GRC10170 Lost Cities of the Ancient World

Academic Year 2020/2021

The great civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean were urban societies that developed complex social and political structures and invested the profits of trade, agriculture, and warfare in the construction of fortifications, temples, palaces, tombs, and other monuments. This module will explore the concept of urbanism through an investigation of some of the famous cities of the ancient Mediterranean world from their beginnings in the Mesopotamian “cradle of civilization”, through Bronze Age citadels such as Mycenae and Troy, to Classical Athens and later into the Hellenistic and Roman eras. Students will learn about the social forces that shape urban space, as well as understanding the roles of monumental architecture in city-based societies. How urbanisation affected the development of writing and art will also be discussed. Assessment consists of online quizzes and an essay. This module is available as an elective.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the origins and development of urban culture in the Mediterranean world from the Neolithic period to the Roman empire
- evaluate archaeology, art, and texts as sources of information on urban life in antiquity
- identify and analyse key types of buildings and monuments from ancient urban environments
- compare and contrast aspects of the built environment, social organisation, and infrastructure of ancient cities, orally and in writing

Indicative Module Content:

Topics to be covered include some or all of:
Neolithic Near East
Sumer
Egypt
Aegean Bronze Age
Persepolis
Athens
Pergamon
Alexandria
Rome
Ostia
Pompeii
NB - this is an indicative list and topics are subject to change

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

18
Tutorial

4
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

30
Total

102
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is delivered through a combination of asynchronous online lectures and synchronous online tutorials. It is delivered in six units, each one focusing on a key area/period of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. Each unit will contain: short lectures delivered alternately by Dr Day, Dr Farrell and Assoc. Prof. de Souza of the School of Classics; a tutorial; recommended reading; an online quiz. 
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
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: Five online quizzes in Brightspace to be completed during the course of the module Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

50
Essay: Essay (c. 2000 words) on a comparative topic relating to a number of the sites covered in the module Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

50

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

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Online quizzes in Brightspace will be automatically graded upon completion of each one. Individual feedback sheets will be sent to each student for essay within 20 working days of submission. Students are welcome to arrange a meeting with the module coordinator to discuss their grade/feedback.

Charles Gates, 2011, Ancient cities : the archaeology of urban life in the Ancient Near East and Egypt, Greece and Rome. Routledge.