Undergraduate BA (Hons)
Ancient History
Explore Ancient History and trace the connections between the societies of the past and ours today
Explore Ancient History and trace the connections between the societies of the past and ours today
Delve into the ancient world and uncover the cultures, myths, histories and legacies of the civilisations that shaped it. At Kent you will develop new skills, and gain valuable experience ready for a wide range of careers, from archaeology to the heritage industry - or further afield - a degree in ancient history from Kent is the first step to wherever you want to go. Join world-leading experts, including practising archaeologists and historians. You'll study history from the shores of Roman Britain to Byzantium, and from Egyptian temples and Near Eastern empires to the Greek city states.
From day one you will explore new perspectives on topics such as migration, gender, identity, and religion in the ancient world. You will delve into classical cultures and build an understanding of them as living traditions to discover how they continue to shape our world. You also have the option to study an ancient language, or take an internship in the heritage or museum sector. Our broad remit at Kent means you are free to turn your passions into expertise and make your degree your own.
This course offers an optional pathway in archaeology, leading to the degree of Ancient History with Archaeology. You will receive training in excavation techniques on dig sites with our practicing field archaeologists, and may make your own discoveries that contribute to our knowledge of the ancient world. You will be introduced to archaeological equipment in our state-of-the-art archaeology lab, and will have the opportunity to build your network of professional contacts within the industry. If you choose to accept your offer of a place on BA Ancient History at Kent you will be automatically sent instructions on how to register for the Archaeology Pathway prior to enrolment in September.
At Kent you’ll have the opportunity to get hands on – getting involved in fieldwork is a great chance to be a part of a project that uncovers hidden histories.
Classics at Kent was 3rd for student satisfaction in Complete University Guide 2024.
You’ll have the chance to work with local heritage organisations or prepare for teacher training. Discover where your Ancient History degree could take you.
You'll learning across the subject areas of Classical Literature, Ancient History, Archaeology, and Heritage.
You'll join our dynamic and welcoming classics community. Find out more about what we do, and how we help you achieve your ambition.
Our typical offer levels are listed below and include indicative contextual offers. If you hold alternative qualifications just get in touch and we'll be glad to discuss these with you.
BBB
The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR) on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances. A typical offer would be to achieve DDM.
120 tariff points - typically H5 H6 H6 or equivalent |
Pass the University of Kent International Foundation Programme.
The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3 with 24 credits at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit.
The following modules are what students typically study, but this may change year to year in response to new developments and innovations.
This course offers a pathway in archaeology leading to the degree in Ancient History with Archaeology. It provides an opportunity for you to develop wide and in-depth skills, training and knowledge in archaeology. If you choose this pathway you'll have different module options to the main study route, outlined below.
You take all compulsory modules then select two from a list of optional modules.
What were the major works and genres of Greek literature? How were stories told in Ancient Rome? This module is an introduction to Classical history, literature and culture. Spanning almost two thousand years from the Bronze Age Mycenaeans to the Greeks living under the Roman Empire, you'll explore the major events, developments and themes of ancient Mediterranean history and civilisation and will gain an introduction to key historical evidence.
There will be a strong focus on Greek literature. You’ll be asked to consider and discuss the role of literature as a vehicle for power, persuasion and public debate throughout Greek history. You’ll also examine themes such as democracy, justice, religion, rationalism, violence, war, displacement, the body, and gender. Using Greek literature as a lens by which to examine the ancient world, and trace the connections to our own.
What tools do archaeologists use to investigate the ancient world? And how are technological developments changing this process? This module covers classical archaeology chronologically— from the Minoans to Late Antiquity— and methodologically, covering the evidence and non-invasive research methods archaeologists use to tell the story of Mediterranean societies.
You’ll explore key issues such as Greek colonisation, Roman conquest, Romanisation and resistance, the nature of Minoan palaces, and the city of Rome. You’ll develop practical skills and discover topics such as military archaeology, numismatics, epigraphy and ceramics, and examine major sites of Classical archaeology, from Thera, Knossos, and Lefkandi, to Athens, Vergina, and Rome.
