Undergraduate Programs
200-300 Level Units
AHMG201 Gods and Athletes, Sports and Global Politics (4 cr points)
(Dr Kefallinos/A. Prof.McKechnie)
This unit covers the Olympics from its beginning in the eighth century
BC to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games as a unique way to explore the ancient
Mediterranean world, the spread of Greek culture under the Roman Empire
and the modern uses of antiquity by the Enlightenment and Greek nationalists.
AHST209/309 Early Christian Literature and Thought (4 cr points)
(Dr Forbes)
An examination of early Christian writings both as literary texts and as
witnesses to the variety of early Christian life and thought. New Testament
and other Gospel texts will be studied to determine what sort of literature
they are, what ideas they express, and what they reveal about the different
Christian groups of the period.
AHST221/321 Greek Drama and Society (4)
(Dr Phillips)
An examination of selected themes in Athenian society (social relations
including gender and sexuality, values and beliefs, religion) and politics
(polis identity, political ideology, political satire and comment) through
a study of the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes.
There will also be a brief consideration of the origins of Attic tragedy
and comedy and of Athenian dramatic festivals.
AHST222/322 Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World (4)
(Dr Forbes)
Alexander the Great's extraordinary conquests (towards the end of the fourth
century BC) opened up vast areas of the Ancient Near East to Greek influences.
This unit deals with the cultural history of the Mediterranean area, beginning
with Alexander's invasion of the Persian Empire, dealing in some detail
with his personality and policies. It follows the fortunes of his successors
in the third and second centuries BC, treating the 'Hellenisation' of native
peoples, and reactions to cultural change, down to the early first century
AD, under the Roman empire.
AHST231 Ciceronian Rome(4)
(Dr Beness)
This unit will examine the social and political history of the age of Gaius
Julius Caesar: the so-called last generation of the Roman Republic. It will
look at Rome as a society in transition and close with an examination of
Rome's political transformation with the dictatorship of Caesar and the
rise of his son and heir Octavian (Augustus).
AHST331 Early Rome (4)
(A/Prof. Hillard)
A study of Rome's self-definition and image of its own past from the period
of the kings to its rise to power in the Mediterranean (second century BC)
based on a critical study of Livy and other literary evidence.
AHST232/332 Rome and the Caesars (4)
(Dr Keegan)
A study of the Rome from 44 BC (the murder of Julius Caesar) to the end
of the reign of Hadrian (AD 138). There will be a large emphasis on political
history, but attention will also be paid to social, cultural and economic
developments. Evidence will be drawn from documents, monuments, artefacts
and the literature of the period.
AHST233/333 The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire in the West
(4)
(Dr Gillett)
The history of the Roman Empire from the late fourth to the sixth centuries,
with focus on the Latin West. The title, an Enlightenment construct, incorporates
both historical fact and a value judgment which is reflected in the writings
of contemporaries. Today its extrapolation beyond the realm of political
history is highly controversial, and invites inspection of the contribution
that Christianity and the Barbarian intruders made to Late Antiquity - Gibbon's
'triumph of barbarism and religion'. We will study the period through close
examination of a range of texts, from pagan histories to saints' lives.
AHST234/334 From Constantine to Theodora: Church and State in Late
Antiquity (4)
(Dr Edwell)
The age of Constantine was a watershed in European history; this unit traces
developments in politics, religion and literature from the fourth to the
mid-sixth centuries in the Eastern and Western empires. Major themes include
historiography, church/state relations and the role of women in society.
It may also provide an introduction to areas in Medieval and Byzantine history.
AHST235/335 Byzantium: East and West (4)
(Professor Nobbs/Dr Parry/Dr Mikkelsen)
This unit comprises the study of Byzantine history from Justinian to Alexios
Komnenos. It focuses on the continuity of the classical tradition, and on
contacts between the Byzantines and Arabs (East) and Medieval Spain (West).
Major themes include historiography and the role of women in society.
