Allaire Brisbane Stallsmith, Ph. D
Associate Professor
History department
Towson
University
Towson MD 21252
Office: Liberal Arts 4225
Office
hours: MWF 12:00-1:00 and MW 2:00-3:00
Office phone: 410-704-2911
Email: astallsmith@towson.edu
Ph.D. 1976, University of Pennsylvania
M.A. 1970, Columbia University
B.A. 1968, Barnard College
2009: “Interpreting the
Athenian Thesmophoria”, Classical Bulletin
84: 28-45
2008: “The Name of Demeter
Thesmophoros,” Greek,Roman and Byzantine
Studies 48:115-131.
2007:
“
HIST
101: Introduction to Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations
MWF 10:00-10:50 LA 4204
MWF 11:00-11:50 LA 4204
HIST 304: Ancient Greek Civilization
MW 3:30-4:45
H
HIST 101 covers the entire history of western antiquity, beginning with man's transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture, ca. 8000-4000 BC, and ending with the fall of the Roman Empire in the west, in the fifth century AD. The geographical area that is covered extends from the British Isles in the northwest of Europe, to the Indus valley, the threshold of Asia. We will examine the rise of civilization in the ancient near east, in Egypt and Mesopotamia, and its descendants in Persia, Israel, and Anatolia. The second unit concerns the development of Greek civilization, its political and cultural innovations, and what it drew from the older civilizations to the east. The third unit will consider the rise of Rome and the development of the Roman empire, the largest single political entity ever to control the entire Mediterranean basin. The contributions of Roman civilization to the law, language, social order, and engineering and architecture of the European nations which descended from it will be examined. The course is offered every semester.
HIST 303: Alexander the Great and his Successors
This course covers the short, fascinating life of
Alexander, King of Macedon (356-323), and the Hellenistic period, which lasted
from his death in 323 to 31 BC. We will study the kingdoms of his successors
in Greece and the near east, and the rise of Roman power, until the end of
the last Hellenistic dynasty in 31 BC. The course also investigates aspects of
Hellenistic culture and religion, such as Greco-Roman mystery cults, Hellenistic
Judaism, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Other courses, not offered in Fall 2011:
HIST 304: Ancient Greek Civilization
We begin with the Bronze Age civilization of the Minoans on the island of
Crete, discuss the Mycenaean Greeks, the Dark
Age, the rise of the Greek city-states, the classical period, the career of
Alexander the Great, and the Hellenistic era, ending with the Roman empire's
subjugation of the last independent Greek city-states. We will read important
works of Greek literature and study the art and architecture of ancient Greece.
HIST 300: Introduction to Historical Study
HIST 300 introduces the student to the concepts and practices of
history from the most in-depth research techniques to the most extensive
meta-historical theories. There is no specific historical content in the course,
although the student will read books on historiography, the history of
historical writing. The main emphasis will be on the construction and completion
of a 25-page research paper based on primary and secondary sources. This is an intensive
writing course.
HIST 305: Roman Civilization
The course begins with the various civilizations (Etruscan,
Phoenician and Greek) which influenced the early development of Italy and
continues with the founding of the city of Rome (753 BC), and the growth
of Roman power in Italy. The institution of the Roman empire (31 BC) led
to the conquest of the Mediterranean world. The immense size of that empire led
to the founding of Constantinople by the emperor Constantine the Great (AD 324)
and the division of the Roman empire into two states, east and west. We end with
the barbarian invasions of the fifth century AD, which led to the deposition of
the last Roman emperor in the West (AD 476)
HUMA 633: Comparative Biography: the Biography of Perfection
Graduate seminar
Those men and women who have been attracted to the ideal of
perfection, whether philosophers, pagans, Christians, Jews, Muslims or even
atheists, have left us with personal descriptions of their quest for the
sublime. Writings by or about these heroic individuals present their
life-long efforts to develop a program to achieve the state of grace,
perfection, enlightenment – however it might be described in varying cultural
contexts. Students will read eight core texts in the form of
biography or autobiography, in addition to numerous articles and papers. A 25
page research paper is required, as well as numerous shorter reports.
HIST 484: Women in the Ancient World
A study of the real lives of women in ancient Greece and Rome
and the models presented to them by their divinities and heroines.
HIST 484: The Religion of Ancient Greece
An examination of what the Greeks thought (their literature
and philosophy) as well as what they did (their ritual practices) in attempting
to relate to their deities
HIST 494: Travel Study in Crete
This course is given during a two-week trip to Crete. Students
will hear lectures on Cretan history, culture, ethnography, art, architecture
and religion, and they will participate in field trips to archaeological sites,
churches, fortresses, museums, and remote mountain villages. There will also be
opportunities to experience the modern life of Crete. The course will cover the
entire history of Crete, from the Neolithic (7000 BC) to the Minoan-Mycenaean,
to the Iron Age and through the Classical Greek and Roman periods,
followed by the Byzantine, Venetian
and Ottoman periods, ending in 1912, when the island became part of the Greek nation.