Part of your learning will focus on heritage issues surrounding the appreciation and looting of Classical Greek and Hellenistic art. You’ll explore the role of texts, from the use of Homer to discover the world of ancient Troy, to the handling of Greek inscriptions and Roman coins. This module stretches the boundaries of traditional Classical archaeology. It includes temples and sculptures of classic Greek sites and rich material evidence of modern Roman archaeological sites such as wrecks, battle sites, amphora dumps, villas and mines. So you delve into the areas you are most passionate about.
What can we learn from the centuries of crisis that led to the rise of populists who overthrew Rome’s democracy? What mirror does the history of Rome hold up to our own times, and how does this knowledge empower us to shape our future while learning from the past?
This module will explore these questions through the lens of Roman history, from the overthrow of the first Roman monarchy and the foundation of the Roman Republic (509 BCE) to the dramatic rise and fall of Julius Caesar’s autocracy (44 BCE), and finally the near-collapse of the Roman Empire in the third century CE.
On the way, you’ll learn how to rethink the past beyond just facts and dates. You’ll explore how the Romans processed dramatic social changes and how their thinking and culture evolved. Art and literature, politics, sexual and gender norms, class tensions, and even levels of xenophobia and anti-immigrant feelings—in other words, what it meant to be Roman—changed dramatically over a thousand years. You’ll confront this story and, in so doing, confront the present.
Migration, whether forced or voluntary, has been a key feature of life throughout history and continues to be so in the present day. This module investigates the topics of migration and displacement in the ancient world, exploring it in relation to phenomena such as war, violence, trauma, captivity, slavery, trade, diversity, multiculturalism, race, ethnicity and imperialism.
Rather than focusing on kings, wars and battlefields, this module takes the perspective of individuals and their lived experience. The module will also explore how studying the ancient past can enhance our understanding of the present and empower us to make meaningful contributions to modern debates.
You'll also gain a comprehensive picture of these key themes in the ancient world, focusing on the most important civilisations of the ancient Near East, including Egypt and the Mediterranean between c. 3,500 BCE and c. 600 CE. You will pay particular attention to ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Levant, the Greek world and the Roman Empire.
Who were the Titans? Who were the monsters and heroes of the Underworld? This module will introduce you to ancient Greek mythology, including the mythological structure of the Greek pantheon. You’ll reach far beyond the Olympians to explore fascinating topics such as star myths and cosmogony. You’ll also examine the scholarship on mythology and learn to analyse myths in their ancient setting and understand their meaning and function.
You’ll explore a selection of case-study myths (represented in literature and/or iconography), which will be used to demonstrate, test, and argue the potential meanings and social functions of myth in general. You’ll also consider the cognitive impact of mythology and the ways it helped to structure the ancient Greek cosmos and shape understanding of the world. This understanding of myths and their function in Greek society will help you further explore and understand Greek society as a whole, enabling your to deeper explore the ancient world.
This module is your introduction to studying Egyptology, whether you are completely new to it, or if you want to pursue the subject mainly from an archaeological point of view. Explore the diversity of methodologies and debates concerning Egyptian archaeology. In doing so, you’ll learn aspects of anthropological and archaeological theory, as well as the relationship between theory, fieldwork, and the resulting interpretation. You’ll gain a solid introduction to the archaeology of ancient Egypt and its culture, monuments, and civilisation.
Uncover a wide range of archaeological material encountered at Egyptian sites, demonstrating how the study of material culture greatly contributes to the understanding of important aspects of ancient Egyptian culture (history, geography, material remains and society). The history of Egyptology and Egyptian archaeology will also be examined, including discussion of new excavations in Egypt, connecting recent work with the results of projects spanning the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Archaeology is an exciting academic discipline, covering the latest discoveries and giving a grounding in basic concepts and techniques in studying archaeological evidence. It provides a showcase for many other Classical & Archaeological Studies topics by examining the archaeological process with examples from prehistoric, ancient, and medieval settings and is vital into gaining the skills you need to unearth the secrets of the ancient world.
