Home Podcasts YALE - Introduction to Ancient Greek History

YALE - Introduction to Ancient Greek History

Donald Kagan 3 Episodes Sep 20, 2026

This podcast presents Yale professor Donald Kagan's introductory course on ancient Greek history, CLCV 205. It traces the development of Greek civilization from the Bronze Age through the end of the classical period. The course examines political, intellectual, and creative achievements using original sources in translation and modern scholarship. The lectures are delivered by Donald Kagan as part of Yale's Open Yale Courses.

Episodes

Lecture 3 - The Dark Ages part 2 Sep 20, 2026 4349 Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.OverviewIn this lecture, Professor Kagan addresses what scholars call the Homeric question. He asks: what society do Homer's poems describe? He argues that in view of the long oral transmission of the poems, the poems of Homer probably reflect various ages from the Mycenaean world to the Dark Ages. More importantly, close scrutiny of the po

Lecture 2 - The Dark Ages part 1 Sep 19, 2026 4090 Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.OverviewIn this lecture, Professor Donald Kagan explores the earliest history of Greek civilization. He demonstrates how small agricultural enclaves eventually turned into great cities of power and wealth in the Bronze Age, taking as his examples first Minoan Crete and then Mycenaean Greece. He also argues that these civilizations were clos

Lecture 1 - Introduction Sep 19, 2026 1982 Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.OverviewProfessor Donald Kagan explains why people should study the ancient Greeks. He argues that the Greeks are worthy of our study not only because of their vast achievements and contributions to Western civilization (such as in the fields of science, law, and politics) but also because they offer a unique perspective on humanity. To the

YALE - Introduction to Ancient Greek History

Episodes

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