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Take a journey through the fascinating world of antiquity

Focus on the Ancient World

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This minor provides you with a window on the ancient world. It enables you to learn one of the two classical languaes: Latin. While learning that language you will be taught about the philosophical and religious traditions of antiquity.

The minor programme ‘Focus on the Ancient World’ offers precisely that: it allows you to focus on the world of antiquity through the lens of the Latin language. You learn the language and this enables you to read original Latin texts. In this way, you can acquire first-hand knowledge of ancient sources.

Learning the language goes hand in hand with studying the philosophies and religions of antiquity. It means getting acquainted with the thought of, for instance, Plato, Aristotle, and Stoic thinkers as well as the development of their ideas in later times. The broad range of ancient religions is also presented: from Babylon and Israel to the Greek world and the Roman Empire. Both polytheistic and monotheistic systems are explained as well as the many ritual traditions and other practices that defined them. The history and literature of ancient Christianity receive attention in a separate course. Focus is not only on the Ancient World as such, but also on its continued impact on the world of today: its philosophical models, religious traditions, artistic legacies, and political systems.

The Course ‘Religion in Antiquity’ is offered by the UvA (as part of the ACASA-programme) and requires separate registration with the University of Amsterdam. 

Subject overview

  • Elementary Latin I and II

    Elementary Latin I and II (1 and 2) will introduce you to the basics of Latin grammar, syntax, and morphology. You will acquire a basic vocabulary and get used to resources used in Latin studies (glossaries, dictionaries, grammars, annotation guidelines, etc.). We will read different types of historical sources, both literary texts and documents. Upon completion of the courses, you will be able to translate elementary Latin texts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

  • Great Minds I

    This course covers Western philosophy from the 6th century B.C. through the 14th century A.D. It provides an introduction to ancient and medieval philosophy using the thought of philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Boëthius, and Thomas Aquinas. In addition, we pay attention to Arab and women philosophers. We concentrate on the relationship between world, knowledge, and language (metaphysics, epistemology, logic).

  • Ancient Christianity

    This course traces the development of ancient Christianity in context. Historically, the period from the first to the fourth centuries CE will be addressed. In class, primary sources in translation will be discussed: in this way we are able to hear the voices of early Christians first-hand. As we go along, different dimensions will be highlighted in conjunction: political, social, and cultural. Defining conflicts that played out during the first centuries will be analysed as well as the formation of innovative literary genres and new forms of visual expression.

  • Religion in Antiquity

    This course deals with the main points and issues of religion in Ancient Mesopotamia and the Greco-Roman world. The lectures give an overview of the deities, religious life, rituals, and customs in each of these regions. In discussing the various theoretical approaches towards religion, students will learn theoretical assumptions in the scholarly literature, and gain insight into the coherence between religious changes and societal developments.

    This course is offered in the context of ACASA (Amsterdam Centre for Ancient Studies and Archaeology, a joint programme of VU & UvA) and taught in the city centre (UvA location; requires separate UvA registration).