EUH4674H-0201
Sports & Society in the Ancient World
Peter L. Larson
Office: Colbourn Hall 537
Telephone: 407-823-6466
Email: Peter.Larson@ucf.edu
Course home page: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~plarson/EUH4674H_11.htm
Office Hours: WF 2:30-3:30 p.m. & by appointment
BHC 127
MW 4:30-5:45 p.m.
Fall 2011
Credit: 3 units (3,0)
Course Description
Modern society is fascinated with sports and sports-like entertainment, and with ancient sports and spectacle,
often evoking the past in a modern context. The aim of this course is to provide a background in ancient Greek
and Roman concepts and practices of both athletics and athletically-based spectacles and also to compare
them to modern revivals and analogues. Drawing on a variety of disciplines from history to archeology to
modern sports studies, we will approach these games through close analysis of primary sources of varying
media (from Greek vases and Roman letters to modern documentaries, newspaper articles, and government
reports) and depictions on film. We will examine not only past and present but the intersection of the two,
including concerns past and present (such as amateurism, cheating, and excessive violence) to understand the
connections between sport and society.
Objectives
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

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To introduce students to the sites and practices of ancient sports and spectacles.
To explore the importance of sports and athletics socially, politically, culturally, and religiously.
To examine modern revivals and imitations of ancient sports and spectacles, their links to the originals,
and the various cultural and political implications.
To practice interdisciplinary approaches to History through collaborative research with modern media
and technologies.
Required Texts
The following books are required and may be purchased at the UCF bookstore:
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Allen Guttmann, The Olympics: A History of the Modern Games, 2nd ed. (University of Illinois 2002).
Donald Kyle, Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World (Wiley-Blackwell, 2006).
David Clay Large, Nazi Games: The Olympics of 1936 (Norton, 2007).
Optional Texts
We will be reading a number of selections from the following book. However, it is available online through the
UCF library, so I am listing it here only if you would prefer to own a hard copy:

Arete: Greek Sports from Ancient Sources, ed. by Stephen G. Miller (University of California, 2004).
ISBN 9780520241541
Course Assignments
Greek Athletics Essay
Book Review of Nazi Games
Exams
15%
10%
30%
Wiki Project/Paper
Participation
1
20%
25%
Grading
Here are the criteria that I use when assigning letter grades on assignments, and for your final grade.
93.00 to 100
90.00 to 92.99
87.00 to 89.99
83.00 to 86.99
80.00 to 82.99
=A
= A= B+
=B
= B-
77.00 to 79.99 = C+
73.00 to 76.99 = C
70.00 to 72.99 = C60.00 to 69.99 = D
59.99 and below = F
Assignments
Participation & Conduct in the Course: I expect you to act professionally - that is, to attend all classes, to
complete required readings and analyze them before class, and to participate actively. Cell phones, pagers,
and beepers must be off during class, and taping of lectures is forbidden without my express permission.
Discussion Questions: You are expected to come to class each day with at least 5 questions based on
the readings, which we will use to generate discussion. These may be collected.
Ancient Athletics Essay: Short (3-5 page) essay on choice of assigned topics (posted on the website).
Book Review: Academic book review (2-4 pages) of David Clay Large’s Nazi Games.
Wiki / Essay: To give you a chance to explore aspects of the course in greater depth, students will work in
small groups to develop a Wiki page on a topic related to the course. Any student who does not wish to
participate may replace this with an additional written assignment (7-10 pages). There will be presentations for
both the Wikis and the papers at the end of the semester.
Exams: There will be an in-class midterm examination and a take-home final examination. The midterm exam
may be made up only if the absence is excused.
Extra Credit: I do not offer individual extra-credit assignments.
General Writing Assignment Policies
Spelling, grammar, and style count as per the online Grading Criteria. Most errors can be avoided by using both
a spell and grammar checker, and by setting them to “formal.” I prefer Chicago-style footnotes, but I will accept
other professional styles if used correctly and consistently.
Drafts & outlines: I am happy to discuss your papers with you before they are submitted; I will look at outlines
and drafts and provide comments regarding content, argument, and basic style (I do not proofread).
Late Papers: All papers are due at the beginning of class. Otherwise, you have until the beginning of class one
full week later (e.g., if the paper is due on Monday, you have until the following Monday) to turn in the paper with
a penalty of one full letter grade. After that, papers will be accepted but the grade will be halved (e.g., an 88
becomes a 44). If you had an excused absence, the due date usually becomes the first class when you return.
Extensions: Extensions are at my discretion. If you know that there is going to be a problem regarding a due
date, see me as soon as possible.
Rewrites: I will allow a rewrite (with penalty) of a paper at my discretion, and this option will be offered when the
paper is returned.
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Other Course Policies
Attendance Policy: You are permitted three unexcused absences. Beginning with the fourth absence, you will
lose 1 point per absence from the points allotted for Participation after that grade has been calculated.
Excessive tardiness will be treated as unexcused absences.
