What were the key technologies and major technical achievements of classical Greek antiquity? This course examines two crucial and interconnected industries: ceramics and bronze-working. The two crafts are often discussed separately, but in this course we will focus on their deeply rooted connections. We will examine the qualities of the raw materials used, the technological know-how of potters and bronze-smiths, the pyrotechnological principles of their kilns and furnaces, as well as the social, political, economic, and cultural milieus that promoted their breakthroughs. We will explore their workshops, toolkits, apprenticeship structures, and technological treatises by using ancient evidence (archaeological, visual, textual) as well by witnessing their enduring qualities in modern production contexts.
