Greek History: Problems and Sources
Module title | Greek History: Problems and Sources |
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Module code | CLA2001 |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
Credits | 30 |
Module staff | Professor Daniel Ogden (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 80 |
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Module description
This module introduces the history of the Greek world from the Archaic period to the rise of Rome. It explores who the ‘Greeks’ were, and how their culture came to dominate the eastern Mediterranean and beyond, as well as exploring in depth the different forms of ancient evidence that help us to reconstruct their world. This module offers an introduction not only to the political and military history of the Greek world, from the Persian Wars to the campaigns of Alexander and the eventual conquest by Rome, but also to their economic, social, religious and intellectual life.
Module aims - intentions of the module
- To provide an introduction to Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic Greek history.
- To develop an understanding, through a close study of ancient evidence and modern scholarship, of the limitations of textual evidence, as well as the general themes and problems of the periods and regions covered.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of Greek history, from the archaic period to the end of the Hellenistic kingdoms
- 2. Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of scholarly approaches to Greek history
- 3. Demonstrate detailed familiarity with key sources for Greek history
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relevant historiographical methods
- 5. Critically analyse and interpret a range of relevant ancient historical sources
- 6. Analyse and interpret the ideas and ideologies of ancient peoples
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Digest and organise diverse information into a coherent and analytical argument
- 8. Demonstrate advanced proficiency in writing different types of analytical reports
- 9. Conduct independent research
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:
- The emergence of the Greek polis
- The variety of political systems and constitutions
- The development of Athenian democracy and of the Spartan system
- The period of colonisation
- The Persian and the Peloponnesian Wars
- The development of Greek society, religion and culture
- The rise of Macedon and the crisis of classical Greece
- The conquests of Alexander and the establishment of the successor kingdoms
- The spread of Hellenism and interactions with native cultures
- The rise of Rome to Mediterranean hegemony
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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52 | 248 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled learning and teaching | 44 | 22 x 2 hour lectures |
Scheduled learning and teaching | 8 | 8 x 1 hour seminars |
Guided independent study | 248 | Independent study |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Close study of key primary and secondary texts in seminars, with broader discussions of issues | In-class | 1-7 | Verbal feedback from peers and lecturer |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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50 | 50 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Source analysis | 20 | 1000 words | 1-8 | Written and oral feedback |
Essay | 30 | 2500 words | 1-9 | Written and oral feedback |
Examination | 50 | 2 hours | 1-9 | Written and oral feedback |
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 |
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Source analysis | Source analysis | 1-8 | Referral/Deferral period |
Essay | Essay | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Examination | Examination | 1-9 | 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
Indicative ancient texts:
- Herodotus Histories
- Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War
- Xenophon, Hellenica
- Polybius, Histories
- Diodorus Siculus, Library of History
- Plutarch, Lives
- Appian, The Foreign Wars
Examples of general introductions:
- J.K. Davies, Democracy and Classical Greece, 2nd edition (London, 1993)
- A. Erskine (ed), A Companion to the Hellenistic World (Oxford 2003)
- S. Hornblower, The Greek World 479-323 BC, 3rd edition (London, 2002)
- R. Osborne, Greece in the Making 1200-479 BC, 2nd Edition (London, 2009)
- G. Shipley, The Greek World after Alexander 323-30 BC, (London, 2000)
- F.W. Walbank, The Hellenistic World, 2nd edition (London, 1992)
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Credit value | 30 |
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Module ECTS | 15 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 5 |
Available as distance learning? | Yes |
Origin date | 2011 |
Last revision date | 17/02/2021 |