Interpreting Ancient History
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| CLAR1014 | Classics and Archaeology | 1 | 20 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- CLAR1014
- School
- Classics and Archaeology
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
Unlike the broad interdisciplinary survey modules CLAR 1009 (Studying the Greek World) and CLAR 1011 (Studying the Roman World), this full-year module is devoted specifically to the history of the ancient world and investigates some of its major themes, approaching them through a series of historical case studies. The range of topics introduces students to important historical issues from the major periods of Greek and Roman history, with an emphasis on the methodological questions raised by the relevant ancient source material and on the modern debates about those issues. As a result, students should gain a more detailed knowledge of important topics in ancient history, a clearer understanding of the evidential basis on which ancient historians rely, as well as some appreciation of how contemporary preoccupations can influence the perspectives of modern practitioners of the discipline and generate vigorous debate between them.
Any reassessment for this module will be by essay or assignment.
Target Students
Available to all Undergraduate level 1 students in the Department of Classics and Archaeology, including Liberal Arts, exchange and subsidiary students.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 8 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 8 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 12 weeks
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: ONE x 2,500 word essay at the end of the Autumn semester
- 50% Exam 1 (2-hour)
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
1. To complement the broad surveys offered in CLAR 1009and CLAR 1011by more detailed study of selected topics of importance in Greek and Roman history.2. To enhance students' familiarity with the range of ancient source material used by ancient historians (especially literature and inscriptions) and develop their awareness of the methodological issues which these sources raise.3. To acquaint students with important scholarly debates on aspects of the history of the Greek and Roman worlds.4. To develop students' ability to think critically about the ancient sources and the work of modern scholars whom they read in the course of the module.5. To develop students' ability to express ideas and arguments effectively both verbally (in seminars) and in written form (in an essay and an exam).Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should have:
1. Gained more detailed familiarity with selected topics of importance in Greek and Roman history.
2. Acquired a clearer understanding of the range of ancient source material which ancient historians use (especially literature and inscriptions), and of the methodological issues which these sources raise.
3. Become aware of, and engaged with, some of the most important modern debates related to these selected historical topics.
4. Improved their ability to think critically about the ancient sources and the work of modern scholars whom they read in the course of the module.
5. Improved their ability to express ideas and arguments effectively both verbally (in seminars) and in written form (in an essay and an exam).
Conveners
- Dr Philip Davies
- Matt Myers