Undergraduate Course: After Alexander (ANHI10056)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Alexander's conquest of the Persian Empire was an extraordinary achievement, bringing under Macedonian control territory as far east as Afghanistan, but what happened next? This course focuses on the world Alexander created but did not live to see; historians call it the 'Hellenistic World'. A series of wars between his generals divided Alexander's empire into three powerful kingdoms, based in Macedon, Syria, and Egypt. The former subjects of Persia now found themselves ruled by Greco-Macedonian kings. But it was not simply a change of ruler. Greeks arrived in their thousands to inhabit these newly-acquired territories, living in the new Greek cities founded by Alexander and his successors, centres of Greek culture in an alien land. In exploring the Hellenistic World we will be concentrating especially on the years down to the end of the third century. The course is informed by the course organiser's own research on the Hellenistic world. |
| Course description |
The course would be expected to cover some or all of the following themes:
1. Alexander and his legacy
2. The Successors
3. The Ptolemies and Egypt
4. The Seleucids and Asia
5. Macedon and Greece
6. Kings
7. Cities
8. Alexandria
9. Celtic Invaders
10. Greeks and Egyptians
11. Women and Families
12. Economic Life
13. Ruler Cult
14. Literature and Patronage
15. Art and Power
16. Philosophical Schools
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should usually have at least 3 courses in Classics related subject matter (at least 2 of which should be in Ancient History) at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this) for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students who complete the course successfully will have demonstrated in written coursework and a written degree examination knowledge and understanding of:
i. a variety of important evidence for the study of Hellenistic period
ii. the different types of questions asked by historians of this evidence
iii. the different problems that different bodies of evidence pose for the historian
iv. the development and nature of the various Hellenistic dynasties
v. the modern scholarship on the Hellenistic period
vi. certain key features of the Hellenistic world and its culture
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Reading List
Shipley, G. The Greek World after Alexander (1999)
Erskine, A. (ed.) A Companion to the The Hellenistic World (2003)
Errington, R. A History of the Hellenistic World (2008)
Bugh, G. (ed.) The Cambridge Companion to the Hellenistic World (2006)
Austin, M. M. The Hellenistic World, 2nd edn (2006)
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
In order for a student from outwith Classics to be enrolled, contact must be made with a Course Secretary on 50 3580 in order for approval to be obtained. |
| Keywords | Alexander |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Andrew Erskine
Tel: (0131 6)50 3591
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Elaine Hutchison
Tel: (0131 6)50 3582
Email: |
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