The field of Classics and Mediterranean Studies
The field of Classics and Mediterranean Studies encompasses the cultures of Ancient Greece, Rome, and the Arab world - their languages, literatures, histories, philosophies, religions, arts, and archaeology. Studies in this field are inherently interdisciplinary and can touch upon many other subjects, ranging from drama to astronomy, from mythology to geography, from sciences to gender studies, from philology to literary criticism, from political theory to sociology and anthropology - a complete liberal arts education in a single department.
The intellectual treasures of the Classical civilizations are called Classics because of their unmatched beauty and intelligence, their continuing relevance to the present world, and their ongoing influence on modern thinking. Classical cultures are the very origin of the Western world, and attest to the cultural debt that the West has towards the the ancient East and towards Arabic civilization. It is by studying Classics that we understand the development of Western literatures, history, philosophies, religions, societies, politics, sciences, arts, laws, and languages. With a training in Classics we come to see the world of today from a wider, richer, deeper, and more independent perspective - one which enables us to value fully and to critique accurately the culture we grew up in, and to be more aware of the way we think and live. We step out of the box, reaching a better understanding - and becoming freer from - the cultural conventions that condition us. We also gain familiar with different (but quickly accessible) cultures that identified sharply and debated smartly the same key issues that we too are now grappling with. We also discover a time when East and West learnt from each other constructively and productively. We acquire a diachronic, long-term outlook, and we enjoy some of most stimulating and exquisite intellectual and artistic material ever produced.
Our Department provides a full range of courses in translation, from introductory surveys of ancient cultures and mythology to advanced studies in classical societies and literary genres. We also offer courses on the art and the archeology of Ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt, as well as on Modern Greek culture and literature. Language courses, from introductory to advanced levels, are also available - in Latin, Arabic, Ancient Greek, and Modern Greek.
The UIC Department of Classics and Mediterranean Studies is located in downtown Chicago next to the Loop, in UIC's east campus. It can be reached easily by car (off Harrison and Halsted Street) and public transport (opposite the UIC Halsted "L" stop).
Latest Announcements:
LASURI Award received by Classics major Briana Jackson for the project "Ancient Ideas and Modern Forgeries"
Ms Jackson, in collaboration with Professor Nanno Marinatos as faculty director, has received an LAS Undergraduate Research Initiative (LASURI) Award for 2010-11 to investigate a reputedly ancient Minoan ring of circa 1600 BC, which is now in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. It will be argued that the ring is a modern forgery of the 20th century. The sources that influenced its design were Victorian theological concepts about the afterlife, especially those found in Sir James Frazer's anthropological work The Golden Bough. Further influence seems to come from ancient Egyptian sources, such as the Book of the Dead, which circulated widely during this time.
FACULTY MEMBER RECEIVES GRANT
The Institute of Aegean Prehistory (INSTAP) has awarded to Professor Nanno Marinatos a grant of $7,000 in support of her undertaking to organize the archives of her father, the distinguished archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos (1901-1974), who is best known for his excavation of Santorini. The documents comprise letters in four languages from the mid-war period 1930-1939, university lecture notes, newspaper articles, excavation notes and hundreds of photographs. Most interesting among the letters and photographs are ones of Sir Arthur Evans, Martin P. Nilsson, Georg Karo, Sir Denys Page. Also included are such world leaders as the king of Sweden, General Montgomery, and the king of Greece.
Nanno Marinatos is preparing a book on Sir Arthur Evans and Spyridon Marinatos based on this material.
Spyridon Marinatos and Sir Arthur Evans. Design: Briana Jackson.
The department is pleased to announce that Briana Jackson, who is majoring in Classics, with a minor in French, and is an active participant and volunteer in events sponsored by the department, has been selected by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to receive the Olive C. Kuehn and Alfred L. Kuehn Scholarship. She expects to graduate with her degree in May 2011.
Classics Major Sebastian Anderson received a grant award from the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.Click here to read more.
