Activity Descriptions:
This program uses Reacting to the Past immersion games that empower students to negotiate historical crises from the first-person perspective of historical figures.
The program will focus on The Threshold of Democracy: Athens in 403 BCE, set at the end of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The Athenian democracy has been dismantled. Students take on roles as Greek figures to decide what sort of government Athens should build, who should participate, how voting and education should work, and whether anyone needs to be held accountable for their actions after the war. The program emphasizes active learning, public speaking, problem-solving, negotiation, source analysis, and debate.
In preparation to play the major game, our program includes an examination of Ancient Greek history during the fifth century BCE, such as hoplite warfare, Athenian democracy, Socratic and Platonic philosophy, Greek religion, and history writing. Students will analyze historical texts by Herodotus, Thucydides, and Plato to understand the construction of the Athenian system and critiques of its democracy. Preparation for the game will include workshops in public speaking and speech writing.
Playing historical games set in the Ancient Greek past gives students a hands-on understanding of the motivations that historical people used in their decision-making and the many factors that shaped the debate about democracy, inclusion, and conflict. They learn the challenges of writing a bill and negotiating through opposing perspectives. Students gain historical insight and understanding of how historians work with historical documents.
Program Dates
TBD
Faculty: Dr. Jennifer Edwards
Tuition Fees
Tuition: TBD
Includes:
- Certificate of completion
- Classes
- Class materials
- Manhattan College gift
Residential Add-On
If you plan to stay at our dorms, have full meals at our cafeterias, visit iconic NYC places, and have a campus experience, check out our weekly residential add-on here.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help you every step of the way. Email us at infonc@manhattan.edu.