Students
AHIS2210 – From Alexander the Great to Augustus: The Hellenistic Age
2021 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Ian Worthington
Ray Laurence
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
Alexander the Great's extraordinary conquests (towards the end of the fourth century BCE) opened up vast areas of the ancient Near-East to Greek influences. This unit deals with the political and cultural history of the eastern Mediterranean area, beginning with Alexander's invasion of the Persian Empire, dealing in some detail with his personality and policies. It follows the fortunes of his successors in the third and second centuries BCE, treating the Hellenisation of native peoples and reactions to cultural change, down to and including the early first century CE, under the Roman Empire. Consideration will also be given to the place of Alexander the Great as a historical figure in the modern world. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: illustrate a broad knowledge of historical developments in the Hellenistic Age and a broad understanding of the approach of historians to the study of the period.
- ULO2: examine and critically evaluate historical evidence with initiative and judgement and illustrate competency through devising and sustaining arguments and solving problems with reference to the Hellenistic Age.
- ULO3: appreciate the larger issues that engage historians of the Hellenistic Age and to understand connections between the ancient world and the modern, as well as the on-going significance of this period of the past within the modern world
General Assessment Information
1) Submit the written work via turnitin. The link to do so is on the iLearn site. Your essays must NOT exceed the maximum word limit of 1000 words; they should be typed, double-spaced, size 12 font, throughout. On a separate page at the end provide a bibliography listing all works consulted (the bibliography is NOT included in the word limit). The essay topics are given in the iLearn site where there are further details about them.
2) LATE PENALTY: Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.
3) IMPORTANT NOTE ON FINAL MARKS: Grading decisions for each assessment task will be moderated against the set criteria and standards before task results are released.
4) Do not plagiarise: plagiarism will not be tolerated; see 'MQ Academic Honesty': http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1: Alexander the Great and the Macedonian Empire | 30% | No | Week 7 |
| Essay 2: The Hellenistic Age | 30% | No | Week 12 |
| Take-home examination | 40% | No | During Exam Period: final date to be determined |
Essay 1: Alexander the Great and the Macedonian Empire
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 14 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 30%
The essay of 1000 words (maximum) will focus on historical interpretation of an aspect of the reign of Alexander the Great and/or its historical consequences for the Hellenistic Age.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- illustrate a broad knowledge of historical developments in the Hellenistic Age and a broad understanding of the approach of historians to the study of the period.
- examine and critically evaluate historical evidence with initiative and judgement and illustrate competency through devising and sustaining arguments and solving problems with reference to the Hellenistic Age.
Essay 2: The Hellenistic Age
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 30%
This second essay will focus on an aspect of the Hellenistic Age
On successful completion you will be able to:
- illustrate a broad knowledge of historical developments in the Hellenistic Age and a broad understanding of the approach of historians to the study of the period.
- examine and critically evaluate historical evidence with initiative and judgement and illustrate competency through devising and sustaining arguments and solving problems with reference to the Hellenistic Age.
- appreciate the larger issues that engage historians of the Hellenistic Age and to understand connections between the ancient world and the modern, as well as the on-going significance of this period of the past within the modern world
Take-home examination
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 27 hours
Due: During Exam Period: final date to be determined
Weighting: 40%
Students will demonstrate in the examination their broad knowledge of the Hellenistic Age and of the approaches to the History of this period by modern authors. A mandatory question will focus on source analysis. There will also be an opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding of the importance of this historical period for the modern world.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- illustrate a broad knowledge of historical developments in the Hellenistic Age and a broad understanding of the approach of historians to the study of the period.
- examine and critically evaluate historical evidence with initiative and judgement and illustrate competency through devising and sustaining arguments and solving problems with reference to the Hellenistic Age.
- appreciate the larger issues that engage historians of the Hellenistic Age and to understand connections between the ancient world and the modern, as well as the on-going significance of this period of the past within the modern world
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Schedule: All weekly lectures will be recorded. There will be face-to-face tutorials in most weeks for internal students and any external student able to attend them: see iLearn Syllabus for details. In addition, a 'definitive' tutorial will be recorded and posted after the tutorial in question.
Method: AHIS2210 is delivered in blended mode as a Macquarie University unit of study.
Webpage: Online units can be accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
Technology used and skills required: PC and Internet access are required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
Please contact IT staff for any further, more specific, requirements, to do with technology.
Required and recommended resources
Required books:
Ian Worthington (ed.), Alexander the Great: A Reader, 2nd edition (Routledge: 2011): available at reduced cost if you order on this site:
https://www.routledge.com/Alexander-the-Great-A- Reader/Worthington/p/book/9780415667432
Prescribed text(s):
eReserve readings (see 'Unit Readings' in iLearn Syllabus for information)
Unit Schedule
eek 1: Macedonia and Greece before Philip II; Macedonian Society; Sources
Week 2: Philip II of Macedonia – A 'Great' King?
Week 3: Alexander’s Invasion of Persia (1)
Week 4: Alexander’s Invasion of Persia (2)
Week 5: Alexander, Central Asia, and Modern-era Warfare
Week 6: Alexander, India and Final Years: Leadership Skills and 'Greatness'
Week 7: The Wars of the Successors and the Hellenistic Kingdoms to 281
Week 8: Macedonia, Thrace, Galatia, Bithynia
Week 9: Pergamum, Rhodes
Week 10: Egypt. Cyprus, Cyrene
Week 11: The Seleucid Kingdom and its Successor States
Week 12: Rome's Macedonian Wars
Week 13: The Wash-up of the Hellenistic Age
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Changes from Previous Offering
This is a new unit formed by the marriage of two previous ones on Philip & Alexander the Great and on the Hellenistic Era. The new unit covers the period from c. 360s-27 BCE.
All lectures are therefore new as are the assignments and many of the tutorials.
The weighting of the assignments has changed.
Changes since First Published
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 20/05/2021 | dept request change to wording of final marks note. |
Unit information based on version 2021.04 of the Handbook