This is summary is a type-up of some notes I took while doing a MOOC with Hillsdale College (the Michigan university I’d love to go to when I’m older!) on Ancient Athens and Sparta, with Professor Paul A. Rahe and Victor Davis Hanson.
Lecture 1: Why Study the Classics?
The rest of these lectures will be given by Professor Rahe and Victor Davis, this one was specially hosted by the President of Hillsdale College, Larry Arnn. He seemed like such an intelligent and interesting man and I would love to attend one of his lectures in real life some day! He talked about the timeless achievements of the Greek poleis, the military values of the Spartans and the intellectual virtues of Ancient Athenian citizens, and which lessons we can learn from these early civilisations.
Lecture 2: Life and Government in Sparta
This first lecture, taught by Professor Rahe, was about Spartan politics and the citizens’ way of life. I was already quite familiar with these aspects of Sparta, as I’ve done quite a lot of studying them after finishing Herodotus’ Histories recently. Professor Rahe covered the geography and surroundings of the polis, the Spartan education system and unique yet prolific way of fighting.
Lecture 3: Life and Government in Athens
This lecture was taught by visiting professor Victor Davis Hanson (I believe Rahe and Hanson alternate with each lecture). I haven’t done much on Athens before so I took a lot of notes on this which you can read here.
To view my notes on the following, click on the lecture headings below.
Lecture 4 & 5: The Persian Wars
Lecture 6 & 7: The Peloponnesian War
Lectures 8 & 9: Conclusions
