Overview

The BA (Hons) Ancient History at the University of Bristol examines the societies, cultures, politics, and historical developments of the ancient Mediterranean and wider world. The foundation stage builds the academic and analytical skills needed to investigate ancient communities through written, archaeological, and material evidence.

What You'll Learn

• Political, social, economic, and cultural history of ancient societies.

• Ancient Greece and Rome, including their institutions, communities, and interactions.

• Historical sources such as literary texts, inscriptions, artefacts, and archaeological evidence.

• Ancient warfare, politics, religion, society, and systems of power.

• Methods for evaluating, interpreting, and comparing different forms of historical evidence.

• Ancient languages and their use in engaging with relevant primary sources.

• Archaeology, material culture, and their contribution to understanding ancient societies.

• The development and transmission of historical ideas and interpretations of the ancient world.

• Research methods, academic writing, independent study, critical analysis, and communication.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to investigate ancient societies using a range of historical, archaeological, and textual evidence. They will understand major political, social, cultural, and economic developments within the ancient world and be able to place events and sources within their appropriate contexts. Students will develop the ability to assess the reliability, limitations, and perspectives of different types of evidence rather than treating sources as straightforward accounts of the past. They will also be able to construct evidence-based historical arguments, undertake independent research, and communicate their findings clearly in written and spoken forms. The course will strengthen students' ability to interpret complex historical questions and consider how knowledge of the ancient world is constructed and debated.