Classical Archaeology and Ancient History
Bachelor's degree
In Oxford
Description
-
Type
Bachelor's degree
-
Location
Oxford
UCAS code VV14 Duration 3 years (BA)
Entrance requirements AAA Subject requirements A classical language, Classical Civilisation or Ancient History
Admissions test(s) None Written work Two pieces
Admissions statistics*
Interviewed: 90%
Successful: 22%
Intake: 20
*3-year average 2017-19
Contact
+44 (0) 1865 288391
Email Classics
Subject requirements: Essential Recommended Helpful – may be useful on course
Unistats information for this course can be found at the bottom of the page
Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small.
The course combines study of the history, archaeology and art of the classical world. It looks at the societies and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean, through written texts, visual art and material remains, and has at its centre the two classical cultures of Greece and Rome. It is aimed at anyone interested in investigating ancient civilisations and their remains: from Greek temples and Roman amphitheatres to wall paintings and the poignant residues of everyday life. While it is primarily a historical and non-linguistic degree, ancient languages can be used and learned as part of the course.
">Video of Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at Oxford University
The degree is taught through a mixture of tutorials, lectures and classes. Some cover specifically archaeological or historical approaches to ancient Mediterranean cultures, but the degree is unique in also offering courses that combine both approaches. In every year of the course there are classes led by both an archaeologist and a historian, which are designed to give an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to the topics studied..
The University’s resources for this combined subject are excellent, both in terms of library facilities (especially the Sackler Library), and the range and number of post-holders in the two fields
Facilities
Location
Start date
Start date
Reviews
Subjects
- Democracy
- University
- Sculpture
- CAD
- Teaching
- Options
- Politics
- Greek
- Latin
- IT
- Archaeology
- Ancient History
- Art
- Roman Architecture
- Imperial
- Aristocracy
- Epigraphy
Course programme
- Lectures (4-6 per week)
- Team-taught classes (one per week for the first two terms)
- Tutorials (one every one to two weeks) and/or language classes
You will take six options and produce a site or museum report. Currently, the options are chosen from:
- Integrated classes, bringing together historical and archaeological approaches to a particular period
- Core papers, which deal with central topics in Greco-Roman studies
- Further papers, which allow you either to build up concentrated expertise in some central areas and periods or to extend into earlier and later periods, and into non-classical cultures
- Greek or Latin language papers.
Tutorials are usually two students (possibly three) and a tutor. For the core papers the class size is usually eight or less. Where options are taught in classes, the class size will depend on the options you choose. They would usually be no more than 20 students. Most tutorials, classes, and lectures are delivered by staff who are tutors in their subject. Many are world-leading experts with years of experience in teaching and research. Some teaching may also be delivered by postgraduate students who are studying at doctorate level. To find out more about how our teaching year is structured, visit our Academic Year page.
Academic YearCourse structureYEAR 1COURSES
Four courses are taken
Core elements:
- Aristocracy and democracy in the Greek world, 550–450 BC
- Republic to empire: Rome, 50 BC to AD 50
Current optional elements:
- Archaeology: Homeric archaeology and early Greece from 1550 to 700 BC; Greek vases; Greek sculpture c600– 300 BC; Roman architecture
- History: Thucydides and the West; Aristophanes’ political comedy; Cicero and Catiline; Tacitus and Tiberius
- Ancient Languages: Beginning Ancient Greek or Latin; Intermediate Ancient Greek or Latin; Advanced Ancient Greek or Latin
ASSESSMENT
First University examinations: four written papers
YEARS 2 AND 3COURSES
Six courses are taken from a wide choice of options. These currently include:
- Rome, Italy, and the Hellenistic East, c300-100 BC
- Imperial culture and society, cAD 50-150
- The Greeks and the Mediterranean world, c950-500 BC
- Greek art and archaeology, c500-300 BC
- Art under the Roman Empire, AD 14-337
- Roman archaeology: cities and settlement under the Empire
- Alexander the Great and his early successors
- The Greek city in the Roman world from Dio Chrysostom to John Chrysostom
- Thucydides and the Greek world, 479-403 BC
- Republic in crisis, 146-46 BC
- Egyptian art and architecture
- The archaeology of Minoan Crete, 3200-1000 BC
- Etruscan Italy, 900-300 BC
- Science-based methods in archaeology
- Greek and Roman coins
- Mediterranean maritime archaeology
- The archaeology of the late Roman Empire, AD 284-641
- Athenian democracy in the Classical Age
- Cicero: politics and thought in the late Republic
- Religions in the Greek and Roman world, c31 BC-AD 312
- Sexuality and gender in Greece and Rome
- The Achaemenid Empire, 550-330 BC
- St Augustine and the last days of Rome, AD 370-430
- Epigraphy of the Greek and/or Roman world, c700 BC-AD 300
- Intermediate Ancient Greek or Latin
- Advanced Ancient Greek or Latin
- Research for a site or museum report
For more information, visit the Classical Archaeology and Ancient History website.