For an absence to be excused, I must have written proof that your absence was beyond your control, e.g. a
doctor’s note, a memo from your boss that you were called in unexpectedly, and so forth. For illnesses, I
require a doctor’s note explaining that you were under care and unable to attend class. You may black out any
personal information. Please note: failure to find parking, self-diagnosis, etc., are not excused absences.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the presentation (consciously or unconsciously) of someone else’s words or ideas as
your own, whether you paraphrase another scholar’s words too closely or you cut-and-paste or purchase an
entire paper on the internet. Plagiarism is not limited to published works; it includes other students’ papers and
web sites. You are certainly allowed to quote works by others when proper reference is given, but under no
circumstances should you incorporate someone else’s work into your own without proper citation. Unreferenced
use is plagiarism.
Plagiarism is a serious offence. If I detect plagiarism, the assignment will receive a 0; depending on the
severity, there may be further penalties within the course, department, or university. If you have any questions
or concerns, please see me or the University Writing Center; also, the UCF Library has a module on citations
and plagiarisms. Finally, if in doubt, cite it!
Office Hours: You can find me in my office during my office hours, or see or email me for an appointment.
Disability Statement: Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course must contact me at
the beginning of the semester, and then again in a timely manner before assignments where accommodations
are required. Students must be registered with Student Disability Services, Student Resource Center Room
132, phone (407) 823-2371, TTY/TDD (407) 823-2116.
Schedule of Classes
Readings in the textbooks (Kyle, Guttmann) are assigned for the week. Other readings (Arete, handouts) should
be completed for the day under which they are listed.
Week 1 – Ancient Sport - Kyle: Introduction, Chapters 1-2
M Aug 22
Introduction
W 24
Ancient Sport
Week 2 – The Development of Athletics - Kyle: Chapters 3-5
M 29
The Origins of Ancient Greek Sports
Arete: Readings 1-2 [Note: most assignments in Arete are by reading #, not by page #.]
W 31
The Olympics: Myth & Reality
Arete: 3-8, 18-19, 81
Week 3 – The Olympics - Kyle: Chapter 6
M Sept. 5
NO CLASS – Labor Day
W7
The Olympic Games
Arete: 20-21, 25-29, 32, 37-38, 44-50
Week 4 – The Olympics & Other Ancient Games - Kyle: Chapters 7-8; skim Chapter 11
M 12
Olympic Games (continued)
Arete: 83-85, 87-90, 94, 97-98, 103-105, 109-113, 118
W 14
Other Games
Arete: 73-80, 119-120
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Week 5 - Ancient Athletics - Kyle: Chapter 10 (also, skim Ch. 12)
M 19
What did it mean to be an Athlete?
Arete: 127, 140, 149-150, 153-154, 163-164, 179, 189
W 21
Controversies; The Spread of Greek Athletics
Arete: 190-191, 207-208, 210, 214, 241, 251
Athletics Essay due
Week 6 - Roman Games - Kyle: Chapters 13-14
M 26
Do you like films about Gladiators? - Short film clips – the gladiator genre
Handout on Gladiatorial Life
W 28
Roman Spectacles
Arete: 194-197, 201, 203
Week 7 - Roman Spectacles - Kyle: Chapter 15
M Oct. 3
Gladiators & Charioteers - Long film clips
Handout on the Spartacus Revolt
W 5
Ancient Criticism of the Games; Christianity and Greco-Roman sports
Handout: Martyrdom of Vibia Perpetua
Week 8
M 10
W 12
Discussion: Ancient Athletes & Games: Myths & Realities
Midterm
Week 9 – Transitions - Guttmann: Introduction, Chapter 1
M 17
From Ancient to Modern ; Rebirth of the Olympics
Handout: Coubertin
W 19
Wiki Work Day
Week 10 – Rebirth of the Olympics - Guttmann: Chapters 2-4
(note: Thursday is the Withdrawal Deadline)
M 24
The Growth of the Olympics
W 26
The Berlin Games, 1936
Week 11 – The Nazi Games
M 31
Film: Olympia (1938) excerpts
W Nov. 2
Discussion: Olympia and Nazi Games
David Clay Large, Nazi Games
Week 12 – WWII and Race - Guttmann: Chapters 5-7
M7
WWII and the Cold War
W9
Race and Terror - One Day in September (1999)
Nazi Games Critique due
Week 13 – The Modern Age - Guttmann: Chapters 8-10 (skim Ch. 8)
M 14
Nationalism & Boycotts
W 16
From the Cold War to the Cola Wars / Wiki troubleshooting
View the end of the USA/ USSR game:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRALJyv86eY
Week 14 – Modern Problems - Guttmann: Chapters 11-12
M 21
Modern Problems I: Doping; the Amateur Question
W 23
Wiki Work Day
Thanksgiving Break
Week 15 – The Future of the Olympics - Guttmann: Chapter 13
M 28
Modern Problems II: Human Rights & the Environment
Handout: Congressional Hearings
W 30
Looking Ahead: 2012 and 2014
Explore the London 2012 official site: http://www.london2012.com/
M Dec. 5
Take Home Final Due by 6pm
F Dec. 9
Wiki/Term Paper Due by 5pm
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