Core 3 - The Roots of Western Civilization - Term 091
Core Three lecture are held every Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10 a.m.
Core 3 Faculty
- Susan Chattin - History
- John Egan - Music
- Robert J. Garrity - English
- Philip Gilbert, C.PP.S. - Mathematics
- Michael Malone - Philosophy
- John Rahe - Theatre Arts
- Kevin Scalf - Theology
- Ilicia Sprey - History
- Paul Yuckman - English
Core 3 Required Texts
- The New American Bible. Saint Joseph Edition. (Large Type - Illustrated). Catholic Book Publishing Company.
- Stephen Mitchell. Gilgamesh. Free Press (2006) ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-6169-2.
- Christopher Biffle, A Guided Tour of Five Works by Plato (3rd Edition), Mayfield. ISBN: 0-7674-2064-0.
- Christopher Biffle, A Guided Tour of Selections from Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, Mayfield. ISBN: 0-87484-895-4.
- The Aeneid. Virgil. Trans. by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition Paperback: Jan 2008. ISBN-10: 0143105132. ISBN-13: 978-0143105138.
- The Odyssey. Homer. Trans. by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition. 1996 ISBN: 0-14-026886-3.
- Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays. Translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics (1984). ISBN: 0-14-044425-4.
- Thomas Greer and Gavin Lewis. A Brief History of the Western World. (The Roots of Western Civilization). Wadsworth Publishing. Special Saint Joseph's College Edition.
- Core 3 Syllabus. Rensselaer, IN. Saint Joseph's College (2009).
Collegial Agreements
- There will be a minimum of 20 pages of written work required of all Core 3 students. Your instructor will determine the writing assignments. He or she may assign summary papers, compare and contrast papers, creative writing papers, research papers, or other appropriate writing activities.
- Each student is required to participate in a tragedy skit contest which will be explained by your instructor.
- Unlike Core 1 and Core 2, there is no separate grade given for writing. Only one grade will be given for your work in Core 3.
- Each student will take a final exam that contains one comprehensive essay question.
- Students must sit with their class in an assigned section during lecture.
Lecture and Reading Schedule
I. The Hebrew Journey of Faith |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Topic | Date | Lecture | Required Reading |
| Introduction and Preamble: Ancient Mesopotamia |
08-25 | Michael Malone Introducing The Roots of Western Civilization |
Greer and Lewis, Chapter 1: pp. 7-16 |
| 08-27 | Ilicia Sprey Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization |
Greer and Lewis, Chapter 1: pp. 16-28 and Gilgamesh (Mitchell version) pp. 67-129 (Prologue and Books I - V) |
|
| 09-01 | Michael Malone The Oldest Story Ever Told |
Gilgamesh (Mitchell version) pp. 130-199 (Books VI - XI) |
|
| Hebrew Stories of the Beginning | 09-03 | Tim McFarland Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures |
Greer and Lewis, Chapter 1: pp. 40-53 and New American Bible Genesis 1 - 9 (pp. 4-12) |
| 09-08 | Kevin Scalf Stories of the Beginning |
New American Bible Genesis 11-22 (pp. 13-25) |
|
| Exodus from Egypt and the Rise of the United Kingdom | 09-10 | Tim McFarland The Exodus Event |
New American Bible Exodus 1-12 (pp. 59-71) |
| 09-15 | Jeff Kirch Commandments and Covenants |
New American Bible Exodus 13-24 (pp. 71-83) |
|
| 09-17 | Tim McFarland The Rise of the Monarchy: Saul and David |
New American Bible 1 Samuel 8-18 and 2 Samuel 1-12 (pp. 271-284; 296-306) |
|
| Prophetic Literature - Exile and Restoration | 09-22 | Michael Malone The Prophet Amos: A Voice for the Powerless |
New American Bible The Book of Amos (pp. 1057-1066) |
| 09-24 | Kevin Scalf The Restoration and the Suffering Servant |
New American Bible Isaiah 5; 40-55 (pp. 829-830; pp. 863-881) |