ASSESSMENT
Final University examinations: six written papers; one site or museum report
YEAR 1COURSES
Four courses are taken
Core elements:
- Aristocracy and democracy in the Greek world, 550–450 BC
- Republic to empire: Rome, 50 BC to AD 50
Current optional elements:
- Archaeology: Homeric archaeology and early Greece from 1550 to 700 BC; Greek vases; Greek sculpture c600– 300 BC; Roman architecture
- History: Thucydides and the West; Aristophanes’ political comedy; Cicero and Catiline; Tacitus and Tiberius
- Ancient Languages: Beginning Ancient Greek or Latin; Intermediate Ancient Greek or Latin; Advanced Ancient Greek or Latin
ASSESSMENT
First University examinations: four written papers
YEARS 2 AND 3COURSES
Six courses are taken from a wide choice of options. These currently include:
- Rome, Italy, and the Hellenistic East, c300-100 BC
- Imperial culture and society, cAD 50-150
- The Greeks and the Mediterranean world, c950-500 BC
- Greek art and archaeology, c500-300 BC
- Art under the Roman Empire, AD 14-337
- Roman archaeology: cities and settlement under the Empire
- Alexander the Great and his early successors
- The Greek city in the Roman world from Dio Chrysostom to John Chrysostom
- Thucydides and the Greek world, 479-403 BC
- Republic in crisis, 146-46 BC
- Egyptian art and architecture
- The archaeology of Minoan Crete, 3200-1000 BC
- Etruscan Italy, 900-300 BC
- Science-based methods in archaeology
- Greek and Roman coins
- Mediterranean maritime archaeology
- The archaeology of the late Roman Empire, AD 284-641
- Athenian democracy in the Classical Age
- Cicero: politics and thought in the late Republic
- Religions in the Greek and Roman world, c31 BC-AD 312
- Sexuality and gender in Greece and Rome
- The Achaemenid Empire, 550-330 BC
- St Augustine and the last days of Rome, AD 370-430
- Epigraphy of the Greek and/or Roman world, c700 BC-AD 300
- Intermediate Ancient Greek or Latin
- Advanced Ancient Greek or Latin
- Research for a site or museum report
For more information, visit the Classical Archaeology and Ancient History website.
ASSESSMENT
Final University examinations: six written papers; one site or museum report
YEAR 1YEAR 1YEAR 1COURSES
Four courses are taken
Core elements:
- Aristocracy and democracy in the Greek world, 550–450 BC
- Republic to empire: Rome, 50 BC to AD 50
Current optional elements:
- Archaeology: Homeric archaeology and early Greece from 1550 to 700 BC; Greek vases; Greek sculpture c600– 300 BC; Roman architecture
- History: Thucydides and the West; Aristophanes’ political comedy; Cicero and Catiline; Tacitus and Tiberius
- Ancient Languages: Beginning Ancient Greek or Latin; Intermediate Ancient Greek or Latin; Advanced Ancient Greek or Latin
ASSESSMENT
First University examinations: four written papers
COURSES
Four courses are taken
Core elements:
- Aristocracy and democracy in the Greek world, 550–450 BC
- Republic to empire: Rome, 50 BC to AD 50
Current optional elements:
- Archaeology: Homeric archaeology and early Greece from 1550 to 700 BC; Greek vases; Greek sculpture c600– 300 BC; Roman architecture
- History: Thucydides and the West; Aristophanes’ political comedy; Cicero and Catiline; Tacitus and Tiberius
- Ancient Languages: Beginning Ancient Greek or Latin; Intermediate Ancient Greek or Latin; Advanced Ancient Greek or Latin
COURSES
COURSESFour courses are taken
Core elements:
- Aristocracy and democracy in the Greek world, 550–450 BC
- Republic to empire: Rome, 50 BC to AD 50
Current optional elements:
- Archaeology: Homeric archaeology and early Greece from 1550 to 700 BC; Greek vases; Greek sculpture c600– 300 BC; Roman architecture
- History: Thucydides and the West; Aristophanes’ political comedy; Cicero and Catiline; Tacitus and Tiberius
- Ancient Languages: Beginning Ancient Greek or Latin; Intermediate Ancient Greek or Latin; Advanced Ancient Greek or Latin
ASSESSMENT
First University examinations: four written papers
ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENTFirst University examinations: four written papers
YEARS 2 AND 3YEARS 2 AND 3YEARS 2 AND 3COURSES
Six courses are taken from a wide choice of options. These currently include:
- Rome, Italy, and the Hellenistic East, c300-100 BC
- Imperial culture and society, cAD 50-150
- The Greeks and the Mediterranean world, c950-500 BC
- Greek art and archaeology, c500-300 BC
- Art under the Roman Empire, AD 14-337
- Roman archaeology: cities and settlement under the Empire
- Alexander the Great and his early successors
- The Greek city in the Roman world from Dio Chrysostom to John Chrysostom
- Thucydides and the Greek world, 479-403 BC
- Republic in crisis, 146-46 BC
- Egyptian art and architecture
- The archaeology of Minoan Crete, 3200-1000 BC
- Etruscan Italy, 900-300 BC
- Science-based methods in archaeology
- Greek and Roman coins
- Mediterranean maritime archaeology
- The archaeology of the late Roman Empire, AD 284-641
- Athenian democracy in the Classical Age
- Cicero: politics and thought in the late Republic
- Religions in the Greek and Roman world, c31 BC-AD 312
- Sexuality and gender in Greece and Rome
- The Achaemenid Empire, 550-330 BC
- St Augustine and the last days of Rome, AD 370-430
- Epigraphy of the Greek and/or Roman world, c700 BC-AD 300
- Intermediate Ancient Greek or Latin
- Advanced Ancient Greek or Latin
- Research for a site or museum report
For more information, visit the Classical Archaeology and Ancient History website.
