Undergraduate Modules

Economy and Society in Classical Greece

MODULE CODE: 2/3CLA1520

OPTION: AH         

TAUGHT: Michaelmas term

MODULE AUTHOR: Dr Errietta Bissa  

LEVEL: 5/6

CREDITS: 20                                                

TEACHING METHODS:                     

Lectures:  20 hours (10%)

Seminars:  4 hours  (2%)

Field visits:  n/a

Directed Learning: 60 hours(30%)

JACS CODE:   V110

AIM(S)

To enable students :

• to understand and assess critically the classical Greek economy and the source material related to them.
• to interpret effectively one of the most debated subjects in the history of classical Greece.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this module students should be able to: 

Subject specific skills and knowledge

All students:

• be able to identify the main aspects of the Greek economy
• have a thorough knowledge of the sources and evidence relating to the economy  of the Greek world.
• have a critical understanding of the modern debates regarding the ancient economy.
• evaluate effectively the problems and issues relating to the Greek economy.

In addition Level 5 students should be able to:

• demonstrate a knowledge of the main evidence for the Greek economy.
• interpret modern scholarly arguments and debates on the Greek economy and its role in society

In addition Level 6 students should be able to:

• to analyse and assess systematically the evidence for the Greek economy.
• to appreciate critically the relative value of the source material on the Greek economy.
• describe and comment on the modern scholarship on the Greek economy and its role in society.

Transferable skills and knowledge

All students:

• demonstrate appropriate written skills
• present written work in a manner appropriate for a relevant/professional audience.
• access and employ the relevant e-resources for the course.
• demonstrate critical, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• demonstrate  independent learning skills through the use of library and electronic resource
• demonstrate relevant skills in technologically appropriate media presentation

In addition Level 5 Students should be able to:

• demonstrate appropriate oral presentation skills

CONTENT

The course starts with a series of introductory subject that influence our understanding of the ancient Greek economy, including the major modern debates on the economy and diverse subjects such as geography and demography. The second part of the course concentrates on the basics of Greek economy covering the different issues relating to production and trade. The third and largest part of the course puts the economy and economic institutions squarely as part of society exploring the role of the economy in the position of different groups of people in society as well as the influence of the economy on the history of the polis as a whole

ASSESSMENT

Note that a Pass in the IT Skills module (Level 4) is essential for this course.

For Level 5 students:

Examination: A take home exam (50%)

Course work: A presentation (20%)

                          A 2000-word webpage on the economy of a commodity (30%)

For Level 6 students:

Examination: A take home exam (50%)

Course work: A 3000-word webpage on the economy of a polis (50%)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Essential

• Hesiod Works and Days
• Aristotle Oeconomica I and II
• Xenophon  Oeconomicus
• Demosthenes Speeches 32-37 and 56
• Lysias Speech 22

Recommended

• Finley, M.I. The Ancient Economy  London 1999
• Garnsey, P. Famine and Food supply in the Greco-Roman world  Cambridge 1988
• Cohen, E. Athenian Economy and Society: A banking perspective Princeton 1997
• Garnsey, P. Et al Trade in the Ancient Economy Cambridge 1983

Updated: 09/09/2009

If there is something you think should be added to or changed in these pages, please contact Errietta Bissa.

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