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:
A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:
| 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 |
| CLAS1004 | Literature of the Classical World (Texts in Translation) | 6 |
A maximum of 24 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANCH2015 | Travellers and Geographers in Antiquity | 6 |
| ANCH2017 | Emperors and Madmen: The Early Roman Empire | 6 |
| ANCH2021 | Ancient World in Film | 6 |
| ANCH2022 | The Rise of the Roman Empire | 6 |
| ANCH2026 | Rome: After Empire (Europe 400–800 AD) | 6 |
| ANCH2027 | Rome: Crisis and Consolidation (193-313 AD) | 12 |
| ANCH2101 | Cultures in conflict: Greeks, Romans and others in southern Italy and Sicily | 12 |
| ANCH2102 | State, sanctuary and community: archaeology of settlement and memory in ancient Greece | 12 |
| ANCH3503 | Bad Neighbours: Law and life in ancient Athens | 6 |
| ANCH3504 | Imperialism, Conquest and Colonisation in the Ancient Mediterranean World | 6 |
| ANCH3506 | Dark Age to Democracy: early Greek history, 1000-480 BC | 6 |
| CLAS3000 | Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasion in the Ancient and Modern Worlds | 6 |
