Highlights of the Ancient World

Overview courses

• The Classical Canon 1: The Heritage of Antiquity (UvA, course code 138110036Y)

  This course, which is taught in period 1, discusses works from ancient literature, archaeology, history, art and architecture that have reached a canonical status in Western culture, such as the Bible, the Epic of Gilgamesh, Homer, the site of Troy, the Athenian Acropolis and the Ara Pacis.

• The Decline and Fall of Rome (UvA , course code 138221056Y)

  Why did Rome fall? And why do writers and politicians from Edward Gibbon to Mark Rutte refer to it as a defining moment in Western history? This course (period 2) explores the causes and significance of the fall of the (Western) Roman Empire.

• Religion in Antiquity (UvA, course code 138221036Y)

  This course (period 3) 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 these various cultures.

• Klassieke mythen en bijbelse verhalen (Optional, taught at VU, course code L_AABAALG073) (Dutch only)

  Today’s culture is full of references to biblical stories and Graeco-Roman myths. In this continuous course, which takes place during periods 1, 2 and 3, you will learn about the origin, context and function of these stories in Antiquity and their later reworking in different cultural-historical contexts and in various media: literature, visual arts, theatre, film and music. This course is taught in Dutch and will take place on VU Campus.

• Ancient Christianity (Optional, taught at VU, course code L_XCBAGLT202)

  During this course (period 2) the development of ancient Christianity will be traced in context. Different aspects will be highlighted: political, social, and cultural. Important conflicts during the first centuries will be discussed, as well as influential literary genres and visual representation. This course will take place on VU Campus.

• Classical Mythology (Optional, taught at UvA, course code 112222266Y)

  From the heroic deeds of Theseus to the exploits of the witch Medea, Greco-Roman mythology provides a treasure-trove of stories. In this course (period 4),  we explore ancient myth in many textual and visual forms, from epic to vase painting.

• Greece: Cradle of Civilization? (Optional, taught at UvA, course code 125217016Y)

  Taught in period 4, this course provides a critical introduction to ancient Greek culture and its relevance in the modern world. During the classes, aspects of Greek archaeology, mythology, history, politics, literature, etc. will be topics of discussion.

• Classics beyond Antiquity (Optional, taught at UvA, course code 138121026Y)

  How have the Classics impacted Western art, literature and political thinking? From Greco-Roman sculpture to national origin myths and ideas of “empire” this course (taught in period 5),  discusses the influence of ancient culture in medieval, early modern and current times.

• Highlights uit de Griekse en Latijnse literatuur (Optional, taught at UvA, course code 125111316Y) (Dutch only)

  This course (period 5) provides a smorgasbord of the many literary forms produced by Greco-Roman Antiquity, ranging from Archaic epic and Hellenistic poetry to historiography, drama and philosophical letters. This course is taught in Dutch.