The Art of Rhetoric in Greece and Rome

The art of persuasion evolved in the Greek and Roman city state. Its objective was first and foremost political: decisions were passed collectively, following proposals presented to popular assemblies. Originally, the art of persuasion was meant to enable statesmen to effectively assert themselves in that particular context.  Soon, however, rhetoric became one of the cornerstones of general education, a means by which ideas, ideologies and identities generated throughout antiquity and beyond.  Virtually every Greek and Latin literary text shows the impact of rhetorical learning. In the course of this term we will read a selection of these texts, aiming at getting preliminary acquaintance with rhetorical theory, and rhetoric as an applied science.

This is an introductory course that requires no prior knowledge of Classical rhetoric.

Course requirements: full attendance and regular reading assignments (30%), and final exam (70%).