Level
1: Foundation half units
Introduction
to Greek literature [CLAF001]
An introductory historical and critical survey of classical
Greek literature from Homer to the Alexandrian age, with
texts studied in translation.
Introduction
to Roman literature [CLAF002]
An introductory unit studying, with reference to select
works in translation, the chronology and development of
the main literary genres from the beginnings of Latin literature
to the mid-second century.
Introduction to ancient philosophy [CLAF003]
An introductory unit aiming both to inform students about
ancient philosophical ideas and to introduce them to philosophical
argument. It combines a brief survey of the principal ancient
philosophers, from the Presocratics to Aristotle, with study
of selected texts, in translation, on the topic of courage,
including Plato’s Laches.
Greek
history and the city-state [CLAF004]
(expected to be examined for the first time in 2005)
An introductory unit examining Greek history, society and
institutions from the beginning to the late fourth century
BC with particular attention to the problems and methods
of reconstructing the past from the ancient sources, the
historical context of Greek literature, and the development
of the city-state.
Roman history and society: the Julio-Claudians [CLAF005]
An introductory unit dealing with the history and political,
social and economic institutions of Rome and her empire
from AD 14 to AD 68. The unit aims to provide an introduction
both to the period being studied through excerpts from the
ancient sources in translation, and to the methods and approaches
available to the ancient historian.
The birth
of Christian Europe [CLAF006]
An introductory unit dealing with the transformation of
the ancient world in the period from the end of the fourth
century to the seventh century AD. The unit focuses on Gaul
and Italy in the period from the rise of the Christian Church
and the formal division of the Roman empire into East and
West to the effective end of Roman power in the West with
the Byzantine conquest of Italy and subsequent political
turmoil.
Introduction
to Greek archaeology [CLAF007]
An introductory unit designed to familiarise students with
the material culture of Greek civilisation from the Late
Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period, and also the principal
forms of Greek art and architecture, with their stylistic
development and social context. The latter part of the unit
will introduce the student to questions of production and
trade, and to different archaeological theories and interpretations
and their relationship with Greek archaeology.
Introduction
to Roman art [CLAF008]
(expected to be examined for the first time in 2005)
An introductory unit designed to familiarise students with
the principal forms of Roman artistic culture (architecture,
painting and mosaics, statuary, sarcophagi, coins, metal-ware,
glass and pottery), from the 2nd century BC to the fourth
century AD, and with past and current theories regarding
their use as evidence of intellectual, social and economic
life in the Roman empire.
Level 2:
Intermediate full units
Homer [CLAI009]
A study of the Iliad and Odyssey in translation,
looking both at the texts in detail and the broad themes
with which they deal, and investigating the historical and
artistic background.
Virgil [CLAI010]
A literary study of the Virgilian corpus in translation,
and of its artistic and political context.
Greek history
to 322 BC [CLAI011]
This unit covers Greek political and social history from
Homer to Alexander, from the emergence of classical Greek
civilisation and institutions in the ninth century BC to
the break-up of the classical Greek world at the hands of
Macedon.
Augustus:
propaganda and power [CLAI012]
This unit studies the means by which the first Roman emperor
was able to establish monarchical power and then create
a structure of consent within which that power could be
exercised and handed on. Stress is laid on changes within
the social and political institutions of the Roman state
as much as on analysis of the events of the reign. The sources
used include not only the historians of the period but inscriptional
and visual evidence.
Greek and Roman architecture
[CLAI013]
This unit studies the practice of architecture and building
in the Greek and Roman world, investigating such themes as
the development of architectural orders, the role of
architects, the design process, the sources and supply of
building materials and techniques, planning of cities and
other forms of settlement, and civic, religious, funerary
and domestic building types.
Roman Britain [CLAI014]
This unit is a case-study in Roman imperialism and an introduction
to the material culture of the Roman empire. It covers the
conquest of Britain, its transformation into a Roman province,
later changes in its administration and defence, and the
impact of incorporation into the Roman empire on the physical
environment, religion, economy and society of the island.
Particular emphasis is placed on the rich archaeological
evidence.
Level 3:
Advanced full units
Greek drama [CLAA015]
Selected plays by the three major tragedians, Aeschylus,
Sophocles and Euripides, and the comic writer Aristophanes
are studied in translation to illustrate aspects of tragedy
and comedy, including: drama as performance; the treatment
of myth, politics and religion; characterisation; language;
structure. Aristotle’s Poetics is also studied.
From Nero to Hadrian: literature and society [CLAA016]
The period from Nero to the Death of Hadrian sees an efflorescence
of Latin literature, much of which deals explicitly with
issues raised by the new political context of the powerful
monarchy. These issues were not just political but went
to the heart of the ideologies of the elite. Looking at
poets such as Lucan and Statius, and prose authors such
as Pliny and Tacitus, this unit is designed to bring together
literary criticism and historical methodology to explore
how Romans reconstituted their identity in relation to the
literary tradition, mythology, history, gender, culture
and the political situation.
The dialogues
of Plato [CLAA017]
A study of the philosophical and literary aspects of dialogues
from all periods of Plato’s activity. Approximately equal
parts of the unit will be devoted to (i) Platonic dialogues
earlier than The Republic; (ii) The Republic;
(iii) the Philebus or Theaetetus, studied
in detail and with compulsory exam questions; (iv) other
post-Republic dialogues.
Women in antiquity
[CLAA018]
This unit examines the treatment of women in classical literature,
history, philosophy and art, with emphasis on Greece, Hellenistic
Egypt and Rome. Topics include: women in myth, epic, law,
satire, drama, historiography, religion, Roman elegy; women's
writing; modern interpretations of women in antiquity; and
ancient medical theory.
The Roman army [CLAA019]
This unit looks at the Roman army as an institution by close
study of the primary sources - literary, papyrological and
epigraphic - in translation, together with the archaeological
evidence. It surveys the army’s origins and development
under the Republic, but focuses mainly on the Principate,
covering its personnel, organisation and operation in war
and peace, but also its central role in the administration
and policing of the empire and impact on provincial populations.
Pompeii [CLAA020]
This unit studies the physical remains of the cities of
Pompeii and Herculaneum, and the villas of Stabiae, Oplontis
and Boscoreale, on their own exceptional terms and within
the wider context of roman Italy c. 200 BC - AD 100. Topics
include the analysis of the population, environment, urban
planning and infrastructure, housing (design, construction,
decoration and room function), suburbs, port, cemeteries,
farming, industry, trade and commerce, religion, bathing,
sport, the theatre and amphitheatre.
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