| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Professor
Ray Laurence
Contact via email or by phone 02 9850 1430 during consultation hours
N/A
Monday 3-4; Friday 10.30-11.30
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
AHIS1210
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| Unit description |
Unit description
The study of the past is constantly evolving and this unit sets out to introduce students to the changing nature of the study of antiquity and the on-going significance of the past in the modern world. This unit also introduces students to the study of primary sources, or evidence from Greek and Roman world, and the evaluation of how history is written through an analysis of a specific historical area. The first section of the unit is focused on the study of ancient sources - what is our evidence and how did authors millennia ago write about major world events - pandemics, war, politics, and so on that continue to be a focus for us today. This section of the unit will give you a thorough understanding of the issues around the use of evidence in Ancient History. The second section of the unit focuses on the writing of ancient history in the modern world. You will study a developing area of recent research and critically evaluate how this research is created, its limitations and its strengths, and its significance for those living in the modern world. The third section introduces students to recent research on the failure of the Roman Republic in the second century BCE with a view to better understanding how a political system can simply cease to function and to understand the relevance of this historical phenomenon for the 21st century. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Deadlines, Extensions and Late Penalties Assessments are due in weeks 4, 8, and 13.
You can apply for an extension to a deadline for an assessment - this is known at Macquarie University as Special Consideration - if you foresee an interruption to your studies at the time of submission of an assessment, you should make an application for an extension or Special Consideration.
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) willonly be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.
Use of Ai or Large Language Models (LLMs) for Assessments in this unit Assessment 1: Creative Work – Writing as an Ancient Historian cannot be completed by an LLM and using an LLM will not help you complete it.
Assessment 2: Blog focused on strengths and weaknesses of 3-4 specified key academicarticles/chapters on (available from the Leganto Reading list). LLMs cannot assess text for “strengths and weaknesses”; whereas humans can. However, instruction will be given on how to use an LLM to extend your study by making summaries of other academic publications on the Leganto Reading List.
Assessment 3: Blog focused on the significance of Ancient History with reference to the Roman Republic, specifically in the 2nd century BCE. You are required to use the Leganto Reading List to complete this assessment and are encouraged to use an LLM to summarise a range of articles from the Leganto Reading list and academic viewpoints.
PLEASE DO NOT use an LLM to simply write your assessment, it cannot do what your human brain does based on the Leganto Reading list. Equally, please do not substitute material from the Leganto Reading list with a Google Search or the Encyclopaedia Britannica – you need to base your University work on material held in the University Library and accessible to you via the Leganto Reading List.
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due | Groupwork/Individual | Short Extension | AI Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blog 1 Research Project | 30% | No | 2026-05-03 | Individual | No | Open |
| Writing as an ancient author | 30% | No | 2026-03-22 | Individual | No | Open |
| Blog 2: Ancient History - The Importance of Studying the Past | 40% | No | 2026-06-07 | Individual | No | Open |
Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 2026-05-03
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open
Students will write a blog (600 words) in week eight summarising the strengths and weaknesses of recent research relating to a topic in Ancient History
Assessment Type 1: Creative task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 2026-03-22
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open
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.
Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 2026-06-07
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open
Students will research a topic in ancient history and set out the significance of studying this topic in the form of a blog (maximum 1200 words) that is targeted at the contemporary public.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.
3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.
In this unit, your learning will be structured around two core components: Prepare and Practise. Each week you will see these areas clearly signposted and the learning activities placed directly below them. Each component relates to the preparation and consolidation activities for you to complete before and after scheduled activities such as lectures and tutorials.
Prepare: Here, you'll find everything you need to get ready for your scheduled classes, such as lectures, tutorials, or seminars. This could include readings, podcasts, and interactive activities that will help you engage more deeply during class and allow you to come along prepared for learning.
Practise: After class, this is where you'll consolidate your learning through activities such as knowledge checks, post-class readings, use of an AI tutor to reinforce your knowledge and so on.
This structure is designed to help you stay organised and get the most out of each week. We look forward to supporting your learning journey!
This unit introduces students to the study of primary sources, or evidence from Greek and Roman world, and the evaluation of how history is written through an analysis of a specific historical area.
The first section of the unit is focused on the study of ancient sources - what is our evidence and how did authors millennia ago write about major world events - pandemics, war, politics, and so on that continue to be a focus for us today. This section of the unit will give you a thorough understanding of the issues around the use of evidence in Ancient History.
The second section of the unit focuses on the writing of ancient history in the modern world. You will study a developing area of recent research and critically evaluate how this research is created, its limitations and its strengths, and its significance for those living in the modern world.
The third section introduces students to recent research on the failure of the Roman Republic in the second century BCE with a view to better understanding how a political system can simply cease to function and to understand the relevance of this historical phenomenon for the 21st century.
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.
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 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
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.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Academic Success 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.
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
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.
The iLearn page has been reformatted to create greater clarity and to include specific information wtih regard to what is expected of students each week.
Assessment instructions have been clarified and set out to be read more easily than as a block of text.
The Leganto Reading List has been revised, and specific, clear instructions have been added - including the use of AI for scoping topics.
Non-asssessed quizzes have been added based directly on the readings to provide guidance to online students ahead of posting in the weekly forum.
Unit information based on version 2026.04 of the Handbook