Since Fall 2007, the Department of Classics has been part of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, and the Program in Modern Greek has been part of the Department of Classics.
The location of Modern Greek in Classics makes great intellectual sense since issues of continuity and change are central to the Greek identity. The department’s concentration in Hellenic Studies offers a unique experience for students to evaluate the continuity, rupture, and legacy of antiquity for the Modern Greek world from the vitae perspective of language. Click the Undergraduate Program page to learn more about the concentration.
For a complete accurate listing, of course, times visit this Schedule of Classes.
Note: Effective Fall 2023, all main campus courses have been renumbered using a new 4-digit numbering system.
https://schedule.georgetown.edu/course-renumbering-crosswalk/g/#gree
Fall 2024 Courses
GREE 1011: Intensive First Level Modern Greek II [5 credits] (Ismini Lamb)
The course introduces students to the language and culture of the Greek-speaking world in fun and interactive ways. Emphasis will be given primarily on oral communication, as well as on phonology, the fundamentals of grammar and the development of basic vocabulary in order to develop basic communicative skills in Modern Greek through reading, writing, listening and speaking. For students who have very little or no previous background in Greek.
GREE 1511: Second Level Modern Greek I [3 credits] (Ismini Lamb)
This course further equips students to exchange information in conversational Modern Greek. The course expands vocabulary by introducing students to more idioms and colloquialisms and builds a deeper appreciation of Greek grammar and syntax. Greek customs and traditions are explored through class conversation and audio-visual materials. Students are introduced to Greek literature, history and a wider range of Greek language materials and media. Students continue honing their Greek language skills in innovative and interactive ways! Prerequisite: GREE-012 or permission of the instructor.
GREE 2011: Third Level Modern Greek I [3 credits] (Ismini Lamb)
This course focuses on mastering all requisite language skills while integrating advanced aspects of Greek culture, history and literature in fun and interactive ways! Emphasis is put on expanding the vocabulary and developing conversational skills to prepare the students to enjoy discussions on a variety of topics with accuracy and fluency. Students have the opportunity to expand vocabulary in areas of personal or specialized interest relevant to their broader educational goals. Class instruction is supplemented by weekly grammar review and conversation sessions. Prerequisite: GREE-112 or permission of the instructor.
GREE 2055 Byzantine International Relations (Ivan Maric)
Over the course of more than 1100 years (c. 330-1453), Byzantium, the Eastern Roman Empire, demonstrated remarkable endurance in surviving natural disasters, pandemics, ‘the worst year to be alive’ (536), the Little Ice Age, and a host of powerful enemies—Persians, Huns, Arabs, Normans, Crusaders, and Ottomans. Byzantium’s successive crises and resurgences provide a powerful case study of the adaptive capacity of empires and highlight the social, political, and ideological resources that allowed it to outlive the Roman Empire in the West by nearly a thousand years.
Drawing on the growing literature theorizing the adaptive capacity of states, this course explores the factors behind the exceptional resilience and adaptability of Byzantium that allowed it to navigate these challenges successfully. Beginning with Constantine the Great’s efforts to reconstitute the empire in the 4th century, all the way to the Ottoman conquest of the city in the 15th c., the course will examine the state’s fundamental institutions—its government, economy, military, and religion. Traversing Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, we consider the role of fortifications, monetary supply, theological innovations, court protocol, and depth of administration to understand how the empire used hard and soft power—military campaigns, religious missions, and deft diplomacy—to respond and adapt to the external challenges. An object-handling session at the nearby Dumbarton Oaks Museum—housing one of the finest Byzantine collections in the world—will offer a unique opportunity to examine firsthand the artifacts still bearing witness to Byzantium’s soft power.
Spring 2025 Courses
GREE 1012: Intense First Level Modern Greek II
Ismini Lamb – MTWTH 11:00-11:50
This course is designed for students who have taken GREE-011 or who have some rudimentary Greek language skills. It extends student language skills and increases student familiarity with Greek history and culture. The course continues the emphasis on instruction in phonology, the fundamentals of grammar and the development of basic vocabulary. Student participation in interactive exercises built around diverse audio-visual materials is expected. Prerequisite: GREE-011 or permission of instructor
GREE 1512: Second Level Modern Greek II
Ismini Lamb – MTTH 1:00-1:50
This sequence course further equips students to exchange information in conversational Modern Greek. The course expands vocabulary by introducing students to more idioms and colloquialisms and builds a deeper appreciation of Greek grammar and syntax. Greek customs and traditions are explored through class conversation and audio-visual materials. Students are introduced to more Greek literature and a wider range of Greek language materials and media. Students continue honing Greek language skills with structured classroom debating games.
GREE 2012: Third Level Modern Greek II
Ismini Lamb – MTTH 1:00-1:50
This final sequence course is intended to round out student Modern Greek conversational skills. Advanced grammar lessons are offered but grammar issues are also identified for each student and worked on individually as well. Students have the opportunity to expand vocabulary in areas of personal or specialized interest relevant to their broader educational goals. The classroom learning experience continues to include Greek culture, history and literature introduced through the use of diverse audio-visual media, including excerpts from Greek radio and television.
GREE 2055: Byzantine Empire
Ivan Maric – TTH 3:30-4:45
Over the course of more than 1100 years (c. 330-1453), Byzantium, the Eastern Roman Empire, demonstrated remarkable endurance in surviving natural disasters, pandemics, ‘the worst year to be alive’ (536), the Little Ice Age, and a host of powerful enemies—Persians, Huns, Arabs, Normans, Crusaders, and Ottomans. Byzantium’s successive crises and resurgences provide a powerful case study of the adaptive capacity of empires and highlight the social, political, and ideological resources that allowed it to outlive the Roman Empire in the West by nearly a thousand years.
Drawing on the growing literature theorizing the adaptive capacity of states, this course explores the factors behind the exceptional resilience and adaptability of Byzantium that allowed it to navigate these challenges successfully. Beginning with Constantine the Great’s efforts to reconstitute the empire in the 4th century, all the way to the Ottoman conquest of the city in the 15th c., the course will examine the state’s fundamental institutions—its government, economy, military, and religion. Traversing Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, we consider the role of fortifications, monetary supply, theological innovations, court protocol, and depth of administration to understand how the empire used hard and soft power—military campaigns, religious missions, and deft diplomacy—to respond and adapt to the external challenges. An object-handling session at the nearby Dumbarton Oaks Museum—housing one of the finest Byzantine collections in the world—will offer a unique opportunity to examine firsthand the artifacts still bearing witness to Byzantium’s soft power.