Module overview
In this module you will consider the relationship between the ancient world and the modern world. We will consider how new approaches to ancient societies have been developed in response to modern social and political developments. We will also look at examples where the ancient societies have been used in modern political contexts such as the ideology of the nation. We will also consider the ancient world in popular culture, and how this might distort popular perceptions of the past.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- gather and analyse diverse sources of information
- Reflect on your learning and understanding across the module
- draw material together into cogent written assignments
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- determine the importance or otherwise of key developments in how the ancient world has been viewed and written about
- explain how sources from different disciplines can combine to allow greater understanding of the ancient world
- combine historical, archaeological and literary sources
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- examples of how the ancient world has been interpreted through the lens of contemporary ideas
- examples of how a real or imagined link with the ancient world has been used to justify more recent political, social or cultural systems
- examples of how the ancient world has been presented in popular media
Syllabus
The module will consider a different question each week. Topics may include:
- Africans in Roman Britain: the relevance of the ancient world
- Egypt in popular culture
- Centring and decentring Athens: the Greek polis
- Claiming Alexander
- Orientalism in the ancient world
- Were ancient democracies democratic?
- Modern empires and the Roman empire
- Comparing ancient empires
- Ideas of continuity and change
- Ancient religions in the modern world
- Ancient world and the modern state
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Seminars
Independent reading
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Follow-up work | 11 |
| Assessment tasks | 50 |
| Guided independent study | 45 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 33 |
| Seminar | 11 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Eleanor Dobson (Anthology Editor), Nichola Tonks (Anthology Editor) (2020). Ancient Egypt in the Modern Imagination. Bloomsbury.
Michael Woods (2005). In search of the Trojan War. BBC Books.
Filippo Carlà-Uhink (Editor) (2021). Orientalism and the Reception of Powerful Women from the Ancient World. Bloomsbury.
Alice Roberts (2022). Ancestors. Simon and Schuster.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Written assignment | 30% |
| Written assignment | 70% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Resubmit assessments | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Written assignment | 70% |
| Written assignment | 30% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External