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AHIS3202 – A History of Magic: From the Magi to Merlin

2024 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Rachel Yuen-Collingridge
rachel.yuen@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above or (20cp in AHIS or AHST units at 2000 level)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit surveys the history of magic from the ancient world to the present day, covering cultures from the Ancient Near East, Egypt and the Graeco-Roman world, Late Antiquity, Medieval and Renaissance Europe, down to the early modern world, as well as aspects of cognitive psychology such as perceptual illusions and delusional beliefs. It provides thorough coverage of the way magic has been defined, understood, and used in these civilisations, and the way it has been conceived and studied in the history of modern scholarship over the past two centuries. Students will focus closely on the material sources for ancient magic, especially handbooks of spells and amulets on papyrus. There will also be close consideration of the construction of magic as an antithesis to religion in the ancient and modern worlds, and a focus on the role, use, and understanding of magic in wider historical, literary, and scientific contexts.

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: Analyse and critique primary sources about magic from the ancient to early modern periods with a view to understanding how different perspectives impact cultural phenomena.
  • ULO2: Understand key theoretical concepts and definitions used to describe magical practice over time, how these shape methods of analysis and what the advantages of such approaches might be.
  • ULO3: Consider critically the impact of later academic and popular discourses on the scholarly study and general understanding of ancient and medieval magic.
  • ULO4: Classify and interpret textual, documentary, and artifactual material in terms of technical or genre-based aspects, types of discourses, and their aims and functions.
  • ULO5: Effectively and with academic integrity use written and oral communication skills appropriate to professional research and in accordance with publication standards using professional guidelines.
  • ULO6: Work effectively as a team to apply knowledge of ancient practices and their socio-cultural settings to modern contexts.
  • ULO7: Navigate specialised databases and integrate search results into research reporting.

General Assessment Information

Marking criteria and standards

Guidelines on the criteria and standards required for assessment tasks, as well as rubrics where appropriate, will be placed on the iLearn site.

The use of Large Language Models like ChatGPT as a tool to assist the comprehension of concepts or to help refine expression (as opposed to generating expression, interpretation and analysis for assessments) is permitted. Specific guidance on appropriate use and the ethical issues of LMM will be provided. This technology has significant limitations which may result in poor performance on assessment tasks if appropriate use is not followed. 

Assignment Submission

ALL written assignments must be submitted via Turnitin within iLearn. Multichoice quiz components will be administered via the iLearn page. 

Extensions

ALL deadlines are firm unless an extension has been requested in writing one (1) week before the due date. All requests for extensions must be submitted  via ask.mq.edu.au and be supported by appropriate documentation. A penalty for lateness (see below) will apply unless a medical certificate or other written substantiation is supplied. Assignments handed in early will not be marked and returned before the due date. Always retain a copy of work you submit in case it is lost in the online system.

Late 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.    

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Satisfactory Completion of Unit

In order to complete this unit satisfactorily students must gain a mark of 50% or more, and attempt all assessment tasks.

Academic Integrity Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours Due:  (Week 3) Weighting: 0%  This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Students will complete a short quiz tailored to this unit that gives examples of academic dishonesty. Students must gain full marks in this quiz to progress to the other assessment. On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Effectively and with academic integrity use written and oral communication skills appropriate to professional research and in accordance with publication standards using professional guidelines.

Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours Due:  (Week 7), and (Exam Period) Weighting: 40%

Two online multichoice quizzes covering lecture and tutorial content from throughout the unit.

On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Analyse and critique primary sources about magic from ancient to early modern periods with a view to understanding how different perspectives impact cultural phenomena.
  • Understand key theoretical concepts and definitions used to describe magical practice over time, how these shape methods of analysis and what the advantages of such approaches might be.
  • Consider critically the impact of later academic and popular discourses on the scholarly study and general understanding of ancient and medieval magic.
  • Classify and interpret textual, documentary, and artifactual material in terms of technical or genre-based aspects, types of discourses, and their aims and functions.
  • Navigate specialised databases and integrate search results into research reporting.

