2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

CLAS3960 Athens: Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary City

20 creditsClass Size: 53

Module manager: Dr Clare Kelly Blazeby
Email: c.kellyblazeby@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module is suitable for students who have previously taken CLAS1300 Greek World, as well as students with little or no knowledge of Athenian history and archaeology. It encourages students to look more closely at the daily experience of 'ordinary' people living in classical Athens, and to gain an in-depth understanding of the methodological problems inherent in different types of evidence.The module is worth 20 credits and runs across both semesters, with one lecture per week and a total of four seminars. For further information, visit us at the Electives Fair or contact the Department of Classics, situated on the first floor of the Parkinson Building, south end (email: classics@leeds.ac.uk; website: www.leeds.ac.uk/classics/; telephone: 0113 343 3537).

Objectives

To enable students to critically evaluate the élite bias inherent in the written sources for Classical Athenian history; develop knowledge and understanding of those individuals and themes marginalized by traditional approaches to the historical evidence; and to develop an appreciation of the everyday living and working conditions of not just the citizen men, but the women, children, slaves and foreigners who inhabited this most extraordinary and cosmopolitan city.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should have acquired:
- The ability to critically evaluate the élite bias inherent in the written sources and develop knowledge and understanding of those individuals and themes marginalized by traditional approaches to the historical evidence.
- The ability to evaluate evidence from a wide variety of comparative literary and archaeological sources.
- An awareness of the problems inherent in studying 'ordinary' people in the ancient world, and the limits of the available data.
- An understanding of the complex and harsh nature of the classical world for those who were not wealthy, healthy, citizen males.

Skills outcomes
- Enhanced capacity for reflective learning.
- The capacity to present clear, informed, well-reasoned written and oral arguments.
- The capacity to work in group settings in a creative and flexible fashion.
- An ability to develop personal theories through directed research.

Syllabus

Was classical Athens a gleaming marble city populated solely by handsome and athletic politicians, skilled rhetoricians and philosophers, men who spent their days in learned conversation at the gymnasium and their evenings soberly reciting poetry? Or was it a squalid and overcrowded city rife with disease, crime, debauchery, prostitution and drunken excess? In this module students will study aspects of classical Athenian life generally overshadowed by those topics traditionally dominated by citizen men, such as politics, philosophy and rhetoric. Through lectures, seminars and directed reading, this module will challenge the elite male bias inherent in the written sources.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	20	1.00	20.00
Seminar	4	1.00	4.00
Private study hours			176.00
Total Contact hours			24.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Lecture preparation: 20 x 2 hours = 40 hours
Seminar preparation: 3 x 4 hours = 12 hours
Assignment = 15 hours
Essay = 45 hours
Exam preparation = 64 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Seminar participation and two pieces of written coursework over the year.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,000 words maximum	40.00
Assignment	500 words maximum	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

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 website

Last updated: 13/03/2009

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