Students

BHIS1001 – Written Words: The Sources for Ancient History

2026 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor, Lecturer, and Tutor
Trevor Evans
trevor.evans@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Arts Precinct B112
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Ever wondered how we know what we know about ancient civilisations? This unit dives into the fascinating world of ancient writing and texts - the actual sources historians use to piece together stories from thousands of years ago. We'll start by exploring how writing first developed around 3000 BCE and discover the connections between ancient images and text, like the words on coins and stone inscriptions from across the ancient world. There will also be an opportunity to examine the use of numbers. You'll get to examine all sorts of ancient 'writing', from epic poems and official documents to casual graffiti scratched into walls. We'll look at everything from massive monuments with carved inscriptions to gravestones, showing you how writing was used by ancient societies. We'll also tackle some big questions: How many people could read and write back then? What role did literacy play in ancient communities? Finally, you'll see how the ancients worked by examining a specific case study - how early Christians created and shaped their own historical narrative.

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: Identify and describe key forms of ancient writing and explain their cultural and historical significance within the societies that produced them.
  • ULO2: Analyse the relationship between text, image, and material form in ancient sources.
  • ULO3: Evaluate how genre, authorship, and preservation of ancient texts shape our knowledge of the past.
  • ULO4: Apply historical methods to a case study the construction of historical narratives in antiquity.

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.

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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Case Study 30% No 22/05/26 Individual No Open
Skills Logbook 40% No 05/06/26 Individual No Open
Reflection 30% No 02/04/26 Individual No Open

Case Study

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 22/05/26
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Case Study – The Writing of the History of the Early Church
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and describe key forms of ancient writing and explain their cultural and historical significance within the societies that produced them.
  • Analyse the relationship between text, image, and material form in ancient sources.
  • Evaluate how genre, authorship, and preservation of ancient texts shape our knowledge of the past.
  • Apply historical methods to a case study the construction of historical narratives in antiquity.

Skills Logbook

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 05/06/26
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Skills Logbook on the varied types of texts from antiquity and how the forms of these texts limit our knowledge of the ancient world.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and describe key forms of ancient writing and explain their cultural and historical significance within the societies that produced them.
  • Analyse the relationship between text, image, and material form in ancient sources.
  • Evaluate how genre, authorship, and preservation of ancient texts shape our knowledge of the past.

Reflection

Assessment Type 1: Problem-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 02/04/26
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

A reflection on a single text and image combination. Students will be able to interpret how ancient texts functioned alongside visual imagery (e.g. coins, gravestones, monuments).
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and describe key forms of ancient writing and explain their cultural and historical significance within the societies that produced them.
  • Analyse the relationship between text, image, and material form in ancient sources.

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Technology

This unit employs the following technology

• iLearn

• Echo360

The unit has an online presence, through which all unit materials are delivered. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

Lecture Times

Lectures will be held on Tuesdays at 12pm in the WW23 T2 Lecture Theatre

Satisfactory Completion 

Completion of all Assessment Tasks is required to complete the unit satisfactorily.

Submission and Extensions

Submission of all Assessment Tasks is electronic via Turnitin.

Extensions are available on medical grounds and may be requested under other special circumstances. Apply via ask.mq.edu.au

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/

Academic Success

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. 

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 2026.05 of the Handbook