Students

AHIX1210 – Studying the Past from the Bronze Age to Byzantium

2021 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Peter Keegan
Ray Laurence
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The first half of the session will introduce students to research projects led by staff in the Discipline of Ancient History. This will introduce students to the role of research in the development of the discipline of Ancient History spanning the full range of Greek and Roman History from the Bronze Age to the Late Antiquity and the Byzantine emperors. The second half of the unit will focus on the relevance of the discipline of ancient history to contemporary experiences and how the contemporary world shapes approaches to Ancient History. The unit will end with discussion of the future of Ancient History.

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: Engage with contemporary cultural perspectives and practices to contextualise historical knowledge from antiquity
  • ULO2: Explain the principles a processes by which historical and/or archaeological evidence from ancient Greece, Rome and Late Antiquity is analysed, evaluated and interpreted.
  • ULO3: Examine and critically evaluate historical data with initiative and judgement by presenting evidence based exposition of knowledge and ideas about the study of antiquity.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.

 

Grading decisions for each assessment task will be moderated against the set criteria and standards before task results are released.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Blog 1 Research Project 20% No 11:59pm 12/09/2021
Writing as an ancient author 40% No 11:59pm 22/08/2021
Blog 2: Ancient History - The Importance of Studying the Past 40% No 11:59pm 07/11/2021

Blog 1 Research Project

Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 11:59pm 12/09/2021
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will write a blog (300-500 words) in week three summarising the strengths of a research project.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Engage with contemporary cultural perspectives and practices to contextualise historical knowledge from antiquity
  • Explain the principles a processes by which historical and/or archaeological evidence from ancient Greece, Rome and Late Antiquity is analysed, evaluated and interpreted.

Writing as an ancient author

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 11:59pm 22/08/2021
Weighting: 40%

 

This assessment requires students to re-articulate a contemporary event utilising the literary techniques of an ancient author. The purpose of the exercise is to understand the construction of ancient sources and to engage with that format of writing to create a student's own narrative of a contemporary event.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the principles a processes by which historical and/or archaeological evidence from ancient Greece, Rome and Late Antiquity is analysed, evaluated and interpreted.
  • Examine and critically evaluate historical data with initiative and judgement by presenting evidence based exposition of knowledge and ideas about the study of antiquity.

Blog 2: Ancient History - The Importance of Studying the Past

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 11:59pm 07/11/2021
Weighting: 40%

 

Students will research a topic in ancient history and set out the significance of studying this topic in the form of a blog (maximum 1500 words) that is targeted at the contemporary public.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Engage with contemporary cultural perspectives and practices to contextualise historical knowledge from antiquity
  • Explain the principles a processes by which historical and/or archaeological evidence from ancient Greece, Rome and Late Antiquity is analysed, evaluated and interpreted.
  • Examine and critically evaluate historical data with initiative and judgement by presenting evidence based exposition of knowledge and ideas about the study of antiquity.

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

Each week a 2 hour lecture needs to be engaged with.  Students should also participate in a weekly on-line forum to discuss a series of questions and to develop key skills for the completion of the assessments for the unit.  Readings to support learning for the online forum and assessments will be provided via iLearn.

Unit Schedule

Week 1: Ancient History Today - How do we in the present see the past?

Week 2: Ther History of Pandemics: Athens 430 BCE

Week 3: The History of Pandemics: The Antonine Plague

Week 4: Coins and Ancient History

Week 5: Reviewing Change in Ancient History - The Study of "Disability"

Week 6: The Emperor Claudius and His Disability

Week 7: How do we begin to understand Caligula and Madness?

Week 8: Papyri, Ethics and Forging Antiquities

Week 9: Democracy and War

Week 10: The Crisis of Leadership in Late Antiquity

Week 11: Adobe Portfolio Training

Week 12: How does archaeological fieldwork change History?

Week 13: Studying the Past - A Global Phenomenon

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:

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.


Unit information based on version 2021.01 of the Handbook