Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis Dovetailing with, but not necessarily presupposing, ARY1010 the subject provides an overview of the Mediterranean world from the end of the Bronze Age until its domination by imperial Rome. The civilisations and cultures examined are those of Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Classical Greece (including Greek Sicily), the Hellenistic kingdoms, Etruria and Rome. In the process of studying their different political, social, economic and religious systems, students are confronted with varieties of source material upon which the reconstruction of ancient societies is based. Fundamental aims throughout are to introduce students to the methodology of archaeology and textual analysis and to train them in the critical appraisal of evidence. Students who complete the subjects will (i) have a basic knowledge of major cultures of the ancient Mediterranean, (ii) be aware of the differing political, social, economic and religious systems which each culture developed, (iii) be aware of the cultural and documentary exchange always operative in the Mediterranean area, (iv) be aware of the range of material (monuments, artefacts, documents and texts of other kinds) available for use in the reconstruction of ancient societies), (v) have acquired basic understanding of methodologies of archaeology and of textual anaylsis and (vi) have acquired basic training towards the development of critical appraisal of source material of whatever kind.
Assessment Written (2500 words): 55% + Examination (2 hours): 45%