You’ll gain a chronological overview of Eurasian archaeology, from the Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages, also introducing key themes. These include dating, environmental evidence, ceremonial, religious and burial sites, settlement sites, the development of towns, trade and exchange, artefactual and landscape studies, using cases through time. Seminars focus on methods and approaches, and the presentation of data and its interpretation, bringing artefacts into class for hands-on sessions or looking at local case studies that students can experience in their time at Kent. These equip you with essential skills in archaeology so that you can make your own observations from reports, plans, sections, photos, and objects, and judge scholarly statements with a critical eye.
How can you gain a deep understanding of the foundations of western civilisation, literature, culture and language? How can you improve your critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem solving? Through a strong foundation in ancient Greek/ Latin, and the fundamentals of grammar and sentence structure, you’ll develop your ability to read, comprehend, and translate simple sentences and short passages of ancient Greek/Latin. Not only will you be set on the path to reading the authors who built the foundations of the western literary canon, but it will become easier to grasp another language, improve your English grammar, and give you the tools to succeed in diverse disciplines such as coding and computer programming, scientific, legal or medical careers. |
How can you gain a deeper understanding of the foundations of western civilisation, literature, culture and language? How can you improve your critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem solving? By continuing to build on your foundations in ancient Greek/ Latin, and continuing to cover the fundamentals of grammar and sentence structure, you’ll improve your ability to read, comprehend, and translate simple sentences and longer passages of ancient Greek/Latin. Not only will you be set on the path to reading the authors who built the foundations of the western literary canon, but it will become easier to grasp another language, improve your English grammar, and give you the tools to succeed in diverse disciplines such as coding and computer programming, scientific, legal or medical careers.
What do texts from antiquity tell us about the societies in which they were written? What did the ancient Greeks and Romans think about identity and the world in which they lives? How were these ideas incorporated into their literature. You’ll be introduced to some of the major works of ancient Greek and Roman literature such as tragedy, the epic, satire, the novel, and poetry, developing your ability to understand and critically assess how the Greeks and Romans dealt with concepts such as love, violence, and justice. These ideas have shaped and informed many cultural aspects of today’s society on topics such as gender, politics, and sexuality. You’ll gain knowledge of foundational ideas and thinkers, and construct arguments to defend their own answers to crucial questions about the purpose of literature.
By the end of the first century CE, Rome was the largest city in the world: with some one million inhabitants, its population would be unmatched in Europe until Victorian London. What made its spectacular growth possible, and what did it mean to be Roman in the most multi-cultural and multi-ethnic city in the world by 100 CE?
The history of the Early Empire is far richer than the names and deeds of emperors and ‘great men’. In addition to studying the imperial power at the top, you’ll explore the experiences of Rome’s one million ordinary inhabitants at the bottom. You’ll achieve this through a combination of literary sources with material and archaeological sources. While the evidence studied will include the most important literary texts of the Imperial period—which were overwhelmingly written by, for, and about elite men—, you will equally focus on the evidence of daily life, including: surviving ‘menus’ of Roman fast food outlets; the archaeological evidence of the Roman slave market; the living quarters of enslaved people; brothels, bars and bawdyhouses; the remains of urban blocks of flats; and inscriptions and tombstones, from the very highest to the very lowliest members of Roman society.
By approaching the first century AD in this way, this you’ll learn to recognise what feels truly ‘modern’ about Europe’s first global city. You’ll broach questions of sustainable development, democracy, popular politics, belonging and ‘othering’, and multiculturalism that are more relevant than ever for cities today.
You take all compulsory modules and then select three optional modules, which must include at least one of the following: The Rise and Fall of Athens, War and Imperialism in Ancient Rome c.350-100 BC, Egypt and the Classical World.
If you wish to take an internship during the Spring or Summer term, you must take either Heritage Studies - Exploring Key Debates or Museum Studies - Exploring Key Debates in the term before.
How does the modern world respond to, and make sense of, the ancient world? How does the ancient world influence our own world? This module examines key theoretical perspectives and evaluates their contributions to helping us understand the past. You'll focus on how we use texts and material culture to study and define past societies and also analyse responses to ancient ideas (relating to imperialism, ancient myths, philosophy, and ethics) in both their ancient and modern setting.
