Ancient History, Literature, and Philosophy (Live)
In this 8-week live course, students will get an overview of ancient history, literature, and philosophy. They will read segments of texts from these domains, and we will discuss them using the Socratic method during class meetings.
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What's included
8 live meetings
6 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursAssignments
2-4 hours per week. Reading assignments will be required prior to each class meeting. Weekly optional writing assignments of around 250 words will also be offered. I will provide grading and feedback on these assignments if it is desired. In order to receive a grade for the course, students must complete at least four of these assignments. They can complete another assignment to replace a grade if they wish, for up to eight completed assignments. A student who only completes two assignments may receive a certificate of completion for the course if they choose. Written assignments are entirely optional. The only requirement for the course is reading and participating in class discussions.Letter Grade
Letter grades will be offered as an option for students who complete at least four written assignments.Certificate of Completion
A certificate of completion will be offered as an option for students who complete at least two written assignments.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Course Description: In this eight-week class, students will read and discuss a variety of historical, literary, and philosophical texts from ancient Greece and Rome. Class meetings will utilize a Socratic format where the instructor facilitates a discussion using guided questions. This enables students to interact with each other, the instructor, and the content more actively than in a traditional lecture-style course. Please note that this course will explore a variety of potentially difficult topics, ideas, and events from divergent perspectives. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to review the overview section below in order to determine if they want their child to analyze and discuss this content. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have. *****All learners will be required to have their cameras on for the duration of the live class meetings. This promotes an engaged learning environment for all students.***** Assignments and Grading Policies: Each class meeting will have assigned reading of a segment from one historical, one literary, and one philosophical text. Students are free to read more of each text if they so choose, but the class discussion and optional written assignments will focus on the assigned passages. Each class meeting will have a theme that all three readings touch and the class discussion touch upon at least in part. It is important that students do the assigned readings in order to get the most out of the course. Given the difficulty of these texts, I only expect that students have made a good faith effort to understand the content before each class meeting, not that they have successfully done so. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to submit written work for feedback and grading if they so choose. In order to obtain a grade, students will have to complete four of the optional written assignments. If a student completes two of the assignments, they are eligible to receive a certificate of completion for the course. Students may write more than four written assignments if they so choose. They may also write an additional assignment if they wish to replace a previous grade. I will grade up to eight assignments for each student. The use or aid of any AI tools or large language models is prohibited for written assignments in this course. Students who do not wish to receive a grade or a certificate are welcome to do as much or as little written work as they like. The only requirement for enrollment is participation in weekly Socratic discussions about the assigned readings. *****Readings and written assignments are placed on the date that they are due on the syllabus, not the date that they are assigned.*****
Learning Goals
Students will develop a greater understanding of history, thought, and culture in the ancient world.Students will come away having read portions of a variety of seminal texts that are the bedrock of modern civilization and intellectual life.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
On Courage
Students will read segments from Herodotus' histories, Hesiod's "Theogony," and Plato's "Apology." We will go over the readings in class and the instructor will contextualize them thematically. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions.
There will also be an optional written assignment. 50 mins online live lesson
1 assignment
Lesson 2:
On Justice
Students will read segments from Thucydides' chronicle of the Peloponnesian War, Homer's "The Iliad," and Plato's "Crito." We will go over the readings in class and the instructor will contextualize them thematically. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions.
There will also be an optional written assignment. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
On Intellect
Students will read segments from the Xenophon's "Hellenika," Homer's "The Odyssey," and Plato's "Republic." We will go over the readings in class and the instructor will contextualize them thematically. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions.
There will also be an optional written assignment. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
On Virtue
Students will read segments from Xenophon's "Anabasis," Sophocles' "Antigone," and Aristotle's "The Nicomachean Ethics." We will go over the readings in class and the instructor will contextualize them thematically. Then we will have a Socratic discussion based on guided reading questions.
There will also be an optional written assignment. 50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Please note that this course will explore a variety of potentially difficult topics, ideas, and events from divergent perspectives. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to review the syllabus in order to determine if they wish their child to analyze and discuss this content. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.
Supply List
If your student wishes to read more than the assigned portions of each text, or if you prefer to have physical copies of the books themselves, below is a comprehensive list of the editions we will be using in this course: Aeschylus. The Complete Aeschylus, Volume 1: The Oresteia. Edited and translated by Peter Burian and Alan Shapiro, 2011. Aristotle. The Nicomachean Ethics. Translated by JAK Thomson. New York: Penguin Classics, 2004. Aristotle. Politics. Translated by Ernest Barker. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Arrian. The Landmark Arrian: The Campaigns of Alexander. Edited by James Romm and Robert B. Strassler. Translated by Pamela Mensch. New York: Anchor Books, 2012. Cicero. Selected Works. Translated by Michael Grant. London: Penguin Classics, 1971. Demosthenes. Selected Speeches. Translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014. Epicurus. The Art of Happiness. Translated by George K. Strodach. New York: Penguin Classics, 2012. Euripides. The Trojan Women and Other Plays. Translated by James Morwood. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. Herodotus. The Landmark Herodotus: The Histories. Edited by Robert B. Strassler. Translated by Andrea L. Purvis. New York: Vintage Books, 2007. Hesiod. Theogony and Works and Days. Translated by Richard Caldwell and Stephanie Nelson. Newburyport: Focus Classical Library, 2009. Homer. The Iliad. Translated by Robert Fagles. London: Penguin Classics, 1998. Homer. The Odyssey. Translated by Robert Fagles. London: Penguin Classics, 1997. Livy. The Early History of Rome. Translated by Aubrey de Selincourt. London: Penguin Classics, 2002. Ovid. Metamorphoses. Translated by Charles Martin. New York: Norton, 2005. Plato. Complete Works. Edited by John M. Cooper and DS Hutchinson. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1997. Plutarch. Fall of the Roman Republic. Translated by Robin Seager and Rex Warner. London: Penguin Classics, 2005. Seneca, Lucius Annaeus. Hardship and Happiness. Translated by Elaine Fantham, Harry M. Hine, James Ker, and Gareth D. Williams. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2016. Sophocles. The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus. Translated by Robert Fagles, 1984. Thucydides. The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War. Edited by Robert B. Strassler. Translated by Richard Crawley. New York: Free Press, 2008. Virgil. The Aeneid. Translated by Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Classics, 2008. Xenophon. The Landmark Xenophon’s Anabasis. Edited by Shane Brennan, Robert B. Strassler, and David Thomas. Translated by David Thomas. New York: Pantheon Books, 2021. Xenophon. The Landmark Xenophon’s Hellenika. Edited by Robert B. Strassler. Translated by John Marincola. New York: Vintage Books, 2010.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined June, 2024
New on Outschool
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Philosophy from Northern Illinois University
Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from Illinois Wesleyan University
I have a BA in Philosophy with minors in Political Science and Greek and Roman Studies, as well as an MA in Philosophy with a concentration in Ethics and Political Philosophy. I’m the head coach of a competitive high school debate team and teach the liberal arts at a classical school. I’m also a professional creative writer and journalist.
I love helping students of all ages understand and interpret difficult subjects and learn how to crystallize their thoughts in writing and oral communication. I believe studying historical primary sources is a wonderful way to facilitate this kind of growth and learning.Reviews
Live Group Course
$25
weekly or $200 for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
50 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
1-18 learners per class
