This course will begin with the Greek 'Dark Age' following the destruction of Mycenaean civilisation at the end of the 12th century BC, and examine the economic, artistic and intellectual flowering which culminated in the vastly influential culture of Classical Greece. Chronologically, the course will start around the 10th century BC, but focus mainly on the Archaic period from c. 750 to the Persian invasion of 480/79 BC. Topics to be covered will include urbanisation and the development of the polis, religious cult and sanctuaries, and developments in warfare, political ideas, art and literature, and philosophical thought. The Archaic period of Greek history is today an area of energetic debate. Historians, partly influenced by modern theories of memory, have challenged many comfortable views about the period by discounting much of the evidence 'preserved' in later writers. On the other hand, archaeological evidence continues to accumulate. In this course, students will read selections (in translation) from ancient authors such as Homer, early lyric poets, Hesiod and Herodotos, but will also make use of archaeological and artistic evidence from a number of key sites.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- speak with some authority on the periods of history under study;
- critically read ancient sources;
- make use of both written and archaeological evidence for early Greek history;
- engage critically with current debates on early Greek history; and
- construct and criticise arguments, and present material orally and in writing.
Indicative Assessment
- Tutorial participation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- In-class written exercises, 500 words (5) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Group presentation, 20 mins (10%) and written notes, 500 words (5%) (15) [LO 3,4,5]
- Essay 3000 words (30) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Examination, 3 hours, held during the examination period (40) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 12 hours of lectures and 24 hours of tutorials and tutorial-like activities.
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Jonathan Hall, A History of the Archaic Greek World, ca. 1200—479 BCE (2nd ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2013). Others to be announced.Assumed Knowledge
Previous study of Ancient History would be an advantage, but is not required.Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $3360 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $5160 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.