Ancient Ideas in the Modern World

This module is an exploration of the history of Greek and Roman ideas, which formed the modern world. In the first half of the sessions will focus on Greek ideas like democracy, philosophy, hospitality, fair play, athletics, drama, eros and love and how these ideas have been generated through specific Greek cultural systems or artistic modes of representation (literature, painting, sculpture, theatre). How were these ideas born and what is their influence in the modern world? How does Greek literature relate to these ideas? And more generally, what is the relationship between these ideas and the Greek life and thought? In the second half of the sessions we shall be concerned with Roman ideas and sessions will focus on ideas like fame, liberty, virtue, justice, epicureanism, stoicism, citizenship, republicanism, imperialism, public order and how they have been generated through specific Roman cultural systems or artistic modes of representation (literature, painting, sculpture, theatre). The sessions will then examine the relevance of these ideas to modern politics and society. How were these ideas born and what is their influence in the modern world? How does Greek literature relate to these ideas? And more generally, what is the relationship between these ideas and the Greek life and thought? In the second half of the sessions we shall be concerned with Roman ideas and sessions will focus on ideas like fame, liberty, virtue, justice, epicureanism, stoicism, citizenship, republicanism, imperialism, public order and how they have been generated through specific Roman cultural systems or artistic modes of representation (literature, painting, sculpture, theatre). The sessions will then examine the relevance of these ideas to modern politics and society.

Course leader

Dr Antony Makrinos

Target group

This is a level one module (equivalent to first year undergraduate). No prior subject knowledge is required to study this module but students are expected to have a keen interest in the subject area.

Course aim

Upon successful completion of this module, students will: recognise interactive ways in which they can reflect on the ancient world and its ideas and hence generate ideas and compile information about the modern world in a new way evaluate how classical ideas have been appropriated by ancient and modern cultures through evidence from the texts and make judgements about information digested analyse, compare, contrast and classify information offered by primary and secondary bibliographies and investigate the validity of these sources in the modern world describe the methodological problems relevant to the field and demonstrate understanding of the ideas and concepts discussed together with how they can be interpreted to suit modern needs employ appropriate evidence and test arguments in oral discussion so that the students use existing knowledge to solve new problems or apply their knowledge to new situations manipulate evidence and argument effectively in written presentation by exhibiting memory of previously learned material together with newly learned concepts