Course Synopsis:

The course examines the history of Ancient Greece and Rome from the Bronze Age to the collapse of the Roman Empire. Topics will include: Minoan-Mycenaean Civilizations, Homer and the Trojan War, Greek colonisation, the rise of the city-state, the Persian Wars, the Athenian democracy and empire, the Peloponnesian War, Alexander the Great, the Hellenistic world, the foundation of Rome, the Etruscans and early Rome, Rome’s rise to the dominant Mediterranean power, the fall of the Roman Republic, Augustus and the Founding of the Roman Empire, Rome’s major Emperors, and the collapse of the Roman Empire.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, an assiduous student will be able to:

1. analyse, critique and evaluate a range of ancient and scholarly source material;
2. appraise literary and historical sources of ancient Greek and Roman culture;
3. integrate literary and historical sources with other genres of ancient sources, such as archaeological, numismatic, and epigraphic material to synthesize a comprehensive understanding of Graeco-Roman antiquity;
4. describe and assess methods used by historians and archaeologists in the craft of historical study, and
5. express a critical understanding of the historical experience of ancient societies.

Method of Evaluation and Weights:

Library Assignment 1%
Term Test 5%
Midterm Exam 20%
Research Paper 20%
4 Preliminary Research Assignments    (1% each) =4%
Final Exam 50%
Total 100%

Texts Required:

• Sarah B. Pomeroy et al., A Brief History of Ancient Greece: Politics, Society and Culture. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
• Mary T. Boatwright, Daniel J. Gargola and Richard Talbert, A Brief History of the Romans. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.

Please note: This is a preliminary website description only. The department reserves the right to change without notice any information in this description. The final, binding course outline will be distributed in the first class of the semester.