Ancient History

Explore ancient civilisations over two millennia from the Bronze Age to the rise of Islam, stretching from ancient Greece and Rome to Mesopotamia, Iran and the Silk Route.

Dedicated to the understanding of past societies through the interpretation of ancient evidence, our BA in Ancient History is an exciting degree that explores key literary, visual, epigraphic and archaeological material. Unusual in the UK, our programme allows you to discover the Near East, Persia and the Byzantine Empire, as well as the Greek and the Roman worlds.

Designed for students with no prior study of the ancient world, but also catering for those who do have some prior knowledge, our multi-faceted programme will develop your knowledge and critical understanding of these fascinating ancient societies, examining their political, social, economic and cultural structures, while developing the skills and knowledge you need to succeed at university level.

For us, social and cultural topics are just as important as political history. You will encounter fascinating themes with contemporary relevance, such as warfare, gender and sexuality, religion, medicine, art and literature, and you will discover how antiquity continues to inspire the modern world.

You will assess the range of evidence available for the study of the ancient world and learn to evaluate varying and sometimes conflicting interpretations of the past, in order to construct your own robust and coherent arguments. You will practise expressing your views in a variety of written forms as well as verbally, within a supportive environment. At the end of your degree, you will design and execute an individual research project on a subject of your choice.

This programme is also available with a year of study abroad, extending your degree to a four-year programme, with your third year spent at a partner institution.

Distinctive Features of the Programme

Unique focus on Ancient History – we are notable among UK universities for having a department devoted to Ancient History.

Wide chronological range and cultural diversity – we study a broad time period and diversity of ancient peoples, including the societies of the ancient Near East as well as the Greeks and Romans.

Emphasis on diversity of evidence – you will encounter the full range of evidence for understanding the ancient world, emphasising both material and textual evidence.

Period-focused and thematic-centred modules - modules cover specific historical periods (such as ancient Persia, Rome or Greece) and broad social and cultural topics (from warfare, gender and art, to medicine).

Employability and enterprise skills – we offer modules providing work placements and public engagement opportunities, training you to present your ideas to different audiences and in different media.