The Ancient History minor focuses on two of the great civilisations of the ancient Mediterranean, Greece and Rome. These civilisations have been enormously influential down to modern times: the Greeks invented democracy, history, philosophy and the scientific method, while the Mediterranean has never again been united as it was under Roman rule, and Rome’s legacy continues to resonate in modern oratory, law, urbanization and international relations. Much of Western culture claims descent from Greece and Rome, yet these ancient societies were also exotically different from our own.
The First Year courses in Ancient History treat Classical Greece and Late Republican Rome, while also training students in how to use and read ancient sources (in translation). Later Year courses will cover a range of periods and aspects of Greek and Roman history, including politics, war and imperialism, society and economy, and mythology, art and architecture.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- speak with some authority on ancient Greek and Roman history;
- think critically and analytically about major issues and controversies in ancient Greek and Roman history;
- write more effectively and critically, and master oral communication;
- distinguish between primary and secondary sources and critically evaluate them;
- demonstrate an ability to manage their time, schedules and deadlines effectively
- develop a global perspective by studying the histories of two very different and chronologically distant cultures
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This minor requires the completion of 24 units, which must include:
12 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANCH1013 | Ancient Athens: democracy and empire | 6 |
| ANCH1014 | Rome: Republic to Empire | 6 |
| CLAS1003 | The Myths of Greece and Rome: Mortals, Immortals, and Monsters | 6 |
12 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANCH2016 | Bad neighbours: Law and life in ancient Athens | 6 |
| ANCH2017 | Emperors and Madmen: The Early Roman Empire | 6 |
| ANCH2020 | A region in antiquity: Gallipoli and western Turkey | 12 |
| ANCH2021 | Ancient World in Film | 6 |
| ANCH2022 | Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World | 6 |
| ANCH2025 | Imperialism, Conquest and Colonisation in the Ancient Mediterranean World | 6 |
| ANCH2026 | Rome: After Empire (Europe 400–800 AD) | 6 |
| ANCH2102 | State, sanctuary and community: archaeology of settlement and memory in ancient Greece | 12 |