From ascending to the throne of Macedon in 336 BC until his death in Babylon in 323 BC at the age of 32, Alexander III of Macedon’s ambitious campaigns in Europe, North Africa, and Asia exploded the Greek world in unprecedented ways. In this course you will join Alexander on his conquests and immerse yourself in his legacy: the vibrant, diverse, violent, and endlessly creative Hellenistic world. Relive the decisive battles that saw Alexander claim the Persian empire. Be captivated by the game of thrones following his death as his companions vied for control of his empire. Discover how, in Alexander’s wake, Greek culture met and mingled with Egyptian, Persian, Indian, Jewish, and Bactrian traditions, forever changing them as it was itself transformed. Admire the power of queens from Olympias to Cleopatra VII, and probe the lives of ordinary women from the cosmopolis of Alexandria to the frontier city of Ai Khanoum. Marvel at scientific and engineering inventions, including giant siege towers, machines that moved of their own accord, ships the size of cities, and the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Discover how a man might become a god, why mystery religions were the craze, and new philosophies flourished. Become absorbed in the sprawling epics and pithy epigrams of the Library of Alexandria. Explore the geography of India and Afghanistan, and admire the many artistic experiments and innovations of this fascinating period. A feature of the course is hands-on experience with the Graeme Clarke teaching collection of artefacts from the Hellenistic Syrian town of Jebel Khaled.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. engage critically with the campaigns of Alexander the Great and their legacy of massive cultural, social, political, religious, and technological change throughout the eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia during the Hellenistic period;
2. become familar with, critically analyse, and evaluate the cultural output (both textual and material) of the diverse lands of the Hellenistic world to explore cultural, social, political, religious, and technological developments;
3. critically analyse and evaluate the importance of space, time, and their measurement for the understanding of the Hellenistic world;
4. formulate logical arguments based on ancient evidence, and engage with and evaluate scholarly arguments in a critical manner;
5. gain a holistic understanding of the Hellenistic period as transitional and bridging in terms of culture and power between the old Greek world and the later Roman republic; and
6. become familiar and critically engage with the influence and reception of Alexander and the Hellenistic world on the culture and society of the present day.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture: Introduction & BackgroundTutorial: Admin & Background
2	Lecture: Alexander & the Campaign to EgyptTutorial: Who is Alexander? What are our sources?
3	Lecture: From Gaugamela to the HyphasisTutorial: Hellenistic Geography & India
4	Lecture: Alexander's Death and LegacyTutorial: Ai Khanoum and Jebel Khalid: Hellenism on the edge?	Critical Exercise Due
5	Lecture: First Generation Successors & the EconomyTutorial: The Technology of War
6	Lecture: First Generation Successors & ScienceTutorial: Hellenistic Philosophy
7	Lecture: Second Generation Successors & ScienceTutorial: Hellenistic Astronomy	Essay Topic 2 due (Cultural Identity)
8	Lecture: Second Generation Successors & LiteratureTutorial: Epic & Epigram	Essay Topic 3 due (Science)
9	Lecture: Pergamon, the Gauls, and the Jews & Hellenistic ReligionTutorial: Religion: Innovation & Conflict	Essay Topic 4 due (Literature)
10	Lecture: Syrian Wars and Leagues; Art & the Seven WondersTutorial: Art: Idealism & the Grotesque	Essay Topic 5 due (Religion)
11	Lecture: Rome and the Hellenistic WorldTutorial: Collecting the Hellenistic World	Essay Topic 6 due (Art)
12	Lecture: Reception of the Hellenistic WorldTutorial: Reception	Essay Topic 7 due (Women)

Tutorial Registration

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.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Critical Exercise (500 words) 15%	15 %	1,2,4
Tutorial Participation (ongoing) 10%	10 %	1,2,3,4,5,6
Research Essay (2500 words) 40%	40 %	1,2,3,4,5,6
Video Presentation (10 minutes) 35%	35 %	1,2,3,4,5,6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using 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. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Critical Exercise (500 words) 15%

Students will be asked to analyse critically a scholarly article or chapter that is relevant to their chosen essay topic. Students will be provided with this article - they do not need to source it themselves. Further information will be provided in class.

Assessment Task 2

Tutorial Participation (ongoing) 10%

Active engagement with the material of this course is crucial to successful learning. Students will be assessed on their participation in the 12 tutorials in the course.

Assessment Task 3

Research Essay (2500 words) 40%

Students will be expected to write only one 2500-word research essay during this course. The essay will be on a topic chosen from a series provided on Wattle. You will be assigned a tutorial topic in the first tutorial, so make sure you familiarise yourself with the topics. Rolling due dates apply from Friday September 13. Please see the Wattle site for further details and come to Tutorial 1 to receive your essay topic.

Assessment Task 4

Video Presentation (10 minutes) 35%

Students will record a 10-minute Video Presentation on a topic chosen from the list of topics provided on Wattle or a topic of their chosing in consultation with their lecturer/tutor. Students may use visual aids such as PowerPoint to enhance their presentation. They may record on any suitable program, such as Powerpoint, Zoom, TikTok etc. Further details will be provided on Wattle and in class. The Video Presentation will be due in the exam period.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students