Topics for Further Study

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Investigate the agriculture and economy of Greece during the 5th century B.C. What products did the Greeks export, and which ones did they import? How was trade managed both domestically and internationally? Additionally, explore how the worship of Dionysus aligned with significant agricultural phases throughout the year.

When Euripides crafted his plays, he primarily focused on characters and themes, often neglecting critical plot elements. In contrast, Sophocles is renowned for his masterful plot construction, with Aristotle praising his play Oedipus the King as the pinnacle of Greek drama. Examine Oedipus the King and compare it to The Bacchae. Analyze the similarities and differences in the plots, characters, and themes of each play.

By the close of the 5th century B.C., Greek theaters had evolved into a distinct form with specific scenery, costumes, and special effects that influenced the production of plays like The Bacchae. Research the physical characteristics of Greek theaters during Euripides' era, then select a scene from The Bacchae and describe how it might have been staged. As a group project, you might consider reenacting the selected scene.

During his lifetime, Euripides was well-known as a skeptic, questioning authority and doubting traditional beliefs. His thinking was shaped by figures such as the Sophist philosophers, who argued that truth and morality were subjective and largely matters of personal opinion. Who were some of these Sophists? What were their beliefs, and how did they influence Western culture?

In his work Poetics, Aristotle proposes that the ideal tragic hero is someone of high status and prosperity, fundamentally good, who experiences a downfall not due to malice or corruption but because of a mistake or weakness—often referred to as a "tragic flaw." Does

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