AH10130 The Art of the Ancient and Medieval World

Academic Year 2024/2025

This module acts as an introduction to the Art of the Ancient and Medieval World (Fifth century BC to the first millenium AD and beyond). This period reflects extraordinary cultural achievements of European art with particular focus on the Classical world of ancient Greece and Rome. The word ‘classical’ refers to the ideals of harmony, beauty and proportion that were developed in ancient Greece and Rome and that have continued to influence and inform the history of art throughout the ages. As the Roman empire in Rome, Caput Mundi declined in the fourth Century AD, the achievements of the classical period were continued in the east in the foundation of the new Rome, Constantinople. The impact of the art of Byzantium and the rise of Islam is measured in terms of the arts and the emergence of new building and artistic styles and influences in the west are considered. The continuity of classical influences had a marked impact on the medieval period. This module seek to place individual works of art in their wider historical and cultural context. No prior experience of art history is required and this module would work particularly well with any of the other three first-year art history modules.