CNRC3061: "Bread and Circuses:" Spectacles and Mass Culture in Antiquity
3 CreditsFreshman SeminarBiological SciencesCivic Life and EthicsHistorical Perspectives
Development of large-scale public entertainments in ancient Mediterranean world, from athletic contests of Olympia and dramatic festivals of Athens to chariot races and gladiatorial games of Roman Empire. Wider significance of these spectacles in their impact on political, social, and economic life of the societies that supported them.