107-415 Cities of Greece and Rome

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in classics or classical studies and archaeology.

A number of cities in the Graeco-Roman world are selected for study. The Italian cities to be studied are Pompeii and Ostia, which together offer insight into civic development from the early Republic to the end of the Empire. The North African cities of Leptis Magna and Cyrene will be studied as examples of towns of Phonecian and Greek background in the Roman Empire. Other cities to be studied are Athens, Palmyra, Petra and Jerash. Special attention will be paid to the city of Rome, the largest in the ancient world with an unbroken history up to the present day. Students should complete this subject with the ability to use and evaluate archaeological, inscriptional and literary evidence as a means of understanding the workings of ancient cities.

• be skilled in critical thinking;

• possess effective written communication skills;

• have an understanding of social, ethical and cultural context.

A class paper of 2000 words 40% (due during the semester) and an essay of 3000 words 60% (due in the last week of semester).

A subject reader will be available.