Students

AHIS2210 – From Alexander the Great to Augustus: The Hellenistic Age

2023 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Ian Worthington
ian.worthington@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
B170 Arts Precinct
by appointment
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

This unit studies the reigns of Philip II of Macedonia (359-336 BC) and especially his son Alexander the Great (336-323 BC) as well as the history of the Hellenistic period to the Roman seizure of Egypt in 30 BC by the future emperor Augustus. Specific areas of study include Alexander the Great as king, general, and man; his Successors and the formation of the Hellenistic kingdoms; Greek and Macedonian inter-state relations; Ptolemaic Egypt; Seleucid Syria; and Roman imperialism in the eastern Mediterranean. As well as political and military matters, we will discuss cultural and intellectual matters in the Hellenistic period. Lessons for today will be considered, including Alexander’s military legacy and the lives of indigenous people in the Ptolemaic and Seleucid empires.

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 working knowledge of the history of the period from Alexander the Great to the end of the Hellenistic era, including the approach of some modern historians to it.
  • ULO2: Examine and critically evaluate historical evidence, appreciating its significance and limitations.
  • ULO3: Understand connections between the ancient world and the modern.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty:  

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.  (The times are Sydney times.)

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.

Do not plagiarise: plagiarism will not be tolerated; see 'MQ Academic Integrity Policy' below ('Policies and Procedures').

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Essay 25% No 19/03/23 by 11.55pm
Poster 25% No 30/04/23 by 11.55pm
Essay 50% No 28/05/23 by 11.55pm

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 19/03/23 by 11.55pm
Weighting: 25%

 

Qualitative assessment on a topic to do with ancient sources

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Illustrate a broad working knowledge of the history of the period from Alexander the Great to the end of the Hellenistic era, including the approach of some modern historians to it.
  • Examine and critically evaluate historical evidence, appreciating its significance and limitations.
  • Understand connections between the ancient world and the modern.

Poster

Assessment Type 1: Poster
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 30/04/23 by 11.55pm
Weighting: 25%

 

One slide only of text and 2-3 illustrations arranged and put together by students as they wish as long as on only one slide on a topic to do with Alexander the Great

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Illustrate a broad working knowledge of the history of the period from Alexander the Great to the end of the Hellenistic era, including the approach of some modern historians to it.
  • Examine and critically evaluate historical evidence, appreciating its significance and limitations.
  • Understand connections between the ancient world and the modern.

Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 28/05/23 by 11.55pm
Weighting: 50%

 

2,000 words on a topic to do with the Hellenistic era

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Illustrate a broad working knowledge of the history of the period from Alexander the Great to the end of the Hellenistic era, including the approach of some modern historians to it.
  • Examine and critically evaluate historical evidence, appreciating its significance and limitations.
  • Understand connections between the ancient world and the modern.

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: There are no face-to-face lectures; all weekly lectures are recorded and uploaded onto the Echo 360 site by 3.00pm Monday each week. 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 recorded  'definitive' tutorial will be uploaded onto the Echo 360 site after the tutorial in question fo external/OUA students.  

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

No required purchase books.

eReserve readings on leganto (see 'Unit Readings' in iLearn Syllabus and weekly lecture and tutorial readings for information).

Unit Schedule

Week 1: Macedonia and Greece before Philip II

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; Generalship & Leadership Skills and 'Greatness'

Week 7: The Wars of the Successors and the Birth of the Hellenistic Kingdoms

Week 8: Macedonia and Greece

Week 9: Ptolemaic Egypt

Week 10: Pergamum and Rhodes

Week 11: The Seleucid Kingdom and its Successor States

Week 12: A Tale of Two Cities: Hellenistic Athens

Week 13: The Wash-up of the Hellenistic Age

(The above subject to change in the later weeks)

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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

Changes to lectures on the Hellenistic era delivered by Worthington.

Changes to tutorial topics and running order.

Changes to topics of major essay.

Changes to topics of poster and provision of sample one to aid students.

Explanation of what is required in the qualitative assessment to aid students.

As a TRIAL this time, the major essay has been made due in week 12 and not week 13 to reduce the numerous assignments due in that final week of teaching for students. 

Unit information based on version 2023.03 of the Handbook