ANCH6014 Homer and the Trojan War
| Offered By | School of Humanities |
|---|---|
| Academic Career | Graduate Coursework |
| Course Subject | Ancient History |
| Offered in | ANCH6014 will not be offered in 2009 |
| Unit Value | 6 units |
| Course Description |
The principal concern of this course is with the methods which might be used to reconstruct the history of mainland Greece and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age. We shall examine: (a) the wealth of archaeological evidence which might throw some light on the history of the period (b) the written evidence which has become available to us in recent times, with the decipherment of a number of ancient scripts (c) Homer's Iliad. We shall attempt to gauge its value as a source for the history of the times (is it purely legendary? does some historical reality lie behind it?). This will entail an examination of the how the poem came into being, the content of the tale, and the place it occupied in the cultural life of the early Greeks. |
| Learning Outcomes |
At the end of the semester students will have: *acquired a knowledge and understanding of the character and the main achievements of Greek society in this period; *discovered the fundamental methods and techniques available for inquiry into the past of a largely pre-literate and literate society; *learned how to discover, select and critically assess evidence about the past. |
| Indicative Assessment |
Short paper 20% Tutorial participation 10% Weekly tutorial notes (25%) Final examination/essay (45%) |
| Workload | Three hours in class; six hours of out of class |
| Course Classification(s) | TransitionalTransitional courses are designed for students from a broad range of backgrounds and learning achievements, which provide for the acquisition of generic skills; or an informed understanding of contemporary issues; or fundamental knowledge for transition to Advanced or Specialist courses. |
| Areas of Interest | History |
| Technology Requirements | No advanced technology needed. Some students may wish to download and use a Greek font |
| Academic Contact | Dr Elizabeth Minchin |
The information published on the Study at ANU 2009 website applies to the 2009 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2008 website.
