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Profs & Pints: Ancient Greek Social Networks

Profs and Pints presents: Ancient Greek Social Networks, with Diane Harris Cline, associate professor of classics and history at George Washington University and author of National Geographics The Greeks: An Illustrated History.

What was the secret to the exceptional creativity of the ancient Greeks?

Like us, the ancient Greeks understood that social networks foster creativity and innovation. Deeply embedded in Greek culture were drinking parties, or symposia, where men of different families, neighborhoods and trades shared intense, multi-sensory social experiences, expanding their circle of friendships.

The Greeks leveraged their social networks to get buy-in to implement technological solutions to social problems, including the ballot box, lottery machine, and the timers to limit speeches in the law courts. Like our social networks, theirs enabled them to efficiently find the resources and partners needed to help new ideas catch on and spread.

Come learn how the Greeks accomplished such feats from Professor Cline, who teaches courses on Greek history, mythology, literature, and culture. A pioneer in the digital humanities, she applied formal social network analysis to studying ancient Greek life. Shell present her findings in a richly illustrated talk and discussion that might change how you look at the social networks of today. (Advance tickets: $12. Doors: $15, save $2 with student ID.)