From the seventh century BC onwards, Greek society and politics underwent rapid and remarkable transformations, including the rise of the city-state, early settlement overseas, and the emergence of unique political and social structures in different Greek communities led by tyrants, kings and democrats. Greek elites and communities developed an increasing awareness of their identity, as they came into contact with foreign cultures and engaged in decisive conflicts with the Persian Empire. The dramatic success of the Greek states in the Persian Wars led to the development of competing claims to the leadership of Greece by Athens and Sparta. The rising power of the Athenian Empire was finally checked by the long and destructive ‘Peloponnesian War’ (431–404 BC). This module uses material from drama, poetry, philosophy, art, architecture and epigraphy to examine all these processes, with particular attention given to the Histories of the two greatest Greek historians, Herodotus and Thucydides.

• demonstrate a knowledge of the events of Archaic and Classical Greece, and the political, economic and social forces that shaped them.
• demonstrate an understanding of modern debates on issues such as the causes and results of Greek expansion; internal political developments such as oligarchy, tyranny and democracy; the dynamics of imperialism; Greek relations with the east; the development of the Persian Empire; and the causes and course of the wars between Greeks and Persians and Athens and the Peloponnesians.
• assess the value as historical sources of the two main surviving historians, Herodotus and Thucydides, in the light of their historical and literary aims and preoccupations, and of the other literary and documentary evidence.
• use literary, epigraphic and archaeological material in an informed way.
• discuss these issues in coursework and examinations with coherent and logical arguments, clearly and correctly expressed.

20 lectures and 4 seminars; independent study; 1 coursework feedback tutorial

The lectures present an outline of the major events and evidence for Archaic and Classical Greek history, and provide a framework for the interpretation of that evidence by introducing the main debates that have shaped research into the subject. They should be thought of as a useful starting-point for further discussion and independent study. Slides and, where appropriate, handouts are used to illustrate the material discussed.

The seminars provide an opportunity for students to analyse and discuss key issues and topics in the module, and to get feedback on their ideas from the tutor and their peers. Handouts with material for study and suggestions for preparatory reading will be circulated prior to the seminars.

Independent study enables students to familiarise themselves with the primary source material and the most important modern debates on the subject. A reading list is provided, with guidance on key items of reading for major themes and lecture topics.

Coursework feedback tutorials provide students with an opportunity to get feedback and guidance on all aspects of their written work.

• observation and analysis of a variety of different types of historical evidence, such as literary texts, inscriptions and material evidence
• assimilating and synthesising complex information and ideas
• critical thinking skills, such as analysing and evaluating evidence, critiquing interpretations or arguments, and challenging assumptions
• constructing and defending arguments based on evidence
• clear, accurate and effective communication of ideas and arguments in writing and in debate
• employing basic skills and conventions in the presentation and use of literary and material evidence
• bibliographic and referencing skills
• team-working and contributing to group discussions
• using IT resources effectively
• independent working and time management

The module will be assessed through a 2000-word essay (50%) and an exam consisting of one essay question and one short answer question, weighted 70:30 (50%).

The essay and exam questions will require knowledge and critical deployment of evidence and critical understanding of modern scholarship to answer questions and construct arguments relating to Archaic and Classical Greek history.

In the short answer question, students will be asked to write a brief account of two subjects (e.g. events, sources or individuals, chosen from a list of five), outlining what a study of the subject can contribute to our understanding of Greek history, thus deploying their knowledge of the period and interpretations of it.

Type of assessment = CW

% Contribution = 50

Title = Coursework - essay

Duration = 
(if applicable)

Approx. date of Assessment = Spring semester

Type of assessment = EXSP

% Contribution = 50

Title = Tyrants, Kings and Democrats: The Rise of Classical Greece

Duration = 1.5 hours
(if applicable)

Approx. date of Assessment = Spring semester

The opportunity for reassessment in this module

Students who fail the module will normally be expected to resit the failed component(s) in the summer resit period.

• the Archaic world
• Herodotus, Greece and the East
• Archaic Athens and Sparta
• Athenian democracy
• the Persian Wars
• the Delian League and the Athenian Empire
• culture and politics in fifth-century Athens
• Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War

Herodotus, Histories (Penguin)
Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War (Penguin)

J. Curtis and N. Tallis (eds.), Forgotten Empire (2005)

S. Hornblower, The Greek World, 479–323 BC (fourth edition, 2011)

K.H. Kinzl (ed.), A Companion to the Classical Greek World (2006)

I. Malkin (ed.), Ancient Perceptions of Greek Ethnicity (2001)

R. Osborne, Greece in the Making, 1200–479 B.C. (second edition, 2009)

K.A. Raaflaub and H. van Wees (eds.), A Companion to Archaic Greece (2009)

J. Rich and G. Shipley (eds.), War and Society in the Greek World (1993)

See the module handout for the full reading list.