| CODE | ATS5503 | |||||||||
| TITLE | The Mediterranean: Crossroads of Civilizations | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty of Arts | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The Mediterranean region has always been home to a wide array of cultures and, it has played a most important role in facilitating encounters between different civilizations. In this study-unit, we will analyze the dynamics of cultural interactions in the ancient Mediterranean, with a special focus on the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods. The question of ancient cultural interaction will be explored through several themes, including art and architecture, material culture, trade food, clothing, identity, religion, language and literature. Lectures will be highly interactive, and we will discuss a number of key concepts and theoretical/methodological approaches to the study of cultural interactions. Study-unit Aims: • To explore cultural interactions between Mediterranean civilizations in antiquity, and to understand such interactions within different conceptual/theoretical frameworks; • To highlight the role of the Mediterranean as a crossroads of civilizations, and to analyse the various ways through which this sea facilitated cultural contacts; • To train students to adopt multi-disciplinary approaches in their research by integrating fields such as archaeology, history, anthropology, social sciences, geography, etc; • To expose students to the various methodological and theoretical issues pertinent to the aforementioned fields of study as well as to any exploration of cultural interaction in antiquity. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • to analyze cultural interaction in antiquity critically and with nuance, using various conceptual and theoretical frameworks; • to apply the insights and theoretical concepts discussed in this study-unit to contemporary cases of cultural encounters; • comprehend the role of the Mediterranean as a catalyst for cultural change. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • adopt a critical approach to the sources; • apply a multi-disciplinary approach in their research; • engage in comparative studies; • implement theoretical approaches in their research. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: The following are a few select books that are ideal as an introduction to the subject of this study-unit in general or which, otherwise, offer a glimpse on the subject through a number of specific case studies. A detailed bibliography will be provided to students in class. - Abulafia, David The Great Sea: A Human History of the Mediterranean, London: Allen Lane, 2011 - Abulafia, David ed. The Mediterranean in History, London: Thames & Hudson 2003 - Broodbank, Cyprian, The Making of the Middle Sea: A History of the Mediterranean from the Beginning to the Emergence of the Classical World, London: Thames & Hudson, 2013 - Harris, W.V. ed Rethinking the Mediterranean. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005 - Horden, Peregrine and Purcell, Nicholas 2000 The Corrupting Sea: A Study of Mediterranean History, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers 2000. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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