You’ll consider evidence of the past within a contemporary intellectual framework. Through various case studies, you’ll explore a range of cultural responses to ideas —such as Roman responses to Greek ideas —as well as their representations across a range of media.
During the module, you’ll participate in a group project based on communicating historical themes for public engagement. Examples of this may include the topography of Rome, perceptions of imperialism, a heritage-related project, or creating your own adaptation of a Classical myth or philosophical idea etc. The module will reinforce awareness of both the multifaceted nature of ancient ideas, as well as the relevance of Classics to the modern world.
This is your opportunity to learn how to carry out an independent research project, in preparation for the dissertation module that follows. You’ll develop a variety of academic skills through close engagement with source evidence (through data gathering, resource evaluation, writing, interpretation and presentation), building on the knowledge you’ve already acquired in other modules. You can base you project on any suitable subject or evidence source that you're passionate about.
Your proposed subject will be assessed for suitability and feasibility by a module convenor, based on your course pathway choice. Once your project has been approved, you’ll be appointed a project supervisor from CLAS staff to assist you. You should aim to pursue projects that are distinctive, persuasive, and connect to theoretical debates. Projects should be informed by your personal interests, your chosen pathway, the aims of the module, support from your supervisor, and the accessibility of relevant material.
If you wish to, and with support from your supervisor, you’re encouraged to explore materials, undertake practical experiments, and assemble information in new and creative ways that challenge the typical essay narrative, though you can still opt for the standard approach. You’ll develop the project through a sequence of preparatory steps leading to the final account of the enquiry, which you’ll submit at the end of the second term. This is a great experience for you to prepare for you dissertation and a great account of your own work.
What can we learn from the centuries of crisis that led to the rise of populists who overthrew Rome’s democracy? What mirror does the history of Rome hold up to our own times, and how does this knowledge empower us to shape our future while learning from the past?
This module will explore these questions through the lens of Roman history, from the overthrow of the first Roman monarchy and the foundation of the Roman Republic (509 BCE) to the dramatic rise and fall of Julius Caesar’s autocracy (44 BCE), and finally the near-collapse of the Roman Empire in the third century CE.
On the way, you’ll learn how to rethink the past beyond just facts and dates. You’ll explore how the Romans processed dramatic social changes and how their thinking and culture evolved. Art and literature, politics, sexual and gender norms, class tensions, and even levels of xenophobia and anti-immigrant feelings—in other words, what it meant to be Roman—changed dramatically over a thousand years. You’ll confront this story and, in so doing, confront the present.
Explore the dynamic interaction between Egypt during the Late Period and Ancient Greece. During the 26th Dynasty, there was a significant increase in contact between the Aegean world and Egypt, marked by the establishment of commercial settlements, robust trade relations, and the influx of Greek traders, mercenaries, and travellers. This interaction had far-reaching effects, providing crucial support for Egypt's last great independent dynasty, contributing to the rise of East Greek cities like Ionia, and influencing Greek sculpture and architecture.
Furthermore, this contact exposed the Greeks to a civilisation that they found impressive yet fundamentally different. This perception stimulated Greek thought and historical writing, notably through figures like Herodotus. Over time, it also shaped Western perceptions of Egypt, giving rise to myths about its ancientness, religion, and wisdom that persist in modern times and influenced the fields of traditional Egyptology and Classical Archaeology. You’ll draw information from various disciplines such as archaeology, papyrology, history, and literature to explore ancient interactions and modern debates comprehensively.
How do you imagine Roman Antiquity? How do the images produced for film, TV and popular fiction reflect the lives of those in Antiquity? Can we see the everyday experience of Pliny, Juvenal or Augustine, or of those killed in the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79? You’ll explore everyday life in the Roman world, from haircuts, tattoos, and gestures, to everyday rites and rhythms, whether domestic, social, political, or religious, focusing on human experience, in its culturally specific organisation. Study from Augustan Rome to Late Antique Alexandria, and draw on depictions, literary evidence (such as poems), original documents (from personal letters to minutes), inscriptions and archaeology, focusing on key sites where preservation is good, such as Pompeii, Ostia, and Sardis. Here buildings, graffiti, occupation deposits, and other traces will allow snapshots of life to be constructed: of the houses, workshops, taverns, temples, amphitheatres, and law courts of Antiquity. You’ll undertake both empirical studies and historical reconstructions, to understand the importance not only of describing what remains of everyday life, but of actively reconstructing it, engaging different types of evidence in a critical dialogue.
