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.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have:

1. Acquired a knowledge and understanding of the character and the main achievements of Greek society in this period;
2. Discovered the fundamental methods and techniques available for inquiry into the past of a largely pre-literate and literate society;
3. Learned how to discover, select and critically assess evidence about the past.

Tutorial participation (10%) [LO 1, 2, 3]

In-class exercises (10%) [LO 1, 2, 3]

Group presentation and written notes (2 pp) (10%) [LO 1, 2, 3]

Essay (3,000 words) (30%) [LO 1, 2, 3]

One three-hour final exam in the examination period (40%) [LO 1, 2]

The course consists of one 1–hour lecture, one 2–hour tutorial, and seven hours of associated study time per week.

No advanced technology needed.  Some students may wish to download and use a Greek font