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Ancient History Modules

Undergraduate Modules

Title links lead to Course Catalogue descriptions.

Sub-Honours (20 credits each)

  Semester 1 Semester 2
Year 1 AN1001 Greek History to Alexander the Great
A survey of Greek history from c800BC to the death of Alexander the Great. Topics include the political development of Athens and Sparta, the impact of the Athenian Empire, and the rise (and nature) of Greek culture. Wider issues touched on will include democracy and political power, Mediterranean anthropology, and the image of Greece that has been invented by modern scholars. 		AN1002 Roman History from Foundation to Empire
A survey of Roman history, covering her rise from obscure Italian town to superpower status. This course will consider the social factors that allowed Rome to sustain her military burden, and the causes and consequences of imperialism on the economic, cultural, and political level. The course culminates in a special study of the first Emperor, Augustus.
Year 2 AN2002 The Roman Empire
The Roman Empire at its height stretched from Hadrian's Wall to well beyond the Euphrates. But what of the social, economic, and religious diversity and developments within it – and the political and military pressures from both outside and within? 		AN2003 Mediterranean Communities
Over the period of classical antiquity the Mediterranean was transformed from a world of tiny peasant and tribal communities into a world of cities. Complex societies and states were followed by regional hegemonies, empires and finally a single world empire. The rise and fall of classical civilization emerges more clearly through material culture than any other evidence.

First Level

These modules assume no previous study of Ancient History or of classical languages, and any student is eligible to join. In the first an outline is provided of the history of the Greek World from Archaic Greece to the age of Alexander, while the second does the same for Rome from earliest times to the Emperor Augustus. They also introduce archaeological, anthropological, and art historical aspects of civilizations which contributed much to later European history and culture. Each module contains a special period (Alexander the Great and the Emperor Augustus), which involves the use of ancient sources in translation. These modules are complementary, but may also be studied independently.

They are normally taught in 3 one-hour lectures per week, together with tutorial meetings in small groups in which topics are discussed relating to work prepared or submitted. Students are expected to submit 2 essays and to sit a 2 hour examination for each module.

Second level

These more advanced modules, again complementary but independent, investigate the rise and fall of classical civilisation around the Mediterranean, and the social, economic, administrative and religious history of the Roman Empire from Augustus to Constantine.

For these modules there are normally 2 lectures and one discussion group (6 to 8 students) per week. For each module students typically produce 1 essay and 3 gobbet answers, and sit a 2 hour examination.

Honours (see Honours Booklet for more details)

All modules are worth 30 credits unless specified. Some Modules on offer (2011-12):

Teaching at this level is also shared between lectures and discussion groups; a wide range of modules is offered, modified or supplemented from time to time.

Among the many modules on offer, some are period based, for example Archaic Greece or the Late Republic, and others are thematic, for example the Roman Army, Roman Women and Persia and the Greeks. Classical Studies modules on specific historians, on ancient religion and similar themes are also available. A special strength of the Ancient History programme are that courses on late antiquity are of interest to Mediaevalists and Theologians, as well as Ancient Historians. These modules are mostly available to students in Honours History or Classics and to those taking Classical Studies.