How were gender and sexuality conceived in ancient Rome? What roles and expectations were placed on men and women? What makes something ‘explicit’ or ‘graphic’, and why is this the case? By introducing you to the sexual practices, behaviours, attitudes, and relationships described throughout Latin sources, you’ll understand the debates about ideas that shaped both Roman society and culture, and the modern western world. You’ll learn about the perception of sexuality in antiquity and how that perception was translated into social and political relationships. You’ll cover literature and social history topics, which provide a wide-ranging complement to both subjects. You’ll analyse primary texts from a variety of literary genres such as satire, poetry, histories, letters, legal texts, inscriptions and graffiti and develop the ability to critically reflect on, and construct arguments to answer crucial questions on concepts of gender, sexuality, love, violence, and family, and illustrate how these impacted Roman society and influenced the modern world.
What were artworks and buildings like in the Greek and Roman world, how were they viewed, and what purposes did they have in society? Explore the function of art in politics and religion as well as fundamentals like style and dating across a timespan from Archaic Greece to the Late Roman period. Famous sites like Athens, Rome, and Delphi will be explored, including aesthetic and functional aspects as well as developments in building technology. You’ll investigate how and why art styles changed over time, including changes resulting from contact with diverse ancient peoples and cultures beyond Greece and Rome. You’ll gain skills in the critical evaluation of artworks and buildings, an understanding of diverse source materials, and knowledge of how the roles of artworks and buildings were both similar and different to those in today’s world.
Why is Homeric epic considered the foundation of literature in the Western tradition? Why does it have such an influence on famous authors such as Virgil, Dante, James Joyce, and countless contemporary authors? A study of the Iliad and/or the Odyssey introduces you to the key concepts of the world of epic, such as xenia (guest friendship), kleos (reputation), and kudos (glory). You’ll learn to recognise, and analyse the meaning of, epic conventions such as stock epithets, type scenes, and formulaic repetition. These concepts and conventions will enhance your understanding of the central themes of Homeric epic, such as heroism, the construction of the feminine, ethnicity, the role of the gods, warfare, peace, poetry, and conceptions of mortality. As a result you’ll gain knowledge of how Homeric epic enriches our cultural understanding of both the ancient Greek past and our present. You’ll also develop the ability to critically reflect upon the portrayal of epic heroism, embodied by figures such as Achilles and Odysseus, who continue to resonate in modern storytelling. The archetypal hero’s journey with its trials, triumphs, and personal growth remains a potent narrative framework throughout modern media.
How can you gain a deeper understanding of the foundations of western civilisation, literature, culture and language? How can you improve your critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem solving? Now that you’ve acquired a foundation in ancient Greek/ Latin, and covered the basics of grammar and sentence structure, you’ll develop your ability to read, comprehend, and translate complex sentences and longer passages of ancient Greek/Latin. This knowledge will enhance your understanding of the key themes and ideas in the text. Not only will you be reading the authors who built the foundations of the western literary canon, but it will become much easier to grasp another language, improve your English grammar, and give you the tools to succeed in diverse disciplines such as coding and computer programming, scientific, legal or medical careers.
How can you gain a deeper understanding of the foundations of western civilisation, literature, culture and language? How can you improve your critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem solving? Now that you’ve acquired a foundation in ancient Greek/ Latin, and covered the fundamentals of grammar and complex sentence structure, you can enhance your ability to read, comprehend, and translate passages of ancient Greek/Latin. This knowledge will enrich your understanding of the key themes and ideas in the texts. Not only will you be reading the authors who built the foundations of the western literary canon, but you will have the tools to succeed in diverse disciplines such as coding and computer programming, scientific, legal or medical careers.
Museums all over the world are a beacon of knowledge and education and are spaces for the conservation of the most precious artefacts. At the same time, some of them have become contested places, because they house objects acquired during colonial times, they often exclude some voices, and because their funding models rely on unethical corporations.
