GRC10200 Classical Greece

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module introduces students to the political, social, and economic history of ancient Greece. Most sessions will focus on the Classical period, c. 480-323 BC, which spans from the invasion of the Persian king Xerxes to the death of Alexander the Great. Together we will explore sources and methods that modern historians use to study ancient Greek culture, including literary texts that will be read in translation and artefacts from the ancient world that students can explore in the UCD Classical Museum, (Newman Building K216).

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the module students should:

Module-specific skills:
1. possess a detailed knowledge of the history of the Classical Greek world, c. 480-323BC.
2. be able to critically analyse ancient and modern sources pertaining to the study of this period.

Discipline-specific skills
3. acquire knowledge of historiographical methods and apply these to solve simple historical problems.
4. be able to critically analyse, evaluate, synthesise and compare literary and material evidence.

Personal and key skills
5. communicate ideas in small group work and in writing for coursework, thereby demonstrating a capacity to review, assemble, and evaluate ancient and modern evidence.
6. be able to construct and defend arguments
7. manage their time and work to deadlines.

Indicative Module Content:

In Autumn 2020 the module will explore key sources and themes for the study of Ancient Greek history.

These include topics such as:

The formation of ancient Greek identities, e.g. mythical origins, travel and mobility, religion, language, gender, and social status.

Ancient empires, conquests, and conflicts, e.g. the Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian Wars, the Sacred Wars, and the emergence of Athens, Macedonia, Persia, Sparta, and Thebes as hegemonic powers in the Mediterranean World.

Muted groups, e.g. women, and slaves.

Ancient political thought, e.g. discussions of monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and ideas about freedom, etc.

The role of material culture and archaeology in the study of ancient Greece, e.g. remains of ancient buildings, clay tablets, coins, inscriptions, papyri, and pottery.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

18
Tutorial

4
Specified Learning Activities

48
Autonomous Student Learning

30
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be taught through a combination of in-person lectures and tutorials and online activities. Lectures provide an overview of, and context for, the ancient evidence and modern scholarship that students will read about in their own time as part of their guided study and research. Where public health and government guidance may change it may become necessary to deliver the module in a blended or online format, but the default for Spring 2023 will be in person, face-to-face learning.

In tutorials students will work on developing academic skills and preparing to write their commentary and end of trimester essay. They can also talk through any questions or concerns they have. The aim of these sessions is to help you transition to the first year of university study and to begin to work to use different types of evidence and source material more independently.

This course encourages students to develop as writers, readers, and thinkers. You are encouraged to think critically and to come to your own conclusions about the problems and sources for the study of ancient Greek history, with particular emphasis on the Classical period (480-323 BC). You will also practice communicating your ideas to others and how you can back up your ideas with direct reference to the texts and the scholarship about these texts. To this end you will receive informal feedback in group discussions in tutorials/lectures and formal feedback on your written work. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: 1,000 word commentary Week 7 n/a Graded No

40
Essay: 2,000 word essay Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

60

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive feedback within 20 working days from the date that work is submitted.

Name Role
Dr Joanna Day Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Christopher Farrell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer