece, Turkey, or Southern Italy and Sicily).

ANCS 3800 – 3825  Special Topics in Ancient Studies
6 credit hours
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
A series of courses on selected topics that will be determined by the course instructor.  Each course will focus on particular themes in Ancient culture (history, archaeology, art and/or literature) and/or specific chronological periods.  The subject matter of these courses will be announced occasionally.

ANCS 3826 – 3849  Special Topics in Ancient Studies
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: 6 credit hours in ANCS or 30 credit hours overall
A series of courses on selected topics that will be determined by the course instructor.  Each course will focus on particular themes in Ancient culture (history, archaeology, art and/or literature) and/or specific chronological periods.  The subject matter of these courses will be announced occasionally.

ANCS 4405  Advanced Reading and Tutorial (formerly CLAS 4405)    
6 credit hours  
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
This course is based on directed readings and research. The contents of the course are determined by the specific interests of the professor and the students involved. Students have the opportunity to pursue in depth their individual interests in the field of Ancient Studies, and meet regularly with a member of the Department to discuss their research. To register in this course students must demonstrate a satisfactory background in Ancient Studies or the Ancient World of the Near East and an ability to do independent research.
ANCS 4406  Seminar in Classical Studies (formerly CLAS 4406)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 12 credit hours in ANCS or permission of the instructor.
This is a seminar on selected topics in ancient culture (history, archaeology, art, literature and/or a specific chronological period) intended as an advanced course for Ancient Studies majors and students in their graduating year. Topics are selected by the instructor. Students are required to give seminar presentations and write a major research paper.
ANCS 4407  Greek Art, Life and Politics (formerly CLAS 4407)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 12 credit hours in ANCS or the permission of the instructor
Students explore the social history of Archaic and/or Classical Greece through the function and meaning of material culture. The material remains, which include metal, ivory, ceramic vessels, and sculpture, are important sources of evidence for understanding the daily lives of the ancient Greeks and their social values.
ANCS 4600  Artifacts and Artifice in Classical Archaeology (formerly CLAS 4600)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: 12 credit hours in ANCS or permission of instructor.
Students are provided with an overview of the identification, analysis, and interpretation of material culture recovered from Classical sites, as well as issues associated with its production, distribution, and consumption. The material culture examined includes ceramics, glass, bone artifacts, metal artifacts, and coins.
ANCS 4610  Advanced Field Study in Archaeology (formerly CLAS 4610)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: ANCS 3610 or ANTH 3373, and permission of the instructor
The goal of this course is to increase students' proficiency as field archaeologists. Students take an active part in an ongoing archaeological research project, to record archaeological data in a professional manner, and to assist in the supervision of students at the introductory level. This course is taught on-site in Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
ANCS 4611  Advanced Material Culture (formerly CLAS 4611)    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: ANCS 3611 or ANTH 3374
Students have the opportunity to learn and apply advanced field methods and techniques to the study of ancient material culture. The course is normally to be taken in conjunction with ANCS 4610. This course is taught on-site in Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

ANCS 4800 – 4825 Special Topics in Ancient Studies
6 credit hours
Prerequisite: At least twelve (12) credit hours in Ancient Studies or permission of instructor.
A series of courses on selected topics that will be determined by the course instructor. Each course will focus on a particular theme, topic, or historical period.

ANCS 4826 – 4849 Special Topics in Ancient Studies
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: At least twelve (12) credit hours in Ancient Studies or permission of instructor.
A series of courses on selected topics that will be determined by the course instructor. Each course will focus on a particular theme, topic, or historical period.

ANCS 4876 – 4899 Directed Study
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: At least twelve (12) credit hours in Ancient Studies or permission of instructor.
A three (3) credit hour course open to students who wish to pursue a special topic or topics in Ancient Studies through tutorials, independent study, and research. The availability of this course depends upon the agreement of a particular faculty member who is prepared to direct the tutorial and study program.

Latin (LATN)

LATN 1100  Introduction to Latin    
6 credit hours  
A course in the essentials of Latin grammar for students beginning their study of this ancient language. Since Latin is an inflected language with many changes in endings, students should be prepared to work hard at understanding and learning its basic structures.
LATN 2202  Intermediate Latin I    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: LATN 1100 or permission of the instructor
Students work to enhance their development of good techniques of Latin-English translation and of rendering English into idiomatic Classical Latin. A variety of Latin authors and the continued study of Latin grammar will be utilized to achieve those objectives.
LATN 2203  Intermediate Latin II    
3 credit hours  
Prerequisite: LATN 2202 or permission of the instructor
This course is a continuation of LATN 2202.

Greek (GREK)

GREK 1100  Introduction to Ancient Greek    
6 credit hours  
This course is an introduction to the major grammatical points of the ancient (Attic) Greek. Students will meet the challenges of learning an inflected language.
GREK 2200  Intermediate Ancient Greek    
6 credit hours  
Prerequisite: GREK 1100 or equivalent.
Students develop the techniques of ancient Greek-English translation. The first part of the course will continue the study of Attic Greek grammar; in the second part of the course, students apply their skills in translation by reading selections from ancient Greek prose and poetry.