Each student must give a report on a site or topic assigned ahead of time by the
Professor, and at the end of the trip, submit their Journal.
2012-2015
My Teaching Schedule
Spring 2012 : HIST 101 Ancient
Mediterranean Civilizations
HIST 305 Roman Civilization
Fall 2012:
HIST 101 Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations
HIST 304 Ancient Greek Civilization
Spring 2013: HIST 101 Ancient Mediterranean
Civilizations
HIST 300 Introduction to Historical Study
Fall 2013: HIST 101
Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations
HIST 305 Roman Civilization
HIST 484 The Religion of Ancient Greece
Spring 2014: HIST 101 Ancient Mediterranean
Civilizations
HIST 304 Ancient Greek Civilization
Fall 2014: HIST 101
Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations
HIST 303 Alexander the Great and His Successors
HIST 484 Ancient Biography
Spring 2015: HIST 101 Ancient Mediterranean
Civilizations
HIST 305 Roman Civilization
Fall 2015: HIST 101
Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations
HIST 304 Ancient Greek Civilization
HIST 300 Introduction to Historical Study
The Internet Classics Archive: Contains 441 ancient Greek and
Latin sources in translation
http://classics.mit.edu
Internet Ancient History Sourcebook: a large collection of ancient texts and links to texts http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook.html
The Atrium: articles about the ancient world, and translated texts http://web.idirect.com/~atrium
The Walters Art Museum: an excellent collection of ancient art in Baltimore http://www.thewalters.org
Diotima. Materials for the study of Women and Gender in the Ancient World: translated texts http://www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/
Early Church Fathers: texts and translations http://www.ccel.org/p/pearse/morefathers/home.html
Ancient World Mapping Center: Maps of the ancient world http://www.unc.edu/awmc/
In the Hall of Ma'at - weighing the evidence for Alternative History: articles by reputable archaeologists and historians in response to sensationalized works on 'Lost Civilizations' http://www.thehallofmaat.com/maat/index.php
Exploring Ancient World Cultures: articles, links and images of the ancient world http://eawc.evansville.edu/index.htm
The Interactive Ancient Mediterranean: ancient maps to print out and use http://iam.classics.unc.edu
The American School of Classical Studies at Athens: offers graduate study in classical archaeology and undergraduate study in the summer http://www.ascsa.edu.gr/
Periodical Historical Atlas of Europe: The states of Europe depicted at the end of each century in 21 maps http://www.euratlas.com/summary.htm
The Parthian Empire: all about Rome's eastern rival, from 247 BC to AD 228 http://parthia.com
The Perseus Project: a library of study materials on ancient Greece, including maps, slides, and video. Also texts in Greek, Latin and English translation. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu
Pomoerium: links to bibliographies, journals, maps of the ancient world http://www.pomoerium.com/
Ancient Greek Tutorials: learn the pronunciation and accentuation of
ancient Greek.
http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~ancgreek/ancient_greek_start.html
The Corinth Computer Project: Reconstructing the city plan and landscape of Roman Corinth http://corinth.sas.upenn.edu/corinth.html
Archaeological Institute of America: supports archaeological excavation in the Classical world, as well as offering educational programs in the US. http://www.archaeological.org
Archaeology Magazine: publishes popular articles on archaeology. http://www.archaeology.org
ArchNet: a virtual library of archaeological sources on the web http://archnet.uconn.edu
The Institute of Nautical Archaeology: underwater archaeology explained http://nautarch.tamu.edu/ina
Directoris Imperatoribus Romanis; An encyclopedia of Roman emperors. http://www.roman-emperors.org/
An Illustrated History of the Roman Empire: also links to other Roman sites http://www.roman-empire.net/
Catalhoyuk: Excavations of a Neolithic Anatolian Tell. The first urban
center, ca. 7000 BC, in Turkey.
http://catal.arch.cam.ac.uk/catal/catal.html
Ohio State Excavations at Isthmia: the sanctuary of Poseidon and its Roman mosaic http://isthmia.osu.edu
The Ancient City of Athens: photos and text http://www.indiana.edu/~archaeol/kglowack/athens
Scrolls from the Dead Sea: a description of the site of Qumran, its
excavation and the scrolls.
http://sunsite.unc.edu/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/intro.html
Oriental Institute, University of Chicago: excavations in the near
east, downloadable images
http://www-oi.uchicago.edu/OI/default.html