Fighting wars was one of the central activities of the ancient world.  This course looks at the place of warfare in Greek and Roman life and culture.  It will trace the development of styles of warfare, in terms of weapons, tactics and individual experience, from "Homeric" warfare to the early Roman empire, looking at developments in archaic and classical Greece, the period of Alexander and the Hellenistic world, and the Roman Republic and Empire.  But it will also look at how warfare was linked with social expectations, gender and class, and will examine what we can learn from the treatment of war in literature and art.  In addition, the course will also examine questions of commemorative culture and public memory.  No knowledge of languages other than English will be required.

• Ability to read ancient sources critically

• Research and writing abilities

• Ability to construct and criticise arguments

• Ability to present material orally and in writing

• Understanding of ways other societies differ from our own

• Class participation (10%)
• Class presentations and written reports (group reports, 2,000 words total) (25%)
• Essay (2,500 words) (35%)
• One two-hour exam in the examination period (30%)