The Hellenistic World, c. 323-31 BCE

CAHE30241 The Hellenistic World, c. 323-31 BCE 20 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 3 Leah Lazar Unit coordinator Classics, Ancient History, Archaeology & Egyptolog 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 This course explores the history and thriving cultures of the Hellenistic world from the dissolution of Alexander’s empire to the rise of the Rome as the dominant power in the Mediterranean (323-31 BCE). It examines the political, social, cultural landscapes of the Mediterranean and Near East in the aftermath of Alexander’s campaigns, with the emergence of new forms of kingship, urban life and economic integration.Students will study the rise of Hellenistic monarchies, their courts and ideologies, as well as the foundations and resilience of cities as centres of power, cultural exchange and economy. Particular attention will be given to political structures and cultures, using material evidence such as inscriptions to understand royal and civic administration, and the changing nature of Greek democracy. We will also explore the complexity of Hellenistic economies, including commercial connectivity and coinage. We will study the complex interactions between Greeks and non-Greeks, and between Hellenistic states and Rome. Rather than viewing Hellenisation as a one-way process, the course emphasises cultural negotiation and hybridity. Students will also engage with the social history of the Hellenistic world, including the lives of non-elite groups such as women and enslaved people. By the end of the unit, students will have a nuanced understanding of the diversity and dynamism of the Hellenistic world. The course introduces key methods and a variety of sources for the study of Hellenistic history, including epigraphy, numismatics and archaeology, assessing their value alongside historiography, especially Polybius and Diodorus Siculus. All literary and epigraphical texts will be read in translation.  This course explores the history and thriving cultures of the Hellenistic world from the dissolution of Alexander’s empire to the rise of the Rome as the dominant power in the Mediterranean (323-31 BCE). It examines the political, social, cultural landscapes of the Mediterranean and Near East in the aftermath of Alexander’s campaigns, with the emergence of new forms of kingship, urban life and economic integration.Students will study the rise of Hellenistic monarchies, their courts and ideologies, as well as the foundations and resilience of cities as centres of power, cultural exchange and economy. Particular attention will be given to political structures and cultures, using material evidence such as inscriptions to understand royal and civic administration, and the changing nature of Greek democracy. We will also explore the complexity of Hellenistic economies, including commercial connectivity and coinage. We will study the complex interactions between Greeks and non-Greeks, and between Hellenistic states and Rome. Rather than viewing Hellenisation as a one-way process, the course emphasises cultural negotiation and hybridity. Students will also engage with the social history of the Hellenistic world, including the lives of non-elite groups such as women and enslaved people. By the end of the unit, students will have a nuanced understanding of the diversity and dynamism of the Hellenistic world. The course introduces key methods and a variety of sources for the study of Hellenistic history, including epigraphy, numismatics and archaeology, assessing their value alongside historiography, especially Polybius and Diodorus Siculus. All literary and epigraphical texts will be read in translation.  This unit aims to:Introduce the political, cultural, economic and social history of the Hellenistic world, from the Western Mediterranean to Central Asia (323-31 BCE)Explore the aftermath of Alexander’s conquests and the wars of his SuccessorsStudy diverse political formations, including the Hellenistic monarchies and the spread and endurance of the Greek city  Explore the cultural diversity of the Hellenistic World, and the complex interactions between Greeks and othersExplore the rise of Rome as a power in the MediterraneanIntroduce and analyse diverse sources, including ancient historiography, inscriptions, coins and material cultureEngage critically with modern scholarship about the Hellenistic period, including recent approaches   <ul><li>Demonstrate knowledge of a wide variety of epigraphic documents (either extracts or inscriptions under 500 words) and literary texts (extracts from historians and poets), accessed through physical and digital corpora</li><li>Identify key themes in the political, cultural, economic and social history of the Hellenistic world on the basis of diverse ancient sources</li><li>Analyse interaction between the Greek world and other cultures, including in Italy, the Near East and North Africa </li></ul> <ul><li>Effectively conduct independent research and apply to interpretation of ancient sources</li><li>Develop skills of critical engagement with current scholarship on Hellenistic history. Critically evaluate and compare scholarly interpretations of key problems in Hellenistic history, using primary and secondary sources to support independent work </li></ul> <ul><li>Synthesise large bodies of information drawn from multiple time periods and from a  range of ancient literary, epigraphical, archaeological, and numismatic sources.</li><li>Demonstrate effective time management through the timely completion and submission of assessed work </li></ul> <ul><li>Produce written analyses of texts (both ancient documents and modern historiography) in an informed, perceptive and sophisticated manner </li></ul> 0 Other 100% One review of a book (or book section) - 30%2 extended commentaries on selection of different kinds of sources - 70% Written feedback provided on Canvas within 15 working days from submission  Y M. Austin (2006), The Hellenistic World from Alexander to the Roman Conquest. A Selection of Ancient Sources in Translation, Cambridge.   A. Erskine (2005), A Companion to the Hellenistic World, Chichester.   P. Kosmin (2014), The Land of the Elephant Kings. Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire, Harvard.   J. Ma (2000), Antiochos III and the Cities of Western Asia Minor, Oxford.   J. Ma (2024), Polis: a New History of the Ancient Greek City-State from the Early Iron Age to the End of Antiquity, Princeton. P. Thonemann (2015), The Hellenistic World. Using Coins as Sources, Oxford.   P. Thonemann (2016), The Hellenistic Age. Oxford.  Lectures 22 Seminars 11 0 167