Emperors, Tyrants, Kings, and Rulers in Ancient Greece and Rome

Pericles built an empire; Caligula thought he was a god; Nero fiddled while Rome burned; and Commodus dressed as a gladiator and fought in the arena. The history of Greece and Rome is full of scandalous stories about eccentric and even insane leaders (and their wives) whose reigns raise questions about the nature of power and a ruler's role in administering the empire. In this course, we will look at accounts of leaders and forms of government in ancient sources and trace their impact on the founding documents of America.