Subject details

At the completion of this subject students will:

1. have basic knowledge of the key events which occurred during Alexander's invasion and in the period of the Successor Kings

2. have gained an understanding of the key cultural developments in the Successor Kingdoms from the Third Century BC to the First Century BC

3. have also gained an understanding of the impact of the emerging Roman Empire in the eastern Mediterranean and in turn the effects that these eastern imperial acquisitions had on Roman culture

4. be able to critically analyse the literary, epigraphic and archaeological evidence for this period.

  • Topics
    • In the footsteps of Alexander
    • Alexander and the army; sources on Alexander's reign
    • Alexander's motives; modern interpretations of Alex
    • Coinage of Alex the Great; succession crisis
    • Monarchy and religion ruler cult
    • The Seleucid Kings; the Antigonids
    • The Ptolemies; the Hellenisation process
    • Seleucid Dura Europos
    • Hellenistic philosophy and political protest
    • Potters Oracle and Egyptian resistance to Ptolemaic rule
    • Anti-Hellenic reaction in Palestine
    • Rise of Parthian Empire and the Hellenistic world
    • Hellenistic religion

Entry Requirements

Equivalent Subjects

You cannot enrol in this unit if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:

  • MAQ-AHIX241
  • MAQ-HST225

Others

You must complete Level 1 and 2 studies in Ancient History before starting this subject.

Special requirements

No special requirements

This subject was previously known as AHIX241 Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age.

 
Alexander the Great's extraordinary conquests towards the end of the fourth century BC opened up vast areas of the ancient Near East to Greek influences. This subject deals with the cultural history of the eastern Mediterranean area, beginning with Alexander's invasion of the Persian Empire. It follows the fortunes of his successors in the third and second centuries BC, treating the Hellenisation of native peoples and reactions to cultural change, down to and including the early first century AD and the emergence of the Roman Empire.

  • Assignment 1 - Assignment 1 (25%)
  • Assignment 2 - Assignment 2 (30%)
  • Assignment 3 - Non-Invigilated Exam (35%)
  • Assignment 4 - Online Discussion (10%)

Textbooks are subject to change within the academic year. Students are advised to purchase their books no earlier than one to two months before the start of a subject.

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Related degrees

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Arts