Students will learn about naval tactics, how deception is used in war, as well as more about Athens in general. We tend to think of this society as a prosperous, peaceful democracy. It is my hope that students come away with a deeper understanding of how just one military victory can change everything regarding that societies trajectory. For this reason we will be discussing Athens at Salamis, but also the Athenian Empire that emerged almost as soon as the war was won. 

My relevant experience and training regarding classical history such as this includes an extensive list of undergraduate courses and studies culminating in a 15 page term paper centering round Athenian naval history from 480 (the battle of Salamis) to 405 (the battle of Aegospotami). Extensive time has been devoted to the study of everything from the construction of Triremes to the agricultural output of Attica and how it affected population density. Salamis in particular remains a rich area of study for scholars everywhere and as a result much is continually being published about it, meaning that there is always something new to learn or read!

Homework Offered
Assessments Offered
no tests!
Grades Offered

Lords of the Sea: the Epic Story of the Athenian Navy and the Birth of Democracy, by John R. Hale, Viking, 2014.

The Landmark Thucydides: a Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War.” The Landmark Thucydides: a Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War, by Robert B. Strassler and Victor Davis. Hanson, Free Press, 1998.

Strauss, Barry. The Battle of Salamis: the Naval Encounter That Saved Greece -- and Western Civilization, Simon & Schuster, 2005.