You’ll gain an understanding of the core principles governing the collection, interpretation, and management of objects within museum settings. You’ll also be introduce to some of the contemporary controversies and ethical challenges facing museums, including issues of provenance, repatriation, inclusivity, and funding. Examples from all over the world will be used, to introduce you to diverse approaches in museums. You’ll gain the necessary skills and knowledge to undertake an internship in the museum of your choice.
You’ll emerge with a range of communication skills, essential for working in museums.
A tailored made 70-hour internship within a local, regional or national museum. The internship opportunity gives you first-hand experience in museum work – a crucial step towards a career in the field.
During the internship, you’ll apply the concepts and principles learned in class (in the Autumn term) within the dynamic context of museums. You’ll choose your museum as far as possible, ensuring that the internship aligns with your interests and career aspirations. You’ll undertake a specific project, to be defined between the course leader, the museum and yourself. Clear objectives and skills to be acquired will be outlined and regularly monitored.
The knowledge gained from the internship in a museum will be reinforced through classroom seminars, where you can delve deeper into theoretical concepts and discuss their practical applications. Assessment methods include a blog to help students comprehend the diverse skills acquired during their internships and a final report where you will reflect on your experiences.
Examine ancient Greek history from the end of the Persian invasions (480/479 BC) to the fall of Athens in 404 BC. You’ll focus in detail on the rise and fall of the power of Athens, the rivalry between Athens and Sparta with their respective alliances, ancient democracy, the Second Peloponnesian War and the role of the Persian Empire in Greek history in the 5th century BC. Particular attention is given to the causes of the conflict between Athens and the Delian League, on the one hand, and Sparta and the Peloponnesian League, on the other, to the rise and decline of Athenian democracy, the Periclean age, the oligarchic revolutions at Athens, the political and military history of the last three decades of the 5th century BC and to the trial and death of Socrates. You’ll be taught using a combination of ancient sources that include historiographic (Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Plutarch etc), epigraphic and archaeological evidence.
Explore Mediterranean life A.D. 283-650, from Diocletian and Constantine to the Arab Conquests, exploring the cultural background experienced by major figures such as Julian & Hypatia, Augustine & Monica, or Justinian & Theodora. You’ll separate the complex changes of this period, which have often been lumped into a single model of 'decline'. Long-term transformations, such as the centralisation of imperial power, the emergence of a Christian state, the collapse of the East, and the rise of Islam, remain major topics of interest. Consider themes such as the emperor and court, the impact of the military, the countryside, the economy, the end of paganism, and the rise of Christianity. These portraits draw on the extraordinary preservation in North Africa and the East Mediterranean, where cities, villages and monasteries often stand as if they had just been abandoned. Seminars will explore textual, iconographic, and archaeological evidence, from built structures to earthquake deposits, sometimes as rich as Pompeii. You’ll develop an understanding of both the last flowering of Greek culture and the foundations of the Middle Ages (Europe, Byzantium, and Islam), revealing an important chapter in our history, often ignored but vital to grasp.
Why is Virgil considered Rome’s most famous poet? Why is his Aeneid still regarded as one of the greatest epics of the ancient world? Why do its themes still have enormous impact today? By introducing you to the world of the hero, Aeneas, and his quest to found Rome, you’ll see how Virgil connects the mythical past to his own history and his present. Gain a deeper understanding of intertwined themes in the epic, such as morality, the role of the artist/creator, the trauma of migration and exile, and the construction of gender. In so doing, this module develops students’ ability to understand and critically assess debates about ideas that shaped the Rome of Emperor Augustus. You’ll be able to see, debate, and make parallels between ancient and modern themes such as the trauma of war, violence, heroism, masculinity, the construction of the female, migration, exile and identity.