AHST239 From Ur to Babylon: A History of
Israel from Abraham to the Babylonian Exile (4)
(Dr Llewelyn)
A study of the traditions and history of the Jewish people from the foundation
of the nation through the period of the monarchy to the catastrophic events
of the early sixth century BCE. The Hebrew Bible and archaeological evidence
will be used as sources to reconstruct the history of the period and to
understand the theological responses to unfolding events. Critical scholarship
will be employed to interpret our historical sources.
AHST240/340 The Dead Sea Scrolls and Second Temple Judaism (4)
(Dr Llewelyn)
With the discoveries at Qumran a new insight into second-temple Judaism
was afforded. This unit will look at Josephus' description of the Essenes
and their suggested identity with the Qumran sectarians. More particularly
we will look at the beliefs and literature of the community and what this
tells us about them and their place in the Judaism of the times. All documents
will be read in English translation.
AHST250/350 The Roman Eastern Frontier (4)
(Professor Lieu/Dr Edwell)
This is an in-depth study of Rome's attempts to defend herself against a
resurgent Iran via the late third and early fourth century AD. Students
will have the chance to study both military and diplomatic history of the
two great empires as well as religious change. Archaeological evidence will
be used extensively to help us to reconstruct our knowledge of Roman defensive
systems.
AHST251/351 The New Testament in its Times (4)
(Dr Forbes)
This unit is a study of the New Testament within the political, social and
cultural context of the Jewish and Graeco-Roman world of the first century
CE. The unit will be based on the New Testament documents and other contemporary
evidence, and will investigate not only the historical contours of the period
and career of Jesus and the early Christian communities, but also the literary
genres and ideas encountered in the New Testament in their Jewish and Graeco-Roman
context.
AHST252/352 Pagans, Jews and Christians: Athens and Jerusalem (4)
(Dr Choat)
This unis focuses on the theme embodied in Tertullian's
question 'What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?' It uses contemporary sources
in translation as the basis for an examination of the relationship and
tensions between Greeks, Jews, and Christians, especially from the perspective
of the inheritors of the Classical tradition, the Romans.
AHST270/370 Women and Gender in the Ancient World (4)
(A/Prof. Hillard/Dr Beness)
A study of sexuality and gender in the Ancient Mediterranean world which
draws on the contributions of Women's History and feminist scholarship to
the study of antiquity.
AHST271/371 Ancient Greek Religion (4)
(Dr Phillips)
An examination of the sources for and approaches to the study of selected
religious traditions of the ancient world. The focus will be on the polis
religion of Athens in the archaic and classical periods. Topics covered
will include the definition of religion, sacrifice, votive religion, prayer,
piety and impiety, oracles, prophecy and divination, religious personnel,
sacred space - sanctuaries and temples, sacred laws, the cults of the gods
and of the heroes, festivals and religious change.
AHST272/372 The Classical Traditions of Thought (4)
(Dr Forbes)
This unit studies the origins and development of Greek and Roman philosophy
from the earliest "pre-Socratic" thinkers, in the 6th century
BCE, to St Augustine in the 4th century CE. The unit focuses on the beginnings
of Greek critical philosophical thinking, Socrates and Plato, Aristotle,
and the great philosophical schools of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
The impact of Roman, and then Judaio-Christian thinking on the developing
"Classical Tradition" are discussed, to show how these different
thought-worlds have shaped the mind-set of modern Western civilisation.
AHST274/374 Democracy and Empire: Athens 632-399 BC (4)
(Dr Phillips)
An examination of the social and political factors which resulted in the
transformation from aristocracy (seventh and eighth centuries BC) to direct
participatory democracy at Athens (fifth century BC). The democracy will
be analysed in the context of the Delian League, Athenian naval power and
the Peloponnesian War and its aftermath.
AHST375Topics in Ancient Chinese History (4)
(Professor Kane/Dr Mikkelsen)
A study of selected topics in ancient Chinese History, including warfare
and archaeology, the unification of the empire, the cosmopolitan civilisation
of the Tang, the Silk Road, Manichaeism and Nestorianism, the Rise of the
Mongols, Marco Polo and the Tarim mummies.
