Greeks & Persians
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| CLAR3060 | Classics and Archaeology | 3 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- CLAR3060
- School
- Classics and Archaeology
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module will consider:
• the Persian Empire, and in particular contacts between Persians and Greeks in the approximate period 560-330 BC
• major events including: the foundation of the empire by Cyrus the Great; the consolidation of the empire by Darius; the Ionian Revolt and the invasions of Greece; the Delian League and the Peace of Callias; the Peloponnesian War; the Peace of Antalcidas; Alexander’s conquest of the Persian Empire
• major themes regarding the interactions between Greeks and Persians, including military and political conflict, but also trade and cultural engagement
• Greek literary evidence, and the diverse representations of Persians and the Persian Empire presented in it
• non-Greek evidence for the Persian Empire, including cuneiform writings, inscriptions, and visual evidence.
Target Students
Second and third year students studying Classics/Ancient History courses in the Department of Classics and Archaeology
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 5 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 50% Coursework: 2500 word essay
- 50% Exam (2-hour): 2 hour exam
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This module will allow students to:• Expand the range of their studies beyond Greece and Rome, studying another major power of the ancient world• At the same time, gain a deeper understanding of a major period of Greek history by considering it through the lens of the interaction between Greeks and Persians• Examine the ways in which non-Greek peoples (specifically the Persians and their imperial subjects) were presented in Greek literature, the problems we face in using these representations as historical evidence, and how they contributed to Greeks’ self-definition.• Explore how we may combine Greek and non-Greek evidence to achieve a more nuanced understanding of Persians and the Persian Empire.Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this module will:
• Gain a detailed knowledge and understanding of a major topic in Greek and wider world history.
• Develop skills in the analysis and interpretation of diverse forms of evidence – literary, documentary, epigraphic, visual/physical – of both Greek and non-Greek origin.
• Gain an awareness of how scholarly approaches to the Persian Empire have changed and developed over time.
• Enhance their oral communication skills through participation in discussion and presentation of material and arguments to their peers.
• Enhance their written communication skills through completion of the assessments for the module.
• Improve their ability to analyse evidence, digest information, and construct an argument.