AN1003 Ancient Empires

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 7

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

To be confirmed

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module Staff

Team Taught

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module combines a bold and sweeping overview of the history of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East over two millennia, with an exploration of the nature of empires and imperialism in antiquity. We will explore how imperial states built and maintained their power (including their efforts to assert and justify their power to themselves and their subjects); the experiences of other populations and cultures that were conquered or incorporated into ancient empires; and the contested legacies of imperial states, both in antiquity and today. As well as tracing the histories of large imperial or hegemonic powers, such as the Achaemenid Persians, the Hellenistic Greek ‘kingdoms’ and Rome, the course will also introduce you to the wide range of other cultures that lived under and alongside them, including those of Babylonia, Judea and Egypt.

Assessment pattern

100% Coursework

Re-assessment

100% Coursework (revising and resubmitting failed items only)

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

33 lectures and 7 tutorials/workshops across the semester

Scheduled learning hours

40

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

160

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Summarize the macro-scale history of the societies and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East
  • Identify and describe different cultures of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East and identify key transitions in their respective histories
  • Identify and describe the key evidence available for different cultures and periods
  • Interpret archaeological, visual, documentary and literary evidence in relation to its social cultural and political contexts
  • Identify and describe key commonalities and differences in how ancient empires built and maintained their power and how their rule was experienced by subject populations
  • Analyse how the legacy of ancient empires has been contested both in antiquity and in the present