electiveHQ

The great civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean were urban societies that developed complex social and political structures and invested the profits of trade, agriculture, and warfare in the construction of fortifications, temples, palaces, tombs, and other monuments. This module will explore the concept of urbanism through an investigation of some of the famous cities of the ancient Mediterranean world from their beginnings in the Mesopotamian “cradle of civilization”, through Bronze Age citadels such as Mycenae and Troy, to Classical Athens and later into the Hellenistic and Roman eras. Students will learn about the social forces that shape urban space, as well as understanding the roles of monumental architecture in city-based societies. How urbanisation affected the development of writing and art will also be discussed. Assessment consists of online quizzes and an essay. This module is available as an elective.