Ancient History

Immerse yourself in the rich cultures of ancient Greece and Rome – their history, societies, achievements, beliefs and values – and discover how these ancient civilisations have influenced the modern world.

Ancient history is the study of the Greek and Roman worlds over a period spanning from 2000 BC to around 600 AD and covers parts of Africa, Asia and Europe. You will learn about these ancient cultures in their political literary, social, cultural and religious contexts.

This flexible course allows you to pursue your own interests and choose from a wide range of research-led subjects. The University of Reading has one of the widest ranging Classics Departments in the UK, with specialist subjects from the Bronze Age to late antiquity; We are also ranked third in the UK for the quality of our research.

You can enhance your knowledge of the ancient world by studying Latin or Greek, or gain an understanding of the ancient past through hands-on experience with artefacts from the Ure Museum – the University's internationally important collection of Greek and Egyptian antiquities. You can also explore ancient Rome through our unique digital model of the city.

Your first year will be one of discovery and experimentation. Core modules will provide you with a solid grounding, while optional modules let you explore the different approaches, periods, and cultures that interest you. In your second year you will be encouraged to become more independent, proposing your own areas of study and setting your own essay questions. You can refine your interests in your final year and focus on your dissertation.

You will be encouraged to gain direct experience of ancient sites through independent travel, for which scholarships are available. You can also apply to study at the British School at Athens and the British School at Rome, which both offer summer school opportunities to University of Reading students.

Year 1

Core modules include:

• Greek History: War, Society and Change in the Archaic Age
• Roman History: The Rise and Fall of the Republic

Optional modules include:

• Ancient Song
• Texts, Readers, and Writers
• Latin at an appropriate level, from beginner to expert
• Ancient Greek at an appropriate level, from beginner to expert
• One or more modules from another department

Year 2

Core modules include:

• Greek History: Archaic Age to Alexander
• Roman History: From Republic to Empire
• Prospects for Classicists and Ancient Historians

Optional modules include:

• Ancient Epic
• Ancient Drama
• Latin at an appropriate level, from beginner to expert
• Ancient Greek at an appropriate level, from beginner to expert
• Work placement for Classicists and Ancient Historians
• Egypt & Greece
• Greek Comedy
• Modern Greek literature
• Ancient World on Film
• Roman Satire
• Voices from the Roman army
• Ancient Sport
• Classical Mythology in the Renaissance
• Museum History, Policy and Ethics
• Museum Communication and Interpretation
• A modern foreign language
• Practice of Entrepreneurship
• One or more modules from another department

Year 3

Core modules include:

• Dissertation

Optional modules include:

• Latin at an appropriate level, from beginner to expert
• Ancient Greek at an appropriate level, from beginner to expert
• Anatolia & the Aegean
• Alexander to Cleopatra: History & Culture of the Hellenistic World
• Digital Silchester
• Transformations of Helen
• Ancient Biography
• Greek Art & Drama
• Xenophon’s Anabasis
• Carthage – The Rise and Fall
• Ancient Egyptian Language and Hieroglyphs
• Athenian Political Thought 
• One or more modules from another department

Requirements

• IELTS 7.0, with no component below 6.0
• If you have Certificate of Complete General Secondary Education (Attestat o srednem polnom obshchem obrazovanii - Аттестат о среднем полном общем образовании) you need to take International Foundation Programme at first

Scholarships

• Chevening Scholarships 
• Global Education