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Myth, Art and Empire: Greece and Rome (ANCW10002)

Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 2
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This subject will introduce students to the awe-inspiring world of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The students will encounter the cutting-edge research of the academic staff of Classics and Archaeology in their respective fields of expertise. Students will explore the astonishing interconnectivity of the ancient world, the evolution of Greek and Roman civilizations, the close links between the ancient Near East and Greco-Roman culture, and the enduring global legacy of the Greco-Roman cultural and literary traditions.

The subject will cover topics such as the early beginnings of Greek culture and traditions (the enduring impact on Greece of Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Minoan and Mycenaean cultures), the Homeric epics, Greek and Roman mythology, ancient theatre, Greek and Roman literary and artistic culture, the development of political constitutions (democracy, oligarchy and tyranny), social history, militarism and imperialism, and identities in Greece and Rome (the representation of foreigners, women, slaves and freedmen). The subject will also consider the ways in which modern Western culture has inherited and appropriated aspects of ancient civilisation, claiming it as a model in fields ranging from epic film and architectural design to political structure and imperial aspiration.

Intended learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

  • Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of ancient Greek and Roman culture and the primary sources available for study of those cultures
  • Identify and critically analyse the social structures and institutions of the Greek communities in the archaic and classical periods and Rome in the late republican and early imperial periods
  • Identify and articulate the relationships between Greek and Roman cultural expressions (mythology, literature, drama and art) and the social, religious, and political contexts of their production
  • Identify and critically engage with scholarship on classical mythology
  • Demonstrate in their own academic practice an understanding of the expectations of scholarship in the discipline of Ancient World Studies
  • Communicate interpretations of Greek and Roman culture and cultural products effectively, both orally and in writing
  • Approach all evidence about Greek and Roman culture and society with intellectual honesty and a respect for ethical values
  • Work effectively, in groups and independently, to identify, discuss and critically analyse key issues in the interpretation of ancient Greek and Roman culture and society.

Last updated: 19 September 2024