Deciphering the Mysteries of Ancient History

November 6, 2006

History students experience Greek warfare firsthand

Old texts and references. Difficult names. Lot of facts to memorize. To make it all come to life for students, Exeter takes to the battlefield. Literally. And the students love it.

The other morning, Lawrence Smith's History 109 class – The Classical World: The Greeks – was on the Academy lawn, hoisting spears and dashing away at each other in full phalanx formation. Smith uses battles and role playing as tools to supplement the reading of The Odyssey and plays of Sophocles. "Anything to get the students to think, connect, and enjoy the subject is fair game," says Smith, who has taught the class for fifteen years. "We put Socrates on trial, we vote on whether Themistocles should be ostracized, we debate Alexander's greatness," he adds. "We run all over campus trying to identify aspects of Greek architecture on Academy buildings, I bring in pottery for students to hold and identify."

The reenactment of the Battle of Marathon happens early in the term, when the class starts reading about Greek warfare. "As soon as we get to hoplites (soldiers) and phalanxes (the lines and formations), we go out on the lawn," says Smith. "I want to let the students figure it out firsthand – how the shields overlap; where the spears go; that it's difficult to run in formation; how the phalanx will perform based on the strength, age and other characteristics of the soldiers."Sam, a prep who enjoys learning ancient history this way, says: "The Harkness table changed my experience of history classes. Being able to discuss the sequence of events in class helps me better understand the subject. The role playing that we do adds fun to the period."

What may seem like shenanigans have made their mark. "Alums come back every year and ask if we still run around on the lawn," says Smith.

Smith is chair of Exeter's history department. He is also a leader in the Exeter Humanities Institute, a five-day summer workshop for secondary school teachers eager to learn about student-centered, discussion-based education.

Interested in learning more?

See Exeter's history department offerings…
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