AHST280 Ancient History Special Topic A (4)
The topics in this unit will vary from time to time. Students may choose
one of the following topics. Please consult the Ancient History Office for
timetable for the various topics. (Students who wish to take a second topic
should enrol in AHST281):
Topics:
Greek C: Ancient Greek Texts
(Dr Evans)
This unit is open to those who have successfully completed AHST206 or equivalent.
It aims to develop the skills of history students in order to support advanced
study of ancient Greek. The unit offers a systematic analysis of grammar
(especially the structure of sentences) and detailed investigation of original
texts. The texts studied include Lysias, Herodotus, Plato, and documentary
papyri, and bring out the concepts of dialectal variation and historical
development in the classical and post-classical periods.
Latin C: Latin Texts
(Dr Evans)
This unit is open to those who have successfully completed AHST208 or equivalent.
It aims to develop the skills of history students in order to support
advanced study of ancient and medieval Latin. The unit offers a systematic
analysis of grammar (especially the structure of sentences) and detailed
investigation of original texts. The texts studied include Cicero, Virgil,
Bede, and documentary texts, and bring out the concepts of historical development
and diversity in the classical and medieval periods..
Coptic I - Sahidic
(Dr Behlmer)
An introduction to the Coptic script and language. Sahidic is the
oldest written Coptic dialect, chosen for the official translation of the
bible made by the church at the end of the 2nd century AD. It was the standard
literary dialect until the 10th century.
Coptic I - Bohairic
(Dr Behlmer)
An introduction to the Coptic script and language based on the Bohairic
form of Coptic. Bohairic, alongside Sahidic, is the most important dialect
of the Coptic language and preserved in a variety of texts from early Bible
translations to Medieval sermons and saints' lives. It is still in use today
as the liturgical language of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Coptic II - Sahidic
(Dr Behlmer)
This unit builds upon Coptic I. It will offer students the opportunity to
consolidate their knowledge of the Coptic language through a study of a
range of Sahidic texts.
Coptic II - Bohairic
(Dr Behlmer)
This unit builds upon Coptic I - Bohairic. It offers students the opportunity
to consolidate their knowledge of the Coptic language through a study of a range
of Bohairic texts.
Akkadian I
(Dr Weeks)
An introduction to the Akkadian (Babylonian-Assyrian) language and
the cuneiform script for students without previous experience of either.
Students will work through the basic grammar of the language and the most
common signs of the script.
Cities of the Roman East: Ephesos and Aphrodisias
(A. Prof. Paul McKechnie)
This unit will provide an in-depth study of two key of Roman Asia Minor:
Ephesos and Aphrodisias. The unit will cover topics such as urbanisation,
Romanisation and Christianisation. Particular emphasis will be given to
the development of urban institutions and architecture as well as to imperial
relations with the cities. Students who have taken this topic in AHST380
or AHST381 are precluded from taking this option.
AHST281 Ancient History Special Topic B (4)
This unit is for students who wish to take a second option from those listed
for AHST280.
AHST380 Ancient History Special Topic C (4)
The topics in this unit will vary from time to time. Students may choose
one of the following topics. Please consult the Ancient History Office for
timetable for the various topics. (Students who wish to take a second topic
should enrol in AHST381):
Topics:
Greek D: Advanced Ancient Greek Texts
(Dr Evans)
This unit is open to those who have successfully completed the Greek C
option of AHST280 or AHST281 or its equivalent. It aims to help history
students develop advanced skills in ancient Greek. The unit completes the
systematic analysis of grammar (especially the structure of sentences)
begun in Greek C and investigates a range of original texts. The texts
studied include Thycydides or Demosthenes, Homer, Xenophon, the Septuagint,
and documentary papyri and inscriptions, and bring out the concepts of
dialectal variation and historical development in the classical and post-classical
periods.
Latin D: Advanced Latin Texts
(Dr Evans)
This unit is open to those who have successfully completed the Latin C
option of AHST280 or AHST281 or its equivalent. It aims to help history
students develop advanced skills in ancient and medieval Latin. The unit
completes the systematic analysis of grammar (especially the structure
of sentences) begun in Latin C and investigates a range of original texts.
