Module manager: Dr R Brock
Email: R.W.Brock@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
| CLAS3350 | Herodotus & Beginning of Hist |
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module is suitable for Level 2 students with some knowledge of Classical literature and/or history. It enables students to investigate the origins of historical writing in ancient Greece through a detailed study of the earliest surviving historiographer, Herodotus. Among the aspects covered will be Herodotus' sources and his handling of them, his literary presentation, his geographic and ethnographic interests, his account of the conflict between Greece and Persia, and his historical outlook. The Histories is studied in English translation (tr. R. Waterfield, Herodotus, Oxford World's Classics 1998). The module is worth 20 credits, with two lectures per week and a total of five seminars.
The objective of this module is to enable students to investigate the origins of historical writing in ancient Greece through a detailed study of the earliest surviving historiographer, Herodotus. The module will also encourage students to consider issues common to all historical writing such as periodisation, sources, literary presentation and the impact of authorial outlook and interpretation.
1. Students will gain a knowledge of Herodotus’ Histories (and to a lesser extent of the events it describes, culminating in the Persian invasion of Greece) and of the earliest phase in the development of western thought about the recording and interpretation of the past.
2. They will acquire a knowledge of a range of critical approaches to Herodotus' work.
3. In addition, students will gain a familiarity with the critical issues which arise in the study of historical writing
4. They will also be able to relate the emergence of Greek historiography to broader cultural trends and to locate Herodotus in the intellectual context of his time.
5. Finally, the coursework assessment will develop writing skills beyond the conventional essay.
The module will deal with the Histories of Herodotus as a whole, though particular attention will be given to Books 1, 3 & 8. Among the aspects covered will be Herodotus' sources and his handling of them, his literary presentation, his geographic and ethnographic interests, his account of the conflict between Greece and Persia, and his historical outlook.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 20 | 1 | 20 |
| Seminar | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Private study hours | 175 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 25 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
4 hours reading per lecture = 4x20 = 80
3 hours reading per seminar = 3x5 = 15
Research and writing of short assignment: 30 hours
Revision and examination preparation: 50 hours
The short (1200-word) assignment will serve to monitor student knowledge of the text and understanding of key features and to provide structured feedback; this will be supported informally by participation in the seminars.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Online Assessment | 48 hrs; 3 hrs recommended duration. | 65 |
| Assignment | Commentary exercise (c.1200 words) | 35 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 5/8/2024
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team