GRC20010

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
- synthesize information about Hellenistic Greek history from a range of secondary sources
- analyze and comment critically on primary sources
- evaluate varied historical interpretations
- construct relevant and analytical essays in answer to historical questions

Indicative Module Content:

Typical lecture list:
Introduction; sources
Philip, Alexander & Macedon
Alexander & the Persian Empire
Interpretations of Alexander
The Successors of Alexander
The Seleucid kingdom
Ptolemaic Egypt
Cities of the Hellenistic world
Social and economic realities
Religions of the Hellenistic World

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

This module is delivered through a combination of lectures and tutorials.
The lectures outline the main historical events and/or developments, highlight key issues, present some indicative examples from primary sources and discuss important modern interpretations. They also provide guidance on further reading.
The tutorials, for which advance preparation is essential, are small groups classes devoted to the analysis and discussion of selection of primary source material.
One tutorial will focus on how to complete the commentary assignment successfully.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.

Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Incompatibles:
GRC2001E - Alexander and his Successors


 

Assessment Strategy

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.

 

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will receive individual written feedback on their commentary and essay via Brightspace as soon as possible, and within 20 working days of submission. They may also arrange an individual feedback session with the module co-ordinator to discuss their feedback and grades.

GRC20010 Alexander and his Successors General Reading List
The following book is essential for all aspects of the module. Students are strongly recommended to purchase it:
• Michel Austin, The Hellenistic World from Alexander to the Roman Conquest. A Selection of Ancient Sources in Translation (2nd edition 2006, CUP, ISBN 978-0521-53561-8).
Also very useful are:
• Roger S. Bagnall & Peter Derow, The Hellenistic Period. Historical Sources in Translation (2nd edition 2004, Blackwell Publishing, ISBN 978-1405-10133-2).
• Glenn R. Bugh (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Hellenistic World (2006, CUP, ISBN 978-0521-53570-0).
• R. M. Errington, A History of the Hellenistic World (2008, Wiley-Blackwell, ISBN 978-0631-23388-6).
• Andrew Erskine (ed.), A Companion to the Hellenistic World (2003, Wiley-Blackwell, ISBN: 978-1-4051-3278-7).
• Graham Shipley, The Greek World after Alexander 323-30 BC (2000, Routledge, ISBN 978-0415-04618-3).
• Gillian R. Neugebauer, A Social and Cultural History of the Hellenistic World (2025, Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-119-04324-9).

Further, detailed bibliographies for individual topics will be made available on Brightspace.
Associate Professor Philip de Souza, UCD School of Classics, Module Co-ordinator
philip.desouza@ucd.ie

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.