CLAS3051/INTB3051: Past and Present in Greece and Egypt
An Inquiry into History, Culture, and the Economy
Instructor: Kathleen Lynch
Offered: Fall 2021 - WeFr 9:30am-10:30am
Location: Baldwin 755
Class #: 20964
Description
The course consists of two distinct parts: issues related to Archaeology and national Economy. The modern countries of Greece and Egypt both feature extraordinary and unique cultural resources, especially archaeological sites and museums that preserve remains several millennia old. Tourism, naturally, comprises a major sector of the economy of Greece and Egypt, but the management of these fragile cultural sites requires a balance between preservation, conservation, and presentation to the public. This course will explore how each country manages its cultural sites: how do they pay for the upkeep of archaeological sites and museums when the modern economy is unstable? How do they decide what aspects of history to present? What motivates these decisions? What international conventions govern the choices individual countries make?
The section on the Economy will examine and discuss the evolution of the Egyptian economy and the status of the Greek economy. Specifically, on Egypt, the discussion will center on how the sociocultural environment has influenced the political economy of Egypt, that is, how the political, economic and regulatory systems have evolved. The relevant discussion will give particular emphasis to Egypt’s contemporary challenges in the era of increasing globalization and geopolitical strife. On Greece, the focus of the discussion will be on how Greece became part of the European Union, briefly discussing the concept of regional integration and the inception of the concept of a United Europe. Particular consideration will be given to the challenges the Greek economy has endured, since it entered the Eurozone, and its prospects in within the Eurozone. In fact, the future of the Eurozone itself will be discussed. Particular attention will be given to the impact of culture on cross-border integration and how globalization has enhanced cross-cultural convergence.
Important to Note
This course will not include a study tour to Greece and Egypt in Summer 2021.