Animals in the Ancient World
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| CLAR3044 | Classics and Archaeology | 3 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- CLAR3044
- School
- Classics and Archaeology
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module explores the representation of animals in ancient Greek and Roman literature and culture. Core questions include: (i) what criteria did the Greeks and Romans use to distinguish humans from animals; (ii) what responsibilities were human beings said to have towards the natural world; (iii) how were animals used to explore ideas about ‘nature’, ‘culture’, and ‘civilisation’; (iv) how close are these ideas to our contemporary attitudes towards non-human beings? While incorporating discussion of material evidence and the day-to-day realities of animal life in the ancient world, the module focuses primarily on the ways in which animals were perceived, analysed, and represented in ancient texts, from philosophy and natural history to satire, fable, and tales of metamorphosis. Both ancient and modern theoretical approaches will be considered, and all material will be read in translation.
Target Students
Only available to Undergraduate level 2 and level 3 students in the Department of Classics and Archaeology, including Liberal Arts, subsidiary and exchange students.
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 5 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 100% Coursework: 1 x 3500 word essay
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
(a) to gain knowledge and understanding of an appropriate and diverse range of ancient sources and evidence relating to the study of animals in the ancient world;(b) to gain familiarity with ancient and modern theoretical approaches to animals and the natural world;(c) to develop critical engagement with ancient sources and modern discussions of the subject.Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students should:
1. be familiar with a range of ancient texts that explore the role of animals in the ancient world
2. be able to analyse different approaches to the perceived relationship between humans and non-humans, and to develop a cogent argument about these issues
3. be able to situate these debates in their literary, historical, social, and political contexts
4. have acquired interdisciplinary research skills, understanding how texts relate to other forms of evidence (e.g. archaeological approaches), and how these texts can contribute both to the modern discipline of animal studies and to our understanding of the ancient world
Students should have improved:
1. written communication skills (in coursework, online materials, and the examination)
2. oral communication skills (in seminars)
3. analysis and evaluation of data
4. selection, recall, and use of data to produce informed and effective arguments
5. ability to reflect critically on their own learning and analytical skills
6. ability to provide helpful evaluative feedback to peers, and to contribute productively to group discussions
5. be able to recognise, evaluate, and engage with secondary approaches to the issues, and to discuss the relevance of contemporary theories to a reading of the ancient material