The Age of Alexander the Great (ANCW30016)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

You’re viewing the 2025 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks

Overview

Availability
Summer Term
FeesLook up fees

Alexander the Great was arguably one of the most important historical figures in Western History. He created one of the largest empires known and contributed to the spread of ancient Greek culture to areas far beyond the Classical Greek World, including today’s Iran, India and Pakistan, Egypt, Syria, Turkey and the Balkans. His legacy went down in history as one of the most influential examples of masculinity and male virtue, including Hebrew, Arab and Medieval literature, as well as contemporary film and music.

In this subject, we examine the foundations of the Ancient Greek World that led to the rise of the small kingdom of Macedon in the Classical period (fifth-fourth centuries BCE). Students learn about the innovations to political government and religion in this period and study representative examples of art, archaeology and literature from the Age of Alexander the Great.

Intended learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to: 

  • Examine the major political events from the Classical and Hellenisitic periods (fifth-first centuries BCE)
  • Reflect on the role of ideologies of kingship in the Hellenistic period
  • Compare the construction of cultural identities such as Hellenic, Egyptian, Persian
  • Summarize the main archaeological and textual remains from the Hellenistic period.

Generic skills

Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:

  • Develop critical thinking skills to analyse and evaluate concepts, beliefs, considering multiple perspectives, and supporting evidence
  • Communicate effectively in writing and synthesis an argument in cogent form
  • Evaluate the impact of social, ethical, and cultural contexts
  • Acquire greater confidence in tackling unfamiliar problems
  • Reflect on the communication conventions of another culture
  • Conduct independent research and effectively manage information. 

 

Last updated: 4 April 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 4 April 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Oral presentation (pre-recorded)

  • 1600 words (equivalent)
Day 840%

Research essay

  • 1800 words
End of the assessment period45%

Class participation

  • 600 words (equivalent)
During the teaching period15%
Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. Throughout the teaching periodN/A
Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. Throughout the semesterN/A

Last updated: 4 April 2025

Dates & times

  • Summer Term
    CoordinatorLieve Donnellan
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours30 hours: 4 x 2.5-hour seminars per week for the 3-week intensive teaching period.
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period20 January 2025 to 7 February 2025
    Last self-enrol date23 January 2025
    Census date31 January 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail 7 February 2025
    Assessment period ends21 February 2025

    Summer Term contact information

    Dr Lieve Donnellan: lieve.donnellan@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

170 hours

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 4 April 2025

Further information

Last updated: 4 April 2025