Philip II and Alexander the Great of Macedon
| Module title | Philip II and Alexander the Great of Macedon |
|---|---|
| Module code | CLA3028 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Lynette Mitchell (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 17 |
|---|
Module description
This module provides an overview of the reigns of Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great (from 359 to 323 BC). It falls into two parts, the first of which considers the rise of Macedon under Philip, and the second the conquest of Asia under Alexander. Particular attention is paid to the nature of our sources for both kings, and the limitations on what we can really know about the nature of their rule. As well as issues relating to Macedonian politics in the period, consideration will also be given to developments in warfare, and how the nature of Macedonian kingship had to change to adapt to new circumstances.
This module is suitable for students who have undertaken modules at levels I and II in ancient history, especially Greek History: Problems and Sources or Comparing Empires and Imperialism, but also modules in Roman History.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aims of this module are:
- To consider the period of rule of both Philip II and Alexander III of Macedon, and especially Alexander's conquest of Asia.
- To explore the reasons for the military and diplomatic successes both of Philip and of Alexander, as well as their failures.
- To investigate models of kingship and empire and how they were developed under Alexander.
- To consider whether it is possible, given the nature of the sources, to form an accurate understanding of the character and personality of Alexander the Great.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Describe, analyse and evaluate the nature and extent of Philip and Alexander's success in forming and maintaining an extended empire
- 2. Analyse and evaluate a range of sources for historical purposes, particularly the literary sources for Philip and Alexander
- 3. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of models of kingship and empire developed under Alexander
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Describe in detail and evaluate the historical events of a crucial period of ancient history
- 5. Demonstrate a keen awareness of the challenges posed by the nature of our sources for our understanding of the ancient world
- 6. Demonstrate an understanding of the history of the wider ancient world beyond the bounds of Greece and Rome
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Demonstrate the ability to construct a strong and coherent argument by digesting and organising diverse information
- 8. Demonstrate advanced skills in conducting independent research
- 9. Demonstrate strong presentation skills, including the production of effective visual aids (e.g. handouts/PowerPoint presentations)
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
(Term 1):
- The Macedonian state: territory, people, religion and kingship
- Macedonians and Greeks in the fifth century
- The Greek background in the fourth century
- New kinds of warfare in the fourth century
- The succession of Philip II
- Philip and Athens
- Philip and the Greeks
(Term 2):
- Source criticism and the many faces of Alexander
- The conquest of Asia
- Army & tactics
- Imperial administration
- Alexander and the Macedonians
- Macedonians and Iranians
- The divinity of Alexander
- The Successors
- Macedonian imperialism: success and failure
- The historical Alexander?
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 44 | Seminar (1 x 2 hours per week) |
| Guided Independent Study | 256 | Independent study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in seminar discussion | Weekly | 1-8 | Oral feedback from lecturer and peers |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 40 | 10 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 4000 words | 1-8 | Mark and written comments |
| Presentation | 10 | 10 minutes | 1-9 | Mark and written comments |
| Two gobbet tests | 40 | 2 x 1 hour (20% each) | 1-7 | Mark and written comments |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 1-8 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Presentation | Transcript of presentation (1000 words) with accompanying handout and/or visual aid | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Gobbet test | Gobbet test | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Set texts:
- Aeschines, Speeches, Loeb (available online) (Term 1)
- Demosthenes 19 (on ELE), Olynthiacs I-III, Philippic III (on ELE) [Term 1].
- Isocrates, Philippus (on ELE) [Term 1].
- Diodorus, Library of History (v. 16) (Loeb, vols 7-8) [Term 1].
- Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, books 7-12 [Terms 1 & 2] (on ELE).
- Arrian, Alexander the Great (Oxford World’s Classics), OR History of Alexander (2 vols) (Loeb)[Term 2].
- Diodorus Siculus, Book 17 (Loeb, vol. 8) [Term 2].
- Quintus Curtius, History of Alexander (Loeb) [Term 2].
- Plutarch, Life of Alexander (on ELE) [Term 2].
Suggested reading:
- E.N. Borza, In the Shadow of Olympus, Princeton, 1990.
- A.B. Bosworth, Conquest and Empire. The Reign of Alexander the Great, Cambridge, 1988.
- N.G.L. Hammond, Alexander the Great: King, Commander and Statesman, London, 1981.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | The successful completion of at least 90 credits at Level 2, 30 credits of which must be in Classics & Ancient History. |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 2011 |
| Last revision date | 16/02/2022 |