ASSESSMENT
Final University examinations: six written papers; one site or museum report
COURSES
Six courses are taken from a wide choice of options. These currently include:
- Rome, Italy, and the Hellenistic East, c300-100 BC
- Imperial culture and society, cAD 50-150
- The Greeks and the Mediterranean world, c950-500 BC
- Greek art and archaeology, c500-300 BC
- Art under the Roman Empire, AD 14-337
- Roman archaeology: cities and settlement under the Empire
- Alexander the Great and his early successors
- The Greek city in the Roman world from Dio Chrysostom to John Chrysostom
- Thucydides and the Greek world, 479-403 BC
- Republic in crisis, 146-46 BC
- Egyptian art and architecture
- The archaeology of Minoan Crete, 3200-1000 BC
- Etruscan Italy, 900-300 BC
- Science-based methods in archaeology
- Greek and Roman coins
- Mediterranean maritime archaeology
- The archaeology of the late Roman Empire, AD 284-641
- Athenian democracy in the Classical Age
- Cicero: politics and thought in the late Republic
- Religions in the Greek and Roman world, c31 BC-AD 312
- Sexuality and gender in Greece and Rome
- The Achaemenid Empire, 550-330 BC
- St Augustine and the last days of Rome, AD 370-430
- Epigraphy of the Greek and/or Roman world, c700 BC-AD 300
- Intermediate Ancient Greek or Latin
- Advanced Ancient Greek or Latin
- Research for a site or museum report
For more information, visit the Classical Archaeology and Ancient History website.
COURSES
COURSESSix courses are taken from a wide choice of options. These currently include:
- Rome, Italy, and the Hellenistic East, c300-100 BC
- Imperial culture and society, cAD 50-150
- The Greeks and the Mediterranean world, c950-500 BC
- Greek art and archaeology, c500-300 BC
- Art under the Roman Empire, AD 14-337
- Roman archaeology: cities and settlement under the Empire
- Alexander the Great and his early successors
- The Greek city in the Roman world from Dio Chrysostom to John Chrysostom
- Thucydides and the Greek world, 479-403 BC
- Republic in crisis, 146-46 BC
- Egyptian art and architecture
- The archaeology of Minoan Crete, 3200-1000 BC
- Etruscan Italy, 900-300 BC
- Science-based methods in archaeology
- Greek and Roman coins
- Mediterranean maritime archaeology
- The archaeology of the late Roman Empire, AD 284-641
- Athenian democracy in the Classical Age
- Cicero: politics and thought in the late Republic
- Religions in the Greek and Roman world, c31 BC-AD 312
- Sexuality and gender in Greece and Rome
- The Achaemenid Empire, 550-330 BC
- St Augustine and the last days of Rome, AD 370-430
- Epigraphy of the Greek and/or Roman world, c700 BC-AD 300
- Intermediate Ancient Greek or Latin
- Advanced Ancient Greek or Latin
- Research for a site or museum report
For more information, visit the Classical Archaeology and Ancient History website.
For more information, visit the Classical Archaeology and Ancient History website.visit the Classical Archaeology and Ancient History websiteASSESSMENT
Final University examinations: six written papers; one site or museum report
ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENTFinal University examinations: six written papers; one site or museum report
The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes.
The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes.
The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes.
The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes.
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Overview
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Overview
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Classical Archaeology and Ancient History