Last modified: 01 Aug 2023 11:46
The modern West relies heavily on the Classical World in its art, architecture, law, and ideas. However, this is often filtered through later, Christian re-working. This course will try to understand the morals and mores of the Ancient World in their own, pagan context through an examination of its views, in particular, on sex and sexuality. The course will deal with sensitive topics including: sexual violence, prostitution, perceived concepts of deviance, capital punishment and the (mis)treatment of children.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The course will attempt to understand what Greco-Roman cultures understood to be bad (immoral) and good (socially approved) behaviour. Where this is most dramatically different from modern notions is around sexually acceptable and unacceptable practices. In particular, this includes the fraught area of sexual violence as it was understood (and used) in the Ancient World as well as the way in which children should be (as valued future citizens) and could be (as tools of sexual gratification) treated. This will involve examining the ways in which differing social status (citizen, freed, slave, ‘barbarian’) allowed for diverse ways of being treated ‘acceptably’ by the dominant, conquering culture. A final example of how this very different understanding of ‘right and wrong’ can be seen is in examining the ways in which condemned criminals and prisoners could be killed as entertainment. The goal of the course is to try and understand the value systems of the Ancient World and how these worked in practice. Students must be aware that the course will touch upon the topic and readings about sexual violence and the exploitation of enslaved peoples, including the very young.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 20 | Feedback Weeks | 24 | |
| Feedback |
In line with standard History special subject exam: students will answer a mixture of gobbet analyses (40%) and examination questions (60%) regarding material from across the course. Students will complete the exam during a fixed take-home period in line with department and School standard dates. Individual feedback will be provided on request. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate an advanced understanding of ideas of moral/good/acceptable and immoral/bad/unacceptable in the Greco-Roman world. |
| Procedural | Analyse | Articulate convincing analysis of different types of evidence derived from an examination of ancient primary sources (in translation) and secondary literature |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Critically appraise primary source materials and secondary scholarship, using improved verbal and written expression skills through in-class small and large group discussions |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluate different historical methodologies by understanding and applying them to course material. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 14 | Feedback Weeks | 16 | |
| Feedback |
Students will produce a 2500-word essay relating to a topic chosen in consultation with course co-ordinator. Feedback will be provided online through MyAberdeen. Further group feedback will be delivered in class. |
Word Count | 2500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate an advanced understanding of ideas of moral/good/acceptable and immoral/bad/unacceptable in the Greco-Roman world. |
| Procedural | Analyse | Articulate convincing analysis of different types of evidence derived from an examination of ancient primary sources (in translation) and secondary literature |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Critically appraise primary source materials and secondary scholarship, using improved verbal and written expression skills through in-class small and large group discussions |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluate different historical methodologies by understanding and applying them to course material. |
| Reflection | Create | Formulate viable research questions in relation to issues and debates relating to the study of mores and morals in the Ancient World |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 11 | Feedback Weeks | 13 | |
| Feedback |
Students will provide 1 x gobbet responses to sources available in a primary source pack. Feedback will be provided online through MyAberdeen. Further group feedback will be delivered in class. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate an advanced understanding of ideas of moral/good/acceptable and immoral/bad/unacceptable in the Greco-Roman world. |
| Procedural | Analyse | Articulate convincing analysis of different types of evidence derived from an examination of ancient primary sources (in translation) and secondary literature |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Critically appraise primary source materials and secondary scholarship, using improved verbal and written expression skills through in-class small and large group discussions |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate an advanced understanding of ideas of moral/good/acceptable and immoral/bad/unacceptable in the Greco-Roman world. |
| Procedural | Analyse | Articulate convincing analysis of different types of evidence derived from an examination of ancient primary sources (in translation) and secondary literature |
| Reflection | Create | Formulate viable research questions in relation to issues and debates relating to the study of mores and morals in the Ancient World |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluate different historical methodologies by understanding and applying them to course material. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Critically appraise primary source materials and secondary scholarship, using improved verbal and written expression skills through in-class small and large group discussions |
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