Complicating the Past

Module code: AH7704

The module further develops your critical skills to deconstruct commonly held misconceptions about the ancient world. We will interrogate a range of broad themes, examining the misconception, its origins, and the ways that evidence has been presented to support those misconceptions through time. What accounts for the persistence of certain tropes, and how can we address them?

A holistic approach to a wide range of sources (textual, epigraphic, archaeological) will be required, emphasising nuance and complexity. You will study a range of popular misconceptions including the place of women in antiquity, issues of race and ethnicity, gladiators and ritualised violence, social hierarchies and cultural erasure. 

You will be able to combine different types of source materials relating to the construction of interpretation and the public presentation of history. You will gain experience in managing complexity in relation to the study of the ancient world, and identifying outmoded and oversimplified interpretations. Your assessed poster will offer the opportunity to develop your skills in visual and concise verbal presentation while your assessed essay will support your skills in academic writing, ahead of your dissertation.

Assessment for this module involves producing a post and an essay.