Module manager: Dr Samuel Gartland
Email: s.d.gartland@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module focuses on subordinate groups in classical antiquity: women, children, slaves, foreigners and others outside the privileged body of citizens in Greece and Rome. It will explore the reasons why they are under-represented in our sources, the challenges which this presents in studying them, and the ways in which we can address these challenges, to arrive at a fuller understanding of the lived experience of these groups and of the roles which they played in these societies.
The module will introduce students to the study of the great majority of the inhabitants of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds who were not elite adult male citizens. These ‘invisible’ ancients are subordinate and are consequently under-represented in our literary sources. The module will explore the sources, often drawn from material culture, through which we can understand these groups. The module will also consider the approaches and techniques appropriate to the interpretation of the primary sources, and so foster a more balanced and inclusive appreciation of the lived experience of the classical world as a whole.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1- Evaluate status divisions in classical antiquity and their impact on Greek and Roman societies.
2- Critically analyse source materials available for studying subordinate groups in classical antiquity.
3- Appraise current knowledge about subordinate groups in the Greek and Roman worlds, including the limits of this knowledge and the reasons for these.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4- Analyse information from a range of primary sources and secondary scholarship, applying appropriate methodologies to evaluate their reliability and significance.
5- Communicate the results of your work effectively
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 15 | 1 | 15 |
| Seminar | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| Private study hours | 179 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 21 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will receive formative feedback through several structured opportunities embedded within the module’s teaching and learning activities:
Regular seminars provide a space for students to present their ideas and interpretations of primary sources and secondary scholarship. Verbal feedback from the instructor and peers during these sessions allows students to refine their critical thinking and analytical approaches in preparation for the assessed source analyses and longer-form writing. For the longer-form written submission, students will have the opportunity to discuss essay topics, outlines, and potential arguments during seminars or office hours. Feedback during these sessions will guide students in developing coherent, well-supported essays that meet the module’s learning outcomes. Regular office hours provide opportunities for personalized, one-on-one feedback on any aspect of the students’ work or progress.
These formative feedback opportunities ensure that students are supported at each stage of the learning process, enabling them to monitor their progress, develop their skills, and achieve the module’s learning outcomes effectively.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Written Assignment | 50 |
| Coursework | Source Analysis | 50 |
| 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: 09/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team