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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of History, Classics and Archaeology : Ancient History

Undergraduate Course: Studying Ancient History 8 (ANHI10074)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of History, Classics and Archaeology CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course aims to introduce students to the study of a particular topic in Ancient History. The topic is chosen by the courser organiser for each outing of the course. Topics may include (but are not restricted to) larger areas of study, such as: The Roman economy; Diet in the ancient world; or Ancient imperialism.
Course description The core aim of the course is to teach students how to approach the study of a defined topic, how to access the relevant sources and the modern debate, and how to identify important questions and understudied areas within the study of the relevant topic. Students will also learn how the studied topic relates to other areas of ancient and modern history, as well as the study of the ancient world more generally.
Specific thematic information for each outing of this course will be provided during the course selection process.


There is no predetermined contextual syllabus because the teaching schedule will change with each outing of the course depending on the chosen course topic. The schedule given here is indicatory of the methodological and source-based issues covered in this course:
W1: Introduction: Evidence and models in ancient history;
W2: Approaching the topic: the modern historiography;
W3: The evidence: literary sources;
W4: The evidence: epigraphic evidence;
W5: The evidence: archaeological evidence;
W6: Viewpoints: geography;
W7: Viewpoints: chronology;
W8: Viewpoints: gender;
W9: Viewpoints: class;
W10: Beyond ancient history: the topic in other periods;
W11: Conclusion: Looking at the wider context.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Ancient History 2a: Past and Present in the Ancient World (ANHI08014) AND Ancient History 2b: Themes and Theories in Ancient History (ANHI08013)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements A pass in "Ancient History 2a - Past and Present in the Ancient World" [ANHI08014] AND in "Ancient History 2b - Themes and Theories in Ancient History" [ANHI08013], is normally required; or at the discretion of the course organiser.
Additional Costs c. £25 for a set text book
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting 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
Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  30
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 11, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 171 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 60 %, Coursework 40 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) One Essay (40%);
one (2-hour) Degree Examination (60%).
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. A familiarity with a range of evidence - esp. literary, epigraphic, archaeological - for the study of the course topic.
  2. The ability to engage critically with the both the relevant ancient evidence and the modern debate.
  3. An understanding of the different modern approaches to the study of the course topic and the interrelatedness of the topic with the study of other topics in ancient history.
  4. The ability to conduct a sustained individual inquiry into a particular aspect of the course topic (in the coursework essay).
Reading List
There is no predetermined reading list because the bibliography will change with each outing of the course depending on the chosen course topic.
A number of seminal methodological and source-oriented studies will be employed for each outing of the course though:

R.S. Bagnall, Reading Papyri, Writing Ancient History. London and NY, 1995

J. Bodel, Epigraphic Evidence: Ancient History from Inscriptions. London, NY 2001.

M.H. Crawford (ed.), Sources for Ancient History. Cambridge, 1984

C. W. Hedrick, Ancient History: Monuments and Documents. Oxford, 2006.

K. Hopkins, "Rules of evidence", JRS 68 (1978), 178-86

C. Howgego, Ancient History from Coins. London and NY. 1995

M.I. Finley, Ancient History: Evidence and Models. London, 1985.

C. Pelling, Literary Texts and the Greek Historian. London and NY, 1999

D.S. Potter, Literary Texts and the Roman Historian. London and New York, 1999.

O.F. Robinson, The Sources of Roman Law: Problems and Method for Ancient Historians. London and NY, 1996.

D.M. Schaps, Handbook for Classical Research (Routledge, 2010)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handbook-Classical-Research-David-Schaps/dp/0415425239
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Special Arrangements In order for a student from outwith Classics to be enrolled on this course, contact must be made with a Course Secretary on 50 3582 in order for approval to be obtained.
KeywordsStudying Ancient History 8
Contacts
Course organiserDr Sandra Bingham
Tel: (0131 6)50 6689
Email:
Course secretaryMs Elaine Hutchison
Tel: (0131 6)50 3582
Email:
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