Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer
Gil Davis
Contact via 0439-817299
Building W6A Room 501
By appointment most days except Wednesdays
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MAncHist or GradCertAncHist or MA in (Ancient History or Coptic Studies or ECJS or Egyptology or History or Late Antiquity or Ancient Art and Architecture) or PGDipArts in (Ancient History or ECJS) or PGCertArts in (Ancient History or Coptic Studies)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides an in-depth study of Athens and its empire in the fifth century BCE, commencing with Cleisthenes' reforms. Athens' role in the Persian wars will be examined, and the evidence (documentary and literary) for the Delian League will be studied from the foundation of the League until its dissolution with the defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War.
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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:
See Delivery and Resources below
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Blogs | 10% | Weekly |
Presentation - minor essay | 10% | By week 7 |
Minor essay | 30% | Week 6, 5pm 4 Sept |
Presentation - major essay | 10% | By Week 12 |
Major essay | 40% | Week 11, 5pm 23 Oct |
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%
Submit a weekly blog of no more than 150 words per week from weeks 3-12 inclusive (10%)
Due: By week 7
Weighting: 10%
Lead the seminar and make a presentation of material relating to your assigned minor essay with external students presenting by way of a pre-prepared power-point (10%).
Due: Week 6, 5pm 4 Sept
Weighting: 30%
Write an essay of no more than 1,500 words including footnotes but excluding bibliography on a topic set in Week 2.
Due: By Week 12
Weighting: 10%
Lead the seminar and make a presentation of material relating to your assigned major essay with external students presenting by way of a pre-prepared power-point (10%).
Due: Week 11, 5pm 23 Oct
Weighting: 40%
Write an essay of no more than 2,500 words including footnotes but excluding bibliography on a topic set in Week 6.
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE UNIT
To complete the unit successfully you need a minimum mark of 50% overall. You must attempt every piece of assessment or university policy requires that a zero grade be given.
GRADES:
F: 0-49% P: 50-64% CR: 65-74% D: 75-84% HD: 85-100%
BLOGS
You must post a blog entry (maximum 150 words commenting on one significant aspect of the week's reading) by Friday 4pm each week from weeks 3-12 inclusive.
PRESENTATIONS
You must lead the seminar and make a presentation of material relating to your assigned minor and major essays with external students presenting by way of pre-prepared power-points.
MINOR ESSAY
The MINOR ESSAY is due by the end of Week 6, 5pm Friday 4 September, 2015. It is worth 20% of your total mark for the unit.
Your answer to the essay question should demonstrate extensive use of primary and secondary sources. Bibliographies provided give you a starting point for developing a reading list of secondary literature relevant to the essay topic. In order to locate further material on particular issues you should consult the footnotes and indices of modern works.
Your essay should be based on an analysis and discussion of primary (ancient) sources. Secondary literature should be used to aid you in your analysis and interpretation of the ancient sources and to place your interpretation within the context of previous scholarship. All opinions included in the essay, whether quoted directly or paraphrased, should be referenced according to the guidelines, Essay Presentation & Conventions: Style Guide, available online at http://mq.edu.au/about_us/faculties_and_departments/faculty_of_arts/department_of_ancient_history/teaching_materials/. Ensure you download the full version of the Essay Presentation Guide. Don't footnote lectures or include anything in footnotes except citations, and remember to include every reference you have actually used in your bibliography. You must include a word count. Anything beyond the prescribed word limit will not be marked.
Marking criteria:
1. Knowledge of relevant subject matter
2. The range of primary sources used and their analysis
3. The range of secondary works consulted and the depth of engagement with them.
4. Correct citation of sources
5. Structure of argument
6. Skill in presenting the argument
7. Formal presentation including correct referencing, English language grammar, spelling and punctuation
MAJOR ESSAY
The MAJOR ESSAY is due by the end of Week 11, 5pm Friday 23 October, 2015. It is worth 40% of your total mark for the unit.
Your answer to the essay question should demonstrate extensive use of primary and secondary sources. Bibliographies provided give you a starting point for developing a reading list of secondary literature relevant to the essay topic. In order to locate further material on particular issues you should consult the footnotes and indices of modern works.
Your essay should be based on an analysis and discussion of primary (ancient) sources. Secondary literature should be used to aid you in your analysis and interpretation of the ancient sources and to place your interpretation within the context of previous scholarship. All opinions included in the essay, whether quoted directly or paraphrased, should be referenced according to the guidelines, Essay Presentation & Conventions: Style Guide, available online at http://mq.edu.au/about_us/faculties_and_departments/faculty_of_arts/department_of_ancient_history/teaching_materials/. Ensure you download the full version of the Essay Presentation Guide. Don't footnote lectures or include anything in footnotes except citations, and remember to include every reference you have actually used in your bibliography. You must include a word count. Anything beyond the prescribed word limit will not be marked.
Marking criteria:
1. Knowledge of relevant subject matter
2. The range of primary sources used and their analysis
3. The range of secondary works consulted and the depth of engagement with them.
4. Correct citation of sources
5. Structure of argument
6. Skill in presenting the argument
7. Formal presentation including correct referencing, English language grammar, spelling and punctuation
EXTENSIONS AND PENALTIES
All due dates are firm. Permission to submit a late piece of work will only be granted in case of illness or other exceptional cases. Special approval for such late submissions must be sought in advance (where circumstances permit it). Late work will otherwise incur a penalty of 2% per day (including weekends), unless there are special circumstances (normally illness or serious misadventure) and unless an extension of time has been granted by the Unit Convenor or the Head of Division.
RETURN OF WORK
Essays
I plan to return essays within three weeks of submission. I will post a note on the unit’s website to let you know when the essays have been marked. Assignment tasks handed in early will not be marked and returned before the due date.
Week |
Dates |
Seminar topic |
Assessment |
1
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27-31 July |
Introduction to the unit, and overview of the Athenian empire |
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2
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3-8 Aug |
Nature of the evidence: literary, epigraphic, archaeological |
Blog |
3
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10-14 Aug |
How decisions were made – election & lottery |
Blog |
4
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17-21 Aug |
Perils of leadership - ostracism |
Blog |
5
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24-28 Aug |
Themistokles & the defence of Athens against the Persians |
Blog |
6
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31 Aug–4 Sept |
Colonies & kleruchies |
Blog Minor essay due |
7
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7-11 Sept |
Foreign policy - honouring friends & harming enemies |
Blog |
Session break |
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8
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28 Sept-2 Oct |
Paying for empire 1 - tribute |
Blog |
9
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6-9 Oct (NB: 5th a holiday) |
Paying for empire 2 – coinage & taxes |
Blog |
10
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12-16 Oct |
Thanking the gods – the Stoa Basileios & the sacred calendar |
Blog |
11
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19-23 Oct |
Hubris & nemesis - the Sicilian expedition |
Blog Major essay due |
12
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26-30 Oct |
What was the law? Reinscription of the laws of Drakon & Solon |
Blog |
13
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2-6 Nov |
Wrap up – how certain is our reconstruction of the empire? |
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Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
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Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues
This graduate capability is supported by:
This year our focus is less on learning the chronological history of the Athenian empire, and more on understanding aspects of its administration, law, religion, and relationships with other poleis. There is a strong emphasis on comparing and analysing literary, epigraphic, and archaeological material. The unit is offered internally as well as externally based on weekly seminars. Students are expected to research and contribute on two major topics which feed into their essays. There is no exam.