|
II. The Legacy of the Greeks |
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| Topic | Date | Lecture | Required Reading |
| Greek History Epic Literature, Religion, Art and Architecture |
09-29 | Ilicia Sprey The Greek Beginnings of Western Civilization |
Greer and Lewis, Chapter 2: pp. 55-64 and The Odyssey: Books 1 - 4 |
| 10-01 | Michael Malone Introducing Homer's Epic |
The Odyssey: Books 5 - 8 | |
| 10-06 | Robert Garrity Ancient Greek Mythology and Religion |
Greer and Lewis, Chapter 2: "Greek Religion" pp. 76-78 and The Odyssey: Books 9 - 12 |
|
| 10-08 | Paul Yuckman Analyzing The Odyssey |
The Odyssey: Books 13 - 16 | |
| 10-13 | Ilicia Sprey Greek Art and Architecture |
Greer and Lewis, Chapter 2: "Architecture and Sculpture" pp. 89-96 and The Odyssey: Books 17 - 20 |
|
| 10-15 | Michael Malone Traveling With Odysseus: In Search of Wisdom |
The Odyssey: Books 21 - 24 | |
| 10-20 | Ilicia Sprey The Rise and Fall of the Greek City-States |
Greer and Lewis, Chapter 2: "The City-State," "Greek Literature," and "The Decline of the Greek City-States," pp. 64-76; 84-89; 96-103 |
|
| Greek Drama: Tragedy | 10-22 | John Rahe The Tragedy of Oedipus Rex |
Oedipus The King pp. 155-251 |
| 10-27 | John Rahe Public Law vs. Private Conscience in Antigone |
Antigone, pp. 55-128 | |
| 10-29 | No Lecture [Prepare for Tragedy Contest] |
Greer and Lewis, Chapter 2: "The Founders of Western Philosophy" pp. 78-84 and "Tragedy Skit Contest" in Core 3 Syllabus |
|
| Philosophy | 11-03 | Brother Rob Reuter Socrates and the Allegory of the Cave |
The Crito, Death Scene from Phaedo, and the "Allegory of the Cave" in A Guided Tour of Five Works by Plato pp. 60-90 |
| 11-05 | Courtney Stewart Aristotle's Ethics: Choosing What You Become |
A Guided Tour of Selections From Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, pp. 14-57; 87-102 |
|
III. Rome and the New World Order |
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| Topic | Date | Lecture | Required Reading |
| Roman History and Social Life | 11-10 | Ilicia Sprey The Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic |
Greer and Lewis, Chapter 3: pp. 106-123 and the selection from Polybius in Core 3 Syllabus |
| 11-12 | Susan Chattin Life in the Roman Empire |
Greer and Lewis, Chapter 3: pp. 123-144 | |
| Roman Epic Literature | 11-17 | Robert Garrity Vergil"s Aeneid: A Literary Masterpiece |
The Aeneid, Books 1 - 3 |
| 11-19 | Maia Hawthorne Dido and the Cost of Rome |
The Aeneid, Books 4 - 5 | |
| THANKSGIVING BREAK | |||
| 12-01 | John Rahe Law, Order, and Roman Virtue |
The Aeneid, Books 6 - 8 and the selection from Cicero in Core 3 Syllabus |
|
| 12-03 | Paul Yuckman Reflections on Aeneid |
The Aeneid, Books 9 - 10 | |
| 12-08 | April Toadvine The Aeneid Reflected in Roman Society |
The Aeneid, Books 11-12 | |
| Fall of Rome and Birth of Christ | 12-10 | Michael Malone The End of the Roman Empire and the Birth of Christ |
Greer and Lewis, Chapter 3: pp. 144-155 and New American Bible Luke 1-2 pp. 97-102 |
Core 3 Internet Sources (links checked 05/09)
- The Bible Gateway
- The Dead Sea Scrolls
- Interpreting Ancient Manuscripts
- The Temple Mount in Jerusalem
- Greek Art and Architecture
- The Ancient Greek Gods
- Atlas of Greek and Roman World
- The Ancient Olympics
- Diatima: The Study of Women in the Ancient World
- Exploring Ancient World Cultures
- Electronic Resources for the Classicist - A great site with many links and resources for study of the classics from ancient Greece and Rome.
- Maecenas: Images of Ancient Greece and Rome
- The European History & Culture Image Project
- Mythology in Western Art
- People of Ideas - A nice site with information on many of the individuals you will be studying. See especially, Ancient Greece, Hellenist and Roman Age and Judaism and Early Christianity.
- Ancient art and Architecture
- Roman Art
- Roman Mythology