In 350 BCE, the Roman Republic was a tiny city-state in Central Italy consisting of Rome and its immediate hinterland. Two hundred years later, it stretched from Seville in the west to Cyprus in the East and ruled over 50 million people. How can a state retain its core beliefs and traditions when its size increases dramatically? What challenges does the growth of an empire pose for the stability of the state itself? You’ll be encouraged to ask fundamental questions about the nature of imperial power, the ways in which it can be justified and challenged, and the relationship between military expansion on the one hand and changes in culture and politics on the other. You’ll study the way in which Rome’s imperial boom changed almost all aspects of living in the Roman Republic: its politics and laws; its literature and art; its approach to warfare and international diplomacy; and even the motifs and symbols of civic life itself, from the grand temples of the Roman forum to the tiny silver coins an ordinary citizen would carry around the city. Rome’s Republican empire unified the entire Mediterranean and much of continental Europe under a single banner, creating an idea of a unified Europe that would be imitated centuries later by modern dictators and politicians. Imperial exploitation enriched the elites of the city, but ultimately led to the rise of ambitious generals and populists like Julius Caesar who destroyed the Roman Republic. By charting that history in this module, you’ll confront the corruption of power and its enduring relevance today.
Get hands-on with a tailored made 70-hour internship within a local, regional or national heritage site. You’ll gain a first-hand comprehensive experience in heritage work, a crucial step towards a career in the field.
During the internship, you’ll deploy accurately the concepts and principles learned in class (in the Spring term) within the dynamic context of heritage sites. Choose the site of your internship as far as possible, ensuring that the internship aligns with your own interests and career aspirations. Finally, you’ll undertake a specific project, to be defined between the course leader, the heritage site and yourself. Clear objectives and skills to be acquired will be outlined and regularly monitored.
The systematic knowledge gained from the internship will be reinforced through classroom seminars, delving deeper into theoretical concepts and discussing their practical applications. Assessment methods include a blog to help critically evaluate the diverse skills acquired during your internship, and a final report where you’ll critically reflect on your experiences.
Heritage sites have often been in the news as core elements of tourism, identity and sometimes of the ‘culture war’. But what are heritage sites? How are they conserved, managed, developed, and interpreted? Why can they be controversial?
Throughout this module, you’ll gain a comprehensive and critical understanding of the principles of protecting, listing and conserving heritage, as well as of value-led management of heritage, with the full participation of local populations. You’ll also gain key employment skills, as you learn about drafting management and tourism plans, while also integrating heritage within development strategies. Using real world examples from across the globe, you’ll be introduced to diverse approaches. By the end of this module, you will have the necessary skills and critical knowledge to undertake an internship in a heritage site of your choice.
Going abroad as part of your degree is an amazing experience and a chance to develop personally, academically and professionally. You'll experience a different culture, gain a new academic perspective, establish international contacts and enhance your employability.
You can apply to add a Year Abroad to your degree programme from your arrival at Kent until the autumn term of your second year. The Year Abroad takes place between Stages 2 and 3 at one of our partner universities. Places and destination are subject to availability, language and degree programme.
You are expected to adhere to any academic progression requirements in Stages 1 and 2 to proceed to the Year Abroad. The Year Abroad is assessed on a pass/fail basis and will not count towards your final degree classification.
Where could you go in a year?
My ‘You only live once’ decision to study in Japan is one of the best I’ve ever made. I had a fantastic year.Cheyenne Nolan Find out more
You will complete a dissertation on your chosen pathway topic and then select four optional modules. If you are pursuing the BA Ancient History, two of these must include any of the following: Cities and Empires of the Ancient Near East, Graeco-Roman Egypt, The Crisis of the Late Republic c.100-27 BC, The Hellenistic World: History and Material Culture, Early Greece and the Formation of the Classical World, Advanced Topics in Ancient History.
If you take the Ancient History with Archaeology pathway, two of your four optional modules must include any of the following: Advanced Topics in Archaeology, Professional Archaeology: Techniques and Methods, Heritage Studies, Constantinople and the late Antique City, Roman Britain, Gods, Heroes and Mystery Cults: Religion in Ancient Greece, Barbarians in the West.
This module introduces undergraduate students to systematic research within a framework of supervised guidance. It provides an opportunity to select a topic of their choosing, in either archaeology, history, ancient literature. Students are invited to suggest subjects and provisional titles (topics). Prospective topics are scrutinised for suitability and feasibility and approved by the convenor before research can begin. Students receive instruction through a programme of timetabled guidance sessions and from the module convenor and a designated academic supervisor throughout the process. In addition, one-to-one meetings with the supervisor enable tailored tuition, covering the selection of the precise question/s for investigation, most apt reading, and so forth.
