Modules
Thucydides and the Idea of History (CLA3045)
Staff | Professor Neville Morley - Convenor |
---|---|
Credit Value | 30 |
ECTS Value | 15 |
NQF Level | 6 |
Pre-requisites | None |
Co-requisites | None |
Duration of Module | Term 1: 11 weeks; Term 2: 11 weeks; |
Module aims
The aims of this module are to:
- Understand the nature of Thucydides’ approach to studying the past, setting it in the wider context of his times, and to explore the ways in which he develops and presents his findings.
- Understand the history of the reception of his work, and the ways in which it has been interpreted as a model for modern historiography and the wider human sciences.
- You will study key passages in Thucydides’ account of the Peloponnesian War in detail, developing your understanding of ancient historiography.
- Engage with later interpretations and evocations of the work, not only by historians but also by political scientists, international relations theorists and creative writers.
- Develop your skills in the critical interpretation of a variety of ancient and modern texts.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of Thucydides work in general, including his conception of historiography, and of key passages within his account
- 2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different traditions of interpretation of Thucydides, and of the different ways in which his ideas have been deployed in modern debates
- 3. Analyse specific passages of Thucydides critically, and show how they relate to wider debates about the nature of historiography, the workings of politics, and the origins of war
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 4. Analyse passages of ancient sources, identify the relevant contexts for understanding them, and offer plausible interpretations of your own
- 5. Show knowledge and understanding of the tradition of receiving the classics in the modern world, and how these shape our readings of ancient texts
- 6. Show knowledge and understanding of how different theoretical approaches influence interpretations of ancient texts and their significance
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 7. Conduct independent research, including the use of a wide range of library and online resources to identify, evaluate and organise relevant material
- 8. Analyse a wide range of sources and arguments critically
- 9. Construct coherent, relevant and plausible arguments based on your knowledge and understanding, and to present these clearly and effectively both in writing and in online formats
- 10. Work effectively with others, and to contribute constructively to group discussion
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- The idea of the perfect historian
- The use of evidence
- The relationship between history and myth
- The ideas of objectivity and impartiality
- The use of rhetoric
- The construction of historian narratives
- The idea of history as science
- The role of theory in history
- History as science
- History as art
- The usefulness of historical knowledge
- Thucydides’ interpretations of the outbreak of war
- The dynamics of imperialism
- The nature of the international order
- The operations of democracy
- The idea of Thucydides in modern culture
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
---|---|---|
44 | 256 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching | 44 | 22 x 2-hour seminars, involving a mixture of general discussion directed by the lecturer, small-group work, and student presentations |
Guided independent study | 256 | Students working independently and in groups preparing for seminars and assessment |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Presentation | Equivalent to 10 minutes duration; format to be agreed with the module director. | 1-10 | Oral and written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
90 | 0 | 10 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Presentation | 10 | Equivalent to 10 minutes duration; format to be agreed with the module director. | 1-10 | Mark; written and oral feedback |
Commentary 1 | 10 | 1500 words | 1-9 | Mark; written and oral feedback |
Commentary 2 (revised version of 1) | 30 | 2000 words | 1-9 | Mark; written and oral feedback |
Essay 1 | 10 | 2000 words | 1-9 | Mark; written and oral feedback |
Essay 2 (revised version of 1) | 40 | 3500 words | 1-9 | Mark; written and oral feedback |
0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Presentation | Presentation (as above) | 1-10 | Referral/Deferral period |
Commentary | Commentary | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Essay | Essay | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Greenwood, E. (2006) Thucydides and the Shaping of History, London
Harloe, K. & Morley, N., eds. (2012) Thucydides and the Modern World, Cambridge
Hawthorn, G. (2014) Thucydides on Politics: back to the present, Cambridge
Lee, C. & Morley, N., eds. (2015) A Handbook to the Reception of Thucydides, Malden MA
Meineke, S. (2006) ‘Thucydidism’, in Brill’s New Pauly, Leiden, available online.
Rusten, J., ed. (2009) Thucydides (Oxford Readings in Classical Studies), Oxford
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
16/03/2017
Last revision date
17/05/2021
Key words search
Thucydides, historiography, political theory, classical reception