Ancient History

This course focuses on the political, social and cultural history of the Greek and Roman world, and their interactions with neighbouring societies. In your first year, you study core topics in Greek and Roman history, as well as a module focusing on ancient historical writing. These courses prepare you for a wide range of more specifically historical modules about politics and society in the ancient world available in your second and third years. The course includes the option of beginning to learn Greek or Latin language (or continuing, if you have studied the languages already).

**Year 1**
In the first year, you take an introductory module on ancient historiography: The Craft of the Ancient Historian

You will also take two interdisciplinary modules that serve to give you grounding in the central periods of Greek and Roman culture:
Remembering Athens
Monuments and Memory in the Age of Augustus

Other previous first-year optional modules included:
Beginners’ Latin and Greek
Intermediate Latin and Greek (if you have an A level or equivalent)
Greek Art and Architecture
Early Greek Philosophy
Socrates and the Socratics

**Year 2**
Historical modules in the second year offer deeper and broader surveys of political and social history from the Greek and Roman worlds. You will take at least three ancient history modules in your second year.

In addition, you can choose from a range of modules exploring literary, philosophical and cultural topics. If you choose to study Latin or Greek you may continue these courses in your second year. It is also possible to begin the study of Latin or Greek in the second year.

Historical offerings have previously included:
Athens, Sparta and the Greek World
The Hellenistic World
Crisis of The Roman Republic
Emperors and Dynasties.

Literary, cultural & philosophical topics have previously included:
Traditions of Epic
Greek Literature and The Near East
Interpreting Greek Tragedy Today
Creation and Cosmology
Ancient Political Thought & Action
Stoicism
Dialogues with Antiquity
Classical Receptions & Contemporary Cultures
Theatre & Spectacle in Ancient Rome
Myths of Transformation in Ovid’s Metamorphoses

**Year 3 (Year 4 if taking a Year Abroad)**
You will write a Dissertation in your third year. You will choose a topic at the end of your second year in consultation with an adviser, with who you will meet regularly for guidance throughout year three.

Third-year modules typically cover specific topics that arise out of the research interests of our members of staff. At least two of your third-year modules must focus on ancient historical subjects; you can also choose from modules which explore cultural, literary and philosophical themes. If you study Latin and Greek you can proceed to the next level, with the texts becoming more difficult or fragmentary.

Historical modules have previously included:
Greeks & Persians
Roman Syria
Writing Alexander
The Life & Times of Cicero
Urbs Roma
The Later Roman Empire

Literary, Philosophical & Cultural topics have previously included:
The Literature & Language of Ancient Babylon
Comedy & Tragedy, Laughter & Sorrow
Hellenistic Poetry: Theory and Practice
Roman Law & Latin Literature
Love and Sex in Ancient Poetry
Technologies of Knowledge in Antiquity
Knowledge and Doubt in Hellenistic Philosophy.
Classical Victorians

For this course the study of ancient languages is not required, though it is permitted as an option; and each year at least half of your modules must be on historical topics.

We review course structures and core content (in light of e.g. external and student feedback) every year, and will publish finalised core requirements for 2021 entry from September 2020. Please note that the list of optional modules available in any year will vary depending on available teaching staff. The lists above provide an example of the type of modules which may be offered.

For more information on this course, please see our website.