http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/schools/hgs
Room W604, West Wing, Menzies building, Clayton campus
(03) 9905 2172
The School of Historical Studies offers units in the disciplines of history,
archaeology and ancient history, and religion and theology, and in the fields
of Christian theology, Jewish civilisation, comparative religion, medieval and
renaissance studies, gender studies, military history, cultural and social
history, Aboriginal history, European history and Australian and Asian studies.
As well as providing knowledge of specific disciplines and fields, courses
taught in the School of Historical Studies offer students the opportunity of
developing skills of research and analysis and enhancing their skills in
written and oral communication. In particular, tutorials and class projects are
designed to give students practical experience of the balance of teamwork,
flexibility and independent learning critical to a successful professional
career. Some units offered in the school, such as `Archaeology and archive
studies', `Teaching history', and `Public history', have a specifically
vocational aspect.
Area coordinator: Dr C A Hope
Archaeology and ancient history is the study and reconstruction of past societies and their evolution. It deals with every aspect of ancient life based upon all surviving data. Within an historical framework, material culture - art, architecture, ceramics, objects of daily use - is considered along with social structure, religious beliefs and cultural philosophy. All categories of written evidence are utilised extensively. The development of the ancient Mediterranean is studied both in a broad context and in relation to specific cultural groups, over an extensive timeframe and in great detail for major events and achievements, and even personalities.
At Monash, there is a focus upon the study of complex societies, from the
first urban communities to the Age of Empires. We deal primarily with ancient
Egypt over a 5000-year timespan, Minoan Crete, Mycenaean and Classical Greece,
the Hellenistic and Roman worlds, and Ancient Israel. But the Assyrians,
Babylonians, Hittites, Persians and Etruscans are all encountered, as are early
city states in the Near East. The interaction between these cultures is
emphasised and their contribution to the contemporary world examined.
Archaeology, history and anthropology are ideal combinations, and since
archaeology plays a major role in the reconstruction of all but the most recent
past, it can be a valuable complement to all cultural studies.
No previous study of archaeology and ancient history is required to commence a
major or minor sequence in archaeology and ancient history at Monash. In all
units, attendance at tutorials is compulsory and repeated absence without good
reason may result in the unit being failed. Lectures are often audiotaped;
lecturers regularly make extensive use of visual materials.
Honours courses can be undertaken in the archaeology and ancient history of the
Mediterranean. Combined honours may be taken in archaeology and ancient history
and other disciplines (eg history, geography, and anthropology) provided
that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and subject to
the approval of the honours coordinators or heads of the relevant schools.
All intending postgraduate students must discuss their proposed research
programs with the section head.
Dr Colin Hope
Room S619, South Wing, Menzies building,
Clayton campus
Telephone: (03) 9905 3262
Email:
colin.hope@arts.monash.edu.au
Dr Gillian Bowen
Room S620, South Wing, Menzies building, Clayton
campus
Telephone: (03) 99053264
Email:
gillian.bowen@arts.monash.edu.au
Ms Liisa Williams
Room W605, West Wing, Menzies building, Clayton
campus
Telephone: (03) 9905 2199
Email:
liisa.williams@arts.monash.edu.au
History is a discipline that looks back at the past and tries to understand where we - as individuals, societies and national groups - have come from. In part, therefore, history may be said to be the study and representation of past events, lives, places, ideas and institutions. This means history is full of fascinating and exciting stories that connect and resonate with - but also counterpoint - our own. But history also looks to the past for understandings about the origin of things. How did the notion of democracy arise? Why do most of us live in cities? When was the expression ´teenager´ first used? Why are India and Pakistan implacable antagonists? What made the United States the most powerful country in the world? Investigating the past, we learn more about ourselves.
Associate Professor David Garrioch
Room W613, West Wing,
Menzies building, Clayton campus
Telephone:
(03) 9905 2175
Email: david.garrioch@arts.monash.edu.au
Dr Peter Howard
Room W618, West Wing, Menzies building, Clayton
campus
Telephone: (03) 9905 9209
Email:
peter.howard@arts.monash.edu.au
Liisa Williams
W605, West Wing, Menzies building, Clayton
campus
Telephone: (03) 9905 2199
Email:
liisa.williams@arts.monash.edu.au
Units offered within the Centre for the Study of Jewish Civilisation encompass a number of diverse disciplines and areas of study which reflect the very nature of Jewish civilisation itself. Accordingly, a primary objective of this centre is to equip students with an understanding of Jewish civilisation in its many aspects - language and literature, history, theology, philosophy, law, politics and sociology.
Students do not necessarily have to choose JWC units to make up a minor or major sequence in Jewish civilisation. Units coded with a JWC prefix encompass studies in language and literature (both Hebrew and Yiddish), Jewish law and Jewish ethics and philosophy, as well as studies in Jewish religion and theology. Students can also pursue a wide range of studies that relate to the Jewish historical experience - ancient, medieval and modern. Relevant units of study are coded with an HSY prefix. In addition, at second and third-year levels, students can include an archaeology (ARY) unit dealing with Israel and the ancient Near East, as well as a religion and theology (RLT) unit which focuses on a comparative study of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Mr Paul Forgasz
Associate Director of the Centre
Room S607,
South Wing, Menzies building, Clayton campus
Telephone: (03) 9905
2160
Email: paul.forgasz@arts.monash.edu.au
Professor Andrew Markus
Director of the Centre
Room S613, South Wing,
Menzies building, Clayton campus
Telephone: (03) 9905 2200
Email:
andrew.markus@arts.monash.edu.au
All human cultures reflect on the meaning of life through myth, symbol and abstract reflection. Studying the religions and theologies of different cultures, within a variety of historical contexts, is both an important intellectual exercise and a fascinating process that provokes many questions about the past, the present and the future. The Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology enables students to complete a major or a minor sequence in religious studies and/or specifically Christian theology, from a non-confessional perspective. The centre also encourages students to consider enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Theology. This involves applying both to Monash and to one of the affiliated teaching institutions of the Melbourne College of Divinity for the Bachelor of Theology (for more details, see Arts/Theology entry earlier in this section).
Students do not necessarily have to choose an RLT unit at first year to make up a minor or major sequence in religion and theology. At first year, they can study the history of Christian spirituality, Jewish civilisation or units in any other first-year discipline, such as history, philosophy and English etc. Second or third-year sequences in religion and theology can be created in a variety of ways. One sequence can be built around the study of Judaism, Christianity and Islam (RLT2470/RLT3470) and Eastern religions (RLT2480/RLT3480), another can combine study of contemporary spiritualities and society (SCY2290/SCY3290) with study of myth and meaning in ancient worlds (RLT2190/RLT3190). Students can also study units on Christian theology at second or third-year level. It is possible to include within an RLT sequence a variety of other units from within the Arts faculty that relate in one way or another to religion or theology. At honours level, students can study religion and society and/or contemporary hermeneutics as well as engaging on a research project. Individual RLT units can also be taken as part of a sequence in history or in archaeology and ancient history.
Associate Professor Constant Mews
Director of the Centre for
Studies in Religion and Theology
Room S616, South Wing, Menzies building,
Clayton campus
Telephone: (03) 9905 2185
Email:
constant.mews@arts.monash.edu.au
For details, see `Outline of studies' earlier in this section.
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