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2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
CLAS3350 Herodotus and the Beginning of History
20 creditsClass Size: 36
Module manager: Dr Roger Brock
Email: R.W.Brock@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2017/18
Pre-requisite qualifications
NoneThis module is approved as a discovery module
Module summary
This module is suitable for Level 2 or 3 students with some knowledge of Classical literature and/or history. It enables students to investigate the origins of historical writing in ancient Greece through a detailed study of the earliest surviving historiographer, Herodotus. Among the aspects covered will be Herodotus' sources and his handling of them, his literary presentation, his geographic and ethnographic interests, his account of the conflict between Greece and Persia, and his historical outlook. The Histories is studied in English translation (tr. R. Waterfield, Herodotus, Oxford World's Classics 1998). The module is worth 20 credits over both semesters with one lecture per week and a total of two seminars.Objectives
The objective of this module is to enable students to investigate the origins of historical writing in ancient Greece through a detailed study of the earliest surviving historiographer, Herodotus. The module will also encourage students to consider issues common to all historical writing such as periodisation, sources, literary presentation and the impact of authorial outlook and interpretation.Learning outcomes
Students will gain a knowledge of Herodotus’ Histories (and to a lesser extent of the events it describes, culminating in the Persian invasion of Greece) and of the earliest phase in the development of western thought about the recording and interpretation of the past.
Skills outcomes
Students will gain a familiarity with the critical issues which arise in the study of historical writing; they will also be able to relate the emergence of Greek historiography to broader cultural trends and to locate Herodotus in the intellectual context of his time.
Syllabus
The module will deal with the Histories of Herodotus as a whole, though particular attention will be given to Books 1, 3 & 8. Among the aspects covered will be Herodotus' sources and his handling of them, his literary presentation, his geographic and ethnographic interests, his account of the conflict between Greece and Persia, and his historical outlook.
Teaching methods
Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Lecture | 20 | 1.00 | 20.00 |
Seminar | 5 | 1.00 | 5.00 |
Private study hours | 175.00 | ||
Total Contact hours | 25.00 | ||
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 |
Private study
4 hours reading per lecture = 4 x 20 = 80 hours4 hours reading per seminar = 5 x 3 = 8 hours
Research and writing of short assignment: 25 hours
Preparation for examination (essay) and revision: 55 hours
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
The short assignment will serve to monitor student knowledge of the text and understanding of key features and critical concepts and provide structured feedback; this will be supported informally by the seminars.Methods of assessment
Coursework
Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
Source Analysis | 1,500 words | 35.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 35.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
Exam with advance information on questions | 3 hr 00 mins | 65.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 65.00 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 26/04/2017
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