THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2022/2023

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of History, Classics and Archaeology : Ancient History

Undergraduate Course: Studying Ancient History 4 (ANHI10070)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of History, Classics and Archaeology CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course aims to introduce students to the study of a particular topic in Ancient History. The topic is chosen by the course organiser for each outing of the course. Topics may include (but are not restricted to) larger areas of study, such as: The Roman economy; Diet in the ancient world; or Ancient imperialism. The core aim of the course is to teach students how to approach the study of a defined topic, how to access the relevant sources and the modern debate, and how to identify important questions and understudied areas within the study of the relevant topic. Students will also learn how the studied topic relates to other areas of ancient and modern history, as well as the study of the ancient world more generally. Specific thematic information for each outing of this course will be provided during the course selection process.
Course description There is no predetermined contextual syllabus because the teaching schedule will change with each outing of the course depending on the chosen course topic.
The schedule given here is indicatory of the methodological and source-based issues covered in this course but will change depending on the particular topic for study:
W1: Introduction: evidence and models in ancient history;
W2: Approaching the topic: the modern historiography;
W3: The evidence: literary sources;
W4: The evidence: epigraphic evidence;
W5: The evidence: archaeological evidence;
W6: Viewpoints: geography;
W7: Viewpoints: chronology;
W8: Viewpoints: gender
W9: Viewpoints: class
W10: Beyond ancient history: the topic in other periods;
W11: Conclusion: looking at the wider context.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Ancient History 2a: Past and Present in the Ancient World (ANHI08014) AND Ancient History 2b: Themes and Theories in Ancient History (ANHI08013)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements A Pass in 'Ancient History 2a: Past and Present in the Ancient World' [ANHI08014] AND in 'Ancient History 2b: Themes and Theories in Ancient History' [ANHI08013], is normally required; or at the discretion of the Course Organiser.
Additional Costs c. £25 for a text book
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should usually have at least 3 courses in Classics related subject matter (at least 2 of which should be in Ancient History) at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  10
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Two pieces of coursework that total up to 5000 words (or equivalent) - 100%
Feedback Students will receive written feedback on their coursework, and will have the opportunity to discuss that feedback further with the Course Organiser during their published office hours or by appointment.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate familiarity with a range of evidence - esp. literary, epigraphic, archaeological - for the study of the course topic;
  2. demonstrate Engage critically with the both the relevant ancient evidence and the modern debate
  3. Understand the different modern approaches to the study of the course topic and the topic's interrelatedness with the study of other topics in ancient history.
  4. Conduct a sustained individual inquiry into a particular aspect of the course topic (in the coursework essay);
  5. Relate the studied topic to its occurrence in different periods and geographies.
Reading List
There is no predetermined reading list because the bibliography will change with each outing of the course depending on the chosen course topic. A number of seminal methodological and source-oriented studies will be utilised on a regular basis, but they are not a good reflection of the thematic course bibliography:
R.S. Bagnall, Reading Papyri, Writing Ancient History. London and NY, 1995
J. Bodel, Epigraphic Evidence: Ancient History from Inscriptions. London, NY 2001
M.H. Crawford (ed.), Sources for Ancient History Cambridge, 1984
C. W. Hedrick, Ancient History: Monuments and Documents. Oxford, 2006
K. Hopkins, 'Rules of evidence', JRS 68 (1978), 178-86
C. Howgego, Ancient History from Coins. London and NY. 1995
M.I. Finley, Ancient History: Evidence and Models London, 1985
C. Pelling, Literary Texts and the Greek Historian, London and NY, 1999
D.S. Potter, Literary Texts and the Roman Historian. London and New York, 1999
O.F. Robinson, The Sources of Roman Law: Problems and Method for Ancient Historians. London and NY, 1996
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills In addition to the ILOs listed above that contain already some transferable skills (such as the capacity to compare cognate yet complex materials), students who successfully complete the course will also gain:
- an enhancement of critical skills in reading and debate through engagement with alternative approaches and ideas;
- an improvement of skills in conducting research and writing essays;
- an ability to work in and with a team;
- verbal communication skills, esp. through class discussion and oral presentations/contributions.
KeywordsStudying AH 4
Contacts
Course organiserMs Laura Donati
Tel:
Email: ldonati@exseed.ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Sara Dennison
Tel: (0131 6)50 2501
Email: Sara.Dennison@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information