The texts studied include Tacitus, Caesar, Catullus, Pliny, Gervais of
Tilbury, the letter of Cornelia, and documentary tablets and inscriptions,
and bring out the concepts of historical development and diversity in the
classical and medieval periods.
Advanced Coptic Texts
(Dr Behlmer)
This unit will cover a wide variety of Coptic texts and discuss the history
of Coptic literature.
Texts of the Middle Kingdom
(A/Prof. Ockinga)
A study of the history of Egypt in the Middle Kingdom based on a reading
of textual sources in the original language and archaeological evidence.
This unit is open to students who have completed AHST260 and AHST360. Central
historical texts of the Middle Kingdom will be read (in hieroglyphs) and
interpreted, drawing on archaeological evidence.
Aegean Bronze Age Archaeology: The Prehistory of Greece
(Drs Sheedy/Menadier)
An archaeologically-orientated material culture study of the Bronze Age
communities of the Aegean during the third and secoind millennia BC. Beginning
with the Cycladic cultures of the Early Bronze Age, the unit explores the
Minoan civilization on Crete, the legendary Asia Minor city of Troy, and
the Greek mainland centres governed by Mycenae.
Cities of the Roman East: Ephesos and Aphrodisias
(A. Prof. Paul McKechnie)
This unit will provide an in-depth study of two key of Roman Asia Minor:
Ephesos and Aphrodisias. The unit will cover topics such as urbanisation,
Romanisation and Christianisation. Particular emphasis will be given to
the development of urban institutions and architecture as well as to imperial
relations with the cities. Students who have taken this topic in AHST280
or AHST281 are precluded from taking this option.
Introduction to Coptic Art and Archaeology
(Dr Behlmer)
This unit will deal with the art and archaeology of Egypt in Late Antiquity.
Themes studied will include ecclesiastical and non-ecclesiastical arthitecture,
settlement and cemetery archaeology, paintings and decorative motifs, objects
of daily life and religious iconography.
Egypt in the First Millennium CE
(Dr Behlmer)
An overview of Egyptian society, economy and culture in the period from
the Roman conquest of Egypt to the Fatimid period. Topics such as natural
resources and the built environment, government and taxation, agriculture
and trade, the structure of society, ethnicity, literacy and bilingualism
(Greek, Demotic and the rise of Coptic), the growth and development of Christianity,
and the fate of Egyptian Christianity in the first centuries after the Arab
conquest will be examined.
Monasticism in Egypt
(Dr Behlmer)
A study of the monastic movement in Egypt. Emphasis will be on the formative
period and its influence on monastic movements in the West. The material
culture of monasticism in Egypt, including monastic archaeology and architecture,
aspects of daily life and burial customs, will also be considered.
Voices from Coptic Egypt
(Dr Behlmer)
This unit will introduce students to the wealth of texts from Late Antique and
Medieval Egypt written in Coptic, both original and translated: religious texts
such as biblical and non-canonical texts in their Coptic translations, saints'
lives, sermons or theological treatises, but also reflecting the spiritual and
personal interests of the individual such as magical and medical texts, personal
letters, contracts and tax documents. Knowledge of the Coptic language is not
necessary for this unit, as original texts will be studied in translation.
AHST381 Ancient History Special Topic D
This unit is for students who wish to take a second option from those listed
in AHST380.
AHST382 Advanced Study in Ancient History (4)
(Ancient History staff)
This unit is open to BAncHist (Hons) students only.
Such students may select and enrol in any unit from the Coursework Masters
program in Ancient History, Egyptology, Coptic Studies or Early Christian
and Jewish Studies, providing they meet the relevant prerequisities or
selection procedures for that unit.
AHST383 Ancient History Reading Unit (2)
(Dr Plant)
This unit consists of reading, research and essay work based on an AHST300
level unit already completed or taken concurrently. Choice of topic limited
by availability of a supervisor. See the Convener for further details before
enrolment.
Last updated October 2008
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