AN2005 Narratives of antiquity

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Module description

Narratives about antiquity have reverberated through history. The stories the Greeks and Romans told about themselves and their past shaped the complex societies in which they lived. Today, narratives about the origins and fall of classical societies continue to be used to make claims about where modern societies came from, how they should be run, and how far we have come from our origins. This module will examine influential narratives from the ancient world and their reinterpretations in later periods, from the nineteenth century to the present day. Possible topics include the origins of Greece and Rome and their entanglement in ancient and modern ideas of nationhood, culture and race, and the fall of the Roman empire and the lessons that have been drawn from it. This module will show that narratives of antiquity have always been embedded in contemporary culture, society and politics, and that they continue to shape the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves.

Intended learning outcomes

• Summarise influential narratives, both ancient and modern, about key topics in ancient history
• Analyse how those narratives were shaped by contemporary concerns
• Explain how and why those narratives proved influential
• Critically evaluate dated scholarship by setting it in its cultural and intellectual context
• Apply practices of critical reading to ancient and modern narratives alike