Aims

The purpose of this module is to introduce students in the BA with Honours in Ancient History to more detailed work on particular aspects and problems of ancient history. It is designed to illustrate the ways of approaching and researching problems in ancient history. The problems chosen are from the general areas of the lecturers' research interests. In particular the aim is to concentrate on methods and the ways of exploiting different kinds of evidence. The essays which form the assessment enable you to carry out your own research in these areas.

This module aims to provide an opportunity of investigating in some depth selected problems, including the appraisal of selected source material and the critical examination of current historiography.

Outline Of Syllabus

In a typical year the module might be based around the exploration of such key issues as:

Inscriptions (e.g. approaches to the interpretation of epigraphic evidence)

Written records, such as papyri and writing tablets (eg documents on Roman history, Vindolanda Tablets)

Religion and Roman History (e.g. The trial and execution of Jesus, Judea as a Roman province)

Greeks and non-Greeks (e.g. Herodotus and the 'Other'; Greeks and Barbarians)

Assessment is by 2 x 50% essay, submitting two essays of 1,750 words each.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures impart core knowledge and an outline of knowledge that students are expected to acquire and stimulate development of independent research and note-taking skills.

Lectures and non-synchronous lecture materials will introduce topics and provide expert orientation and exposition on a broad range of themes and issues. In-person lectures will provide opportunities for dialogue, while lecture materials can be reviewed at any time across the week and revisited numerous times afterwards. In the event that on-campus sessions need to be reduced, there is the capacity to present recorded materials asynchronously and retain timetabled slots for live discussion of these materials.

Seminars allow students to develop their grasp of specific aspects and their communication skills. In the event that on-campus sessions need to be reduced, there is the capacity to hold live seminar discussions online and retain timetabled slots.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Submitted work tests intended knowledge and skills outcomes, develops key skills in research, reading and writing.

All of the assessments for this module will be submitted and marked online.

This module can be made available to Erasmus students only with the agreement of the Head of Subject and of the Module Leader. This option must be discussed in person at the beginning of your exchange period. No restrictions apply to study-abroad, exchange and Loyola students.

All Erasmus students at Newcastle University are expected to do the same assessment as students registered for a degree unless they have compelling reasons not to do so. If this is the case, they are offered the alternative of writing one 3,000 word essay to be handed in by 12.00 p.m. of the Friday of the first week of the assessment period. This will replace all assessment work required of other students on the module.

In order to take up this option, students need to discuss it with the Study Abroad Co-ordinator and their module leader, having checked with their home university that the new assessment will be accepted by them. The Study Abroad Co-ordinator will have the final say on such issues.

Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending semester 1 only are required to finish their assessment while in Newcastle. This will require the provision of an alternative assessment before the end of teaching week 12. The alternative form of assessment for all semester 1 non-EU study abroad students will be two 1,500 word essays in addition to the other coursework assessment. The essays should be set so as to assure full coverage of the course content.

Study-abroad, exchange proper and Loyola students spending the whole academic year or semester 2 are required to complete the standard assessment as set out in the MOF under all circumstances.