Antiquitopia

I am pleased to announce that Paul Fuller, from the Sociology Department at Illinois College, and I will be leading a travel course (called "Breakaways" at Illinois College) to Greece in May/June 2016.  We are both very excited to return to Greece.  It has been way too long for me. If you are an Illinois College student (returning or incoming), and you have stumbled upon this website, you may want to consider this. While there is still much planning and editing of the itinerary, here is a preliminary peek at our (unedited) description: Description: Greece: the birthplace of democracy, history, philosophy, theater, and the Olympics.   It is the land of Socrates, Plato, and Pericles.   St. Paul traveled here.   Its history is etched into the ruins and archaeological sites that dot the landscape.   It is also the strongly tied to the modern developments, inspiring modern forms of democratic governance, participating in rapid urbanization and nationaliz...

In case anyone didn't know, there has been massive rioting throughout Greece, but primarily in Athens, following a deadly shooting of a teenager by a police officer. Students, teachers, and blue-collar workers have been rising up against the government, and, in an event organized by a leftist coalition, marching on Syntagma Square ("Constitution" Square) and throughout the streets of major cities (Athens, Thessaloniki, Trikala). It also appears that widespread workers' strikes are likely to occur following the rioting. See about it here and here . Who knows where this will lead? It may fizzle out. It may lead to more widespread violence. It may lead to something more... I just can't help but think of Thucydides in a time like this, especially his analysis of revolutions and civil wars. I think he would be appalled to some degree at both sides, but hardly surprised at either.