Ireland

This course provides an overview of the basic approaches to the study of religion as a human phenomenon. As an introductory course it covers classical positions on religion; sociological, psychological, phenomenological, and anthropological approaches; and contemporary debates in the academic study of religion. On successful completion of this course, students are able to identify key approaches in the development of the academic study of religion; distinguish the methodologies of the disciplines investigating religion; characterize classical positions and their foundational concepts; relate theories to their historical, social, and philosophical context; and discuss the changing relationship of religion to society in different eras.

This course examines the evidence for one of the most successful forms of state society in the ancient Mediterranean, namely the polis or city-state, making use of evidence from archaeology, ancient history, epigraphy, numismatics, and ancient literature. It explores the emergence of the first city-states in Greece following a period of economic decline, the so-called Greek “Dark Age” and slow recovery. The key features of the city-state and particularly the features of the urban environment are discussed as are the political structures required to govern large urban populations. The re-emergence of writing, in an alphabetic system, is given attention due to the importance of written law and constitutions for social and political stability. The course considers different systems of government used at various city-states and the economic and social systems that emerge alongside and within the various poleis. The connection between the emergence of the polis and the foundation of new Greek communities overseas – colonization – are discussed. The course makes a comparative study of early constitutional history of Athens and Sparta. The invention of coinage is studied as are relations between different Greek city-states. The course concludes with a consideration of the first contact and conflicts between the world of the city-states and the imperial power of Persia.

This course provides an introduction to the language of the Old Irish period (ca. 600-900).