Studying online

There are now 2 possible online modes for units:

Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.

Click on an offering mode for more details.

Unit Overview

Description

This unit covers in depth the major political, social and military issues of the reign of Alexander the Great and its aftermath. It assesses the justification for and conduct of his campaign against Persia, explores his interaction with the conquered peoples of the Persian Empire, and traces the forging of a new Greco-Macedonian empire (for which the experience of Athens is used as a test case). It engages further with the major cultural issues raised by Alexander's reign, notably the emergence of ruler-worship. Sources are studied in translation, and historiographical issues are tackled in depth. Such study of Alexander, a monarch whose militarism brought Greece and Persia into an unprecedented level of contact and whose empire would bring about the Hellenic enculturation of the Near East, offers an ancient perspective on some very modern dynamics of ethnic tensions and cultural imperialism.

Credit
6 points
Offering
(see Timetable)
AvailabilityLocationMode
Semester 1UWA (Perth)Face to face
Details for undergraduate courses
  • Level 3 option in the Classics and Ancient History major sequence
  • Level 3 elective
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) describe and evaluate the major events and trends in the reign of Alexander the Great; (2) demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of the historical sources for the period; and (3) demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of the modern scholarship on the period, and an ability to apply the conventions of the discipline within their own writing.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) source analysis; (2) essay; and (3) tutorial contribution. Further information is available in the unit outline.



Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)
Dr Lara-Louisa O'Sullivan
Unit rules
Prerequisites
any Level 2 CLAN unit
Incompatibility
CLAH2212 Age of Alexander the Great
Contact hours
online lectures 2 hours per week
tutorials: 1 hour per week
  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
  • All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
  • Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.