Archaeology
and ancient history
History
International studies*
Jewish
civilisation
Religion and theology
* Administration of this interdisciplinary program resides in the School of Historical Studies.
http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/schools/hgs
Room W604, West Wing, Menzies building, Clayton campus
+
61 3 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, units 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.
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, anthropology, classical studies and history 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. 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 director.
Dr
Colin Hope
Director, Centre for Archaeology and Ancient History
Room
S619, South Wing, Menzies building, Clayton campus
Telephone: + 61 3 9905
3262
Email: colin.hope@arts.monash.edu.au
Dr Gillian Bowen
Room S620, South Wing, Menzies building, Clayton
campus
Telephone: + 61 3 9905 3264
Email:
gillian.bowen@arts.monash.edu.au
Ms Liisa Williams
Coursework officer
Room W605, West Wing, Menzies
building, Clayton campus
Telephone: + 61 3 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.
Liisa
Williams
Coursework officer
W605, West Wing, Menzies building, Clayton
campus
Telephone: + 61 3 9905 2199
Email:
liisa.williams@arts.monash.edu.au
Professor Barbara Caine
Head of school
Room W613, West Wing, Menzies
building, Clayton campus
Telephone: + 61 3 9905 2197
Email:
barbara.caine@arts.monash.edu.au
Dr Peter Howard
Coursework coordinator
Room W618, West Wing, Menzies
building, Clayton campus
Telephone: + 61 3 9905 9209
Email:
peter.howard@arts.monash.edu.au
International
studies is a cross-disciplinary major which begins by examining the history of
the 20th century before moving on to study the issues facing the world as it
moves into the 21st century. International studies brings to life the issues
and events that have shaped, and continue to shape, our world. As the world
globalises and nations and economies become more integrated, it is important to
understand our world and the ideas and beliefs of our neighbours and trading
partners. In order to compete in the international marketplace of products,
ideas and knowledge, we need to understand and respect the cultures and beliefs
of others.
International studies is administered by the School of Historical Studies, but
units are taught by a number of schools in the Faculty of Arts.
Dr
Marc Brodie
Room W621, West Wing, Menzies building, Clayton
campus
Telephone: + 61 3 9905 2169
Email:
marc.brodie@arts.monash.edu.au
Liisa Williams
Coursework officer
W605, West Wing, Menzies building,
Clayton campus
Telephone: + 61 3 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.
Upon completion of an arts degree, students can undertake an honours program in
Jewish civilisation, subject to their meeting the normal entry requirements for
admission into a BA(Hons) course.
Mr
Paul Forgasz
Associate director
Australian Centre for the Study of
Jewish Civilisation
Room S607, South Wing, Menzies building, Clayton
campus
Telephone: + 61 3 9905 2160
Email:
paul.forgasz@arts.monash.edu.au
Professor Andrew Markus
Director
Australian Centre for the Study of
Jewish Civilisation
Room S613, South Wing, Menzies building, Clayton
campus
Telephone: + 61 3 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
Christian theology. 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 the
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 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
Centre for Studies in Religion and
Theology
Room S616, South Wing, Menzies building, Clayton
campus
Telephone: +61 3 9905 2185
Email:
constant.mews@arts.monash.edu.au
For details, see `Outline of undergraduate studies' earlier in this section.
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