CLAS 227 - Pirates of the Mediterranean

Semester Offered: First Semester
Full Course
Credits: 4 credits
Attribute: 4HU, CD, WINT

Economic inequality, power imbalances, social hierarchies that elevate some and devalue others; add a body of water and the outcome will always be the same: pirates. The ancient Mediterranean, cradle of western civilization, was historically a violent place, where many struggled to get by. Salvage, plunder, and outright piracy, armed robbery at sea, offered chances for personal advancement and a means to undermine the authority of states and potentates. Piracy was a useful tool, and ‘pirate’ quickly became a loaded term. This course explores who held the right to wield that label and how piracy changed throughout ancient Mediterranean history.

Enrollment Limit: 30
Instructor: J. Sancinito

Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes