Courses

Human civilization emerged over the past seven millennia. For three quarters, a sequence of Stanford Continuing Studies courses will chart the rise of three epicenters of civilization, each of which contributed to the full flourishing of humanity. In this second course of the “Cradles of Civilization” series, we turn our attention to the history and archaeology of the Mediterranean. From the Aegean shores to the heart of the Italian peninsula, the Mediterranean saw a remarkable confluence of peoples and cultures forging networks that set the stage for Rome’s eventual dominance. Together, we’ll trace the roots of ancient Greece after the fall of the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures and the rise of the polis (the independent city-state), drawing on ancient texts and archaeological evidence. We will examine how Hellenizing culture spread through trade and colonization across the region. The Etruscans, Carthaginians, and Celts will also factor into our overview, leading up to Rome’s growth and ultimate control of the region, exemplified by Roman imperium and mastery of Mare Nostrum’s waterways. Finally, we will consider how mythic-historical accounts from Herodotus, Virgil, and Livy reveal how these cultures understood themselves and their place in the world.