Course Catalogue

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This course will explore the development of ancient science and technology and its interaction with ancient societies and the environment, focusing mainly on the Mediterranean area and the Near and Middle East. It takes a wide view of technology, ranging from the use of stone tools and fire by hominids through complex machines to the massive concrete domes and arched dams of the Romans, only bettered in modern times. The course will encompass material, textual and environmental evidence and approaches, with core texts to be studied in Greek.

1x1hr lecture; 1x1hr seminar; 1x1 text session over 10 weeks as scheduled in MyCampus.

Optional for Greek Junior Honours and Senior Honours and for students on Junior Honours/Senior Honours Classics programmes who have achieved at least a B in Intermediate Greek.

None

None

Oral Presentation (10 minutes) - 10%

Essay (2000 words) - 40%

Exam (2-hour duration) - 50%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ Study the nature and extent of technology in the ancient world, from basic tools to sophisticated machines

■ Relate ancient technologies to their historical, social and environmental contexts

■ Explore models for the diffusion and development of ancient technology

■ Study central texts in the history of ancient technology in the original language

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Identify the main features of ancient technology in areas such as agriculture, warfare, the economy, education and entertainment.

■ Recognise the constraints on the dynamics that connected humans, technology and the environment and the ancient Mediterranean.

■ Use textual, material and environmental evidence to relate technology to its social context.

■ Explain orally and in written form the relationship between ancient technical theory and practice.

■ Analyse orally and in written form the impact of technology on the ancient environment and vice-versa.

■ Translate and evaluate technical texts written in Greek.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.