The course will explore the so-called “heritage” or “legacy” of the Classical world that lies at the foundation of the modern notion of Europe and of the political project of the European Union. It will present a summary introduction to those aspects of the ancient Greek and Roman cultures that are usually claimed as the “roots” of Western civilization, and it will succinctly follow their evolution and transformation throughout time, from Classical Antiquity to the present day. It finally intends to elicit a discovery of the ancient world in its own terms and a recognition of how it has been used and abused by modern visions of Europe.

At the end of the semester, the students are expected to have fulfilled the following goals:

- Identify the different sources that allow to reconstruct the ancient world.

- Acknowledge the challenges and difficulties in the scientific study of the ancient world.

- Understand the internal workings of historical development and causation.

- Analyse evidence related to the ancient world critically.

- Establish significant connections between ancient and modern ways of thought.

- Develop awareness of the evolution and transformation between ancient and modern concepts.

- Interpret the meaning of “heritage” of the ancient world in the context of reception studies.

- Learn about the notion of “Europe” in diachronic and historical perspectives.

- Express critical judgements about the nature and origins of current European values and principles.

In this course, topics are arranged in an analytical fashion to address the different aspects of the relationship between Classical Antiquity and the modern European context. Content is structured in five sections:

I.   Introduction to Classical Antiquity. Sources, periodization and historical overview.

II. Ancient Greece. An introduction to Greek culture, Greek political thinking and the Athenian democracy.

III. Ancient Rome. An introduction to Roman culture. Roman law, religion and institutions. The Roman Mediterranean as the first “European” world.

IV. Christianity. An introduction to the rise and expansion of Christian religion in the Graeco-Roman Mediterranean. The Christian Church. Paganism and doctrinal controversies.

V. Beyond the ancient world. Romans and Barbarians. From Medieval to Modern times. The recovery of the Classical world in contemporary times.