History 392AH - S-AncientHeritage/ModernRacism

Ancient Greeks and Romans thought about the world and its inhabitants in racialized categories. Climate, diet, bloodlines, and other factors supposedly made some peoples inherently superior and others immutably inferior. The writings and assumptions behind this racialized thinking were taken up and used by European intellectuals from the Renaissance forward, becoming a poisoned well that informed the formation of racist ideologies, regimes, and policies in twentieth century. This seminar explores the entanglement between ancient racialized thinking and modern expressions of racism?and even resistance against racism. We will explore this topic by reading recent books, articles, and media reports on the following topics: ancient strategies of othering, the encounter between Europeans and indigenous peoples in the New World, the valorization of Greek and Roman texts and artifacts in colonial Algeria and Nazi Germany, and the use of Greek and Roman imagery in contemporary ethno-nationalist movements in Europe and the United States.

Open to Seniors, Juniors & Sophomores only. This honors class meets as a combined session with a graduate level class.