HUMS150B1

039790

This course will be an introduction to the many uses of psychotropic substances in the ancient world. We will explore the different roles that these mind-altering substances played within various religious and medical traditions and investigate the role of Cannabis, psychedelics and alcohol within the economic, social and political realms of antiquity. In order to do this, we will read portions of primary texts in translation and learn to interpret visual and material culture. The primary focus will be to understand how these psychotropic substances were employed within all aspects of society. By understanding the various uses of psychotropic substances in a comparative context, students may better understand how to think critically about the role of drugs beyond their recreational use, thereby fostering an understanding of different cultures and their uses of psychotropics.

GRD - Regular Grades A, B, C, D, E

Undergraduate

GE - GEDE (Gen Ed Diversity Emphasis), GE - T1-INDV (Tier 1 Individuals & Societies), GEED - EPHUM (Gen Ed: EP Humanist)