Life and Labour in the Ancient World (U03380)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : HCA-3-LILA

How did the ancients live? How did an ancient Greek peasant family get hold of their daily bread? How did a Roman town dweller do in this respect? How did women contribute to their families' income? And how did men? And what about children? And to what extent were their efforts similar? And to what extent did their efforts change over time? And why should we bother finding out about it? These and similar questions will be at the core of this course, which is set to investigate what is generally referred to as the ancient economy. The course thus aims to be an introduction to an extremely important topic for the study of the ancient world.
The course will deal with some of the most complex and intriguing questions of the study of the ancient economy, and the range of historical problems to be worked on will cut right across periodical and geographic boundaries - from Roman Italy to Classical Athens and beyond. It should enable students to gain an understanding of the centrality of the economy for ancient societies as well as of the importance of the modern debate in both a Greek and Roman context.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : A Pass in a 1st or 2nd Level Ancient History or Classical World course, or at discretion of course organiser.

? Special Arrangements for Entry : In order for a student from outwith Classics to be enrolled, contact must be made with a Course Secretary on 50 3580 in order for approval to be obtained.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Ancient History, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Other subject areas

Classical Art/Classical Archaeology, (School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Schedule E)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) 30 minutes per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	16:10	18:00	Central

? Additional Class Information : A further 30 minutes per week to be arranged with students.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course the student will be able to demonstrate in written examination, course work and in class discussion:
- an understanding of the complexity of the topic;
- an understanding of the modern debate on the ancient economy;
- an understanding of evidence available for study of the ancient economy;
- an understanding of the social and political structures evident in ancient societies that determine and that are being determined by the economy;
- familiarity with the main ancient and modern contributions to the ancient economy;
- familiarity with real artefacts (in a museum context);
- bibliographical research skills to enable students to find independently additional information and epigraphic material relating to the study of the ancient economy.

In doing so, the student will also demonstrate:-
- an ability to deal independently with a highly diversified body of material;
- an ability to develop lateral thinking and to view things in a wider perspective;
- analytical skills;
- team work skills;
- an ability to concentrate on important aspects, and to make use of these in a meaningful way;
- an ability to communicate ones own findings and opinions clearly and lucidly;
- oral presentation skills;
- written communication skills.