Fall 2025
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Prof. Eric DriscollLecture: MW 11-12 Recitation: F 11-12 or 12-1CI-HExplores the civilization of the ancient Greek world, from its origins in the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age until the Roman conquest of the eastern Mediterranean world near the end of first millennium BCE. Introduces major historical developments, social and political achievements and failures, and cultural accomplishments and transformations such as the Mycenaean and Minoan palatial systems, Homeric epic, the aristocratic ethos of early Greece, the Persian and Peloponnesian wars, religion, money, the spread of democratic government, and Alexander’s conquest of the Middle East. Interpretation of archaeological and artistic material as well as literary, historical, and philosophical texts.
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Explores how an Oxford professor of medieval philology and literature wrote the most influential work of fantasy, The Lord of the Rings. Investigates how Tolkien’s scholarship on Anglo-Saxon and Middle English, fascination with inventing languages, experiences during the First World War, and Catholic faith shaped the creation of his fantasy world often (mistakenly) called Middle Earth. Examines Tolkien’s books within the context of his life, scholarship, ideas, and beliefs to uncover how an author of fantasy literature helped shape the image of the Middle Ages in the modern popular imagination. Considers the extent to which film adaptations do justice to the complexity of Tolkien’s stories, themes, and characters.
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Historical topography of Ancient Rome. Investigates the relationship between urban spaces and the political, social, economic, and cultural history of Rome from the 1st century BC to the 2nd century AD. Surveys and analyzes archaeological and literary evidence for the built environment, including the Roman Forum, the Imperial fora, the palace of the emperors, the atrium houses of Roman Pompeii, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Polybius’ history, Martial’s Epigrams, and Vitruvius’ treatise on architecture.
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Profs. Anne McCants and Ian KumekawaTTh 9:30-11In this course we bring into conversation two subjects which are closely related, but rarely taught together: economic history and the history of economic thought. Ideas and material realities have always developed and changed together, and to properly understand the history of one, it’s vital to understand the context of the other. We draw upon cases from the ancient world to the twentieth century, surveying along the way the history of economics as it developed both intellectually and in conjunction with actual economies. We introduce students to some of the most powerful and influential economic thinkers, from Xenophon and Huan K’uan through Adam Smith and Karl Marx, to Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo. We also explore the evolution of key economic concepts – the state and the market, natural resources, and crises – by situating them in historical context and perspective. Through analysis and discussion of some of the most important texts in the history of economics we trace the development of ideas, norms, and ways of thinking that continue to shape decision-making in both daily life and in global policy.
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Prof. Wiebke DeneckeMW 9:30-11CI-H, HASS-H
Today we have the luxury of reading more literatures in more languages than ever before, giving us the opportunity to explore the great diversity of what is called “literature” across the time and space of world history. This course introduces you to some of the most seminal and thought-provoking texts from East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam), and is conceived as complementary to the Foundations of Western Literature course in the Literature curriculum. We persistently ask how “literature” looks different when viewed through the literary heritage of East Asia: what does poetry written in Chinese characters accomplish that alphabetical poetry cannot? How does Buddhist reincarnation change the way you tell stories and devise novels?
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hƿæt ƿe gardena in geardagum þeodcyninga þrym gefrunon hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon… : Those are the first words of the Old English epic Beowulf, and in this class you will learn to read them. Besides being the language of Rohan in the novels of Tolkien, Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon) is a language of long, cold, and lonely winters; of haunting beauty found in unexpected places; and of unshakable resolve in the face of insurmountable odds. It is, in short, the perfect language for MIT students. We will read greatest hits from the epic Beowulf as well as moving laments (The Wanderer, Wulf and Eadwacer, The Wife’s Lament), the personified Cross’s psychedelic and poignant account of the Crucifixion (The Dream of the Rood), and riddles whose solutions range from the sacred to the obscene but are always ingenious.
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Introduces basics of ancient Greek: the language of Plato, Sophocles, Thucydides, Euclid, the New Testament, and more! Aimed at laying a foundation to begin reading ancient and/or medieval texts. Greek I and II may be combined to count as a single HASS-H.
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Introduces basics of ancient Greek: the language of Plato, Sophocles, Thucydides, Euclid, the New Testament, and more! Aimed at laying a foundation to begin reading ancient and/or medieval texts. Greek I and II may be combined to count as a single HASS-H.
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Introduction to reading Latin literature in the original language. Provides a bridge between the study of Latin grammar and the reading of Latin authors. Improves knowledge of the language through careful examination of literary texts, focusing on prose and poetry in alternate years. Builds proficiency in reading Latin and develops appreciation for basic features of style and genre. 21L.613 and 21L.614, or two terms of 21L.614, may be combined by petition (after completion of both) to count as a single HASS-H.
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Building on 21L.613, this course develops students’ ability to read and analyze Latin literary texts, focusing on prose and poetry in alternate years. Increases fluency in reading comprehension and recognition of stylistic, generic, and grammatical features. May be repeated once for credit if content differs. 21L.613 and 21L.614, or two terms of 21L.614, may be combined by petition (after completion of both) to count as a single HASS-H.
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Prof. Wiebke DeneckeMW 11-12:30HASS-H
Barring natural catastrophes, the single most important factor enhancing human flourishing has been a society’s ability to conduct war with other means: diplomacy. This closely connects the arts of war to the arts of peace. Over the past two centuries Western European and American hegemony have globally enforced the “Westphalian system” of diplomacy, which relies on principles of the equal sovereignty of states, contractual obligations, and coalition-building. Yet, this system is currently failing in the face of strongman politics, world order polarization, mass migration, deep-rooted ethnic conflict, climate injustice, and gross inequality. How can we remake our diplomatic order in the service of collective human flourishing? And what diplomatic models across world history have encouraged the art of peace-making?
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Examines the history of Islamic architecture and culture spanning fifteen centuries on three continents – Asia, Africa, Europe. Students study a number of representative examples, from the 7th century House of the Prophet to the current high-rises of Dubai, in conjunction with their urban, social, political, and intellectual environments.
