Seniors Program > Non-credit courses > September–October 2011
Downtown Vancouver Courses > SCFC632
Villains and Heroes of Ancient Greece: A Story of Wealth
and Wisdom
6 - Fri, 11:30 am–1:20 pm, Sep 9–Oct 14
SCFC632-VA1117 | Room 1800 | Fee: $104
Wealth, prosperity, conflict, warfare, and peacemaking: what did the ancient Greeks believe about such matters? The Persian Wars, the rise and fall of the Athenian Empire, the Peloponnesian Wars, the Sicilian Expedition, the rise and fall of the Spartan Empire: why are these grand events from the fifth and fourth centuries before Christ still talked about today? Indeed, the most illustrious figures of these times are still vehemently argued about today: Themistocles, Cimon, Pericles, Nicias, Alcibiades, and Agesilaus. Are they villains or heroes? What can we learn from studying their biographies? This course will explore these and other questions as we consider the nature of morality in ancient Greece.
THEMISTOCLES: What made Themistocles so effective in investment and allocation of resources?
CIMON: In what ways may Cimon be said to be exemplary in terms of wealth management?
PERICLES: What public policies regarding prosperity made Pericles a leader of unparalleled success in ancient Greece?
NICIAS: What qualities of character led to success after success for Nicias (whose very name means “Victory”)? How did his downfall come about and how could he have avoided the destruction of his legacy?
ALCIBIADES: Alcibiades is living proof that one person can change the course of history. In what ways do you admire or not admire him? How do you see yourself serving the common good, and what can you learn from Alcibiades about the most effective way to do this?
AGESILAUS: What aspect of character was Agesilaus’ greatest strength and greatest weakness? How then might you yourself manage your legacy, given your knowledge of your own greatest strengths?
Further reading: Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Arrian