Papyrological Report

Assessment Type 1: Essay Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours Due: (Week 11) Weighting: 45%

A research report involving data collection, management, and representation using information management systems of 1500 words (+/- 10%).

On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Analyse and critique primary sources about magic from ancient to early modern periods with a view to understanding how different perspectives impact cultural phenomena.
  • Understand key theoretical concepts and definitions used to describe magical practice over time, how these shape methods of analysis and what the advantages of such approaches might be.
  • Consider critically the impact of later academic and popular discourses on the scholarly study and general understanding of ancient and medieval magic.
  • Classify and interpret textual, documentary, and artifactual material in terms of technical or genre-based aspects, types of discourses, and their aims and functions.
  • Effectively and with academic integrity use written and oral communication skills appropriate to professional research and in accordance with publications standards using professional guidelines.
  • Navigate specialised databases and integrate search results into research reporting.

Magical Spell

Assessment Type 1: Performance Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours Due: (Week 13) Weighting: 15%

Students in assigned groups construct a magical ritual for performance in the final tutorial. Students will answer questions about their ritual after the performance.

On successful completion you will be able to:

  • Analyse and critique primary sources about magic from ancient to early modern periods with a view to understanding how different perspectives impact cultural phenomena.
  • Consider critically the impact of later academic and popular discourses on the scholarly study and general understanding of ancient and medieval magic.
  • Effectively and with academic integrity use written and oral communication skills appropriate to professional research and in accordance with publications standards using professional guidelines.
  • Work effectively as a team to apply knowledge of ancient practices and their socio-cultural settings to modern contexts.

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

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Quizzes 40% No Week 7 & Exam Period
Academic Integrity Quiz 0% Yes Week 3
Magical Spell 15% No Week 13
Papyrological Report 45% No Week 11

Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 7 & Exam Period
Weighting: 40%

 

Quizzes covering tutorial and lecture content from the unit.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and critique primary sources about magic from the ancient to early modern periods with a view to understanding how different perspectives impact cultural phenomena.
  • Understand key theoretical concepts and definitions used to describe magical practice over time, how these shape methods of analysis and what the advantages of such approaches might be.
  • Consider critically the impact of later academic and popular discourses on the scholarly study and general understanding of ancient and medieval magic.
  • Classify and interpret textual, documentary, and artifactual material in terms of technical or genre-based aspects, types of discourses, and their aims and functions.
  • Navigate specialised databases and integrate search results into research reporting.

Academic Integrity Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Week 3
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

Students will complete a short quiz that gives examples of academic dishonesty. Students must gain full marks in this quiz to progress to the other assessment.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Effectively and with academic integrity use written and oral communication skills appropriate to professional research and in accordance with publication standards using professional guidelines.

Magical Spell

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 15%

 

Students work in small groups to create a magical spell and upload a video of its performance to an online forum.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and critique primary sources about magic from the ancient to early modern periods with a view to understanding how different perspectives impact cultural phenomena.
  • Consider critically the impact of later academic and popular discourses on the scholarly study and general understanding of ancient and medieval magic.
  • Effectively and with academic integrity use written and oral communication skills appropriate to professional research and in accordance with publication standards using professional guidelines.
  • Work effectively as a team to apply knowledge of ancient practices and their socio-cultural settings to modern contexts.

Papyrological Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 45%

 

A research report involving data collection, management, and representation using information management systems of 1500 words (+/- 10%).

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and critique primary sources about magic from the ancient to early modern periods with a view to understanding how different perspectives impact cultural phenomena.
  • Understand key theoretical concepts and definitions used to describe magical practice over time, how these shape methods of analysis and what the advantages of such approaches might be.
  • Consider critically the impact of later academic and popular discourses on the scholarly study and general understanding of ancient and medieval magic.
  • Classify and interpret textual, documentary, and artifactual material in terms of technical or genre-based aspects, types of discourses, and their aims and functions.
  • Effectively and with academic integrity use written and oral communication skills appropriate to professional research and in accordance with publication standards using professional guidelines.
  • Navigate specialised databases and integrate search results into research reporting.

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

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 connect.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 the Service Connect Portal, 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.

Unit information based on version 2024.06 of the Handbook