Students prepare a short formal research proposal in the first half of the autumn term in order to formulate the question their investigation will address; this is submitted as an assignment, assessed, and feedback provided. Two further assessed step submissions follow as the research builds: a research outline with associated bibliography and a critical evaluation of a key source material. Students should aim to ultimately produce what is an original study. The finalised Dissertation is submitted at the end of the second term of study.
How can you gain the fullest understanding of the civilisation, literature, culture and language of ancient societies? How can you fundamentally improve your critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem solving? Now that you’re proficient in languages and have covered the fundamentals of grammar and complex sentence structure, this module will enrich your ability to read, comprehend, and translate passages of ancient Greek/Latin/ Egyptian. You’ll have a better understanding of the key themes and ideas in the texts and will see them within a broader literary and cultural context. You’ll understand how to use relevant theme-specific scholarly tools and publications in your studies, and will have the tools to succeed in diverse disciplines such as coding and computer programming, scientific, legal or medical careers.
Takes a critical and interdisciplinary approach to ancient history and modern interpretations of ancient history. After first developing a rich and detailed view of a key theme in ancient history, such as politics, law, migration or social justice, you'll explore how this central theme contributed in the ancient world and how it is addressed and differs in twenty-first century debates.
Dig deeper and explore advanced approaches to topics in archaeology. After first developing a rich and detailed view of a key theme in archaeology, you will explore how this central theme contributes to our understanding of the ancient world.
You’ll gain skills in communication, critical thinking, and use of primary and secondary sources, as well as a deeper understanding of archaeology as a tool to uncover secrets of the past and inform our modern understanding of antiquity.
Take a critical and interdisciplinary approach to modern interpretations of ancient literature, culture, and art.
You’ll develop a rich and detailed view of a key theme of your choice in classical studies (e.g. inebriation, madness, divine signs, humour, emotion, ugliness, the senses), before exploring how this theme is addressed both in the ancient world and in twenty-first century debates.
Through this exploration of the ancient world, you’ll sharpen your focus and develop skills across critical thinking, problem solving and communication to set you up for an exciting and successful career.
What is virtue? What is knowledge? What are the first causes and principles of reality? What is the nature of mimesis? You’ll explore these questions that have persisted from the ancient era to the 21st century.
Through lectures and seminar discussions you’ll gain a critical distance from normative and modern definitions of philosophical terms, in order to understand how ancient philosophy generally approached questions and problems with different suppositions and conceptions of reality, reason, and the purpose of human existence.
Through this deep discussion, you’ll discover your own answers to these critical questions through the context of ancient and modern philosophy, while developing crucial skills in analysis and reasoning to give you an edge with employers.
How did the western Roman Empire become the Early Medieval West? What happened when large numbers of people migrated into the Roman empire from beyond the Roman frontiers?
You’ll explore the period between 300 and 600 C.E, examining the interactions between so-called ‘barbarians’ and the population of the western Roman empire. Important sites from Italy to Britain will be examined using a range of archaeological, historical and visual evidence. You’ll cover everything from military changes during the period to the impact of social and political breakdown on ordinary people.
Through weekly lectures you’ll build knowledge and through seminars, you’ll explore case studies on specific topics in more depth, gaining confidence in source interpretation. Discover the end of the Roman west; what survived, and what did not of Roman culture and lifestyles in early medieval Europe.
Discover the civilisations of the Near East which developed in Mesopotamia (Iraq), Iran, Anatolia (Turkey), the Levant, and the Eastern Mediterranean Islands between the Bronze and the Iron Age (3100-550 BC).
Through exploring historical events and peoples who played a role in the formation and collapse of cities and empires you’ll gain a greater understanding of this exciting period in ancient history. And you will explore cultural traditions and interactions through the lens of art and artefacts, writing, religion and economy to develop your knowledge of the societies and everyday lives that contributed to it.
Do you want to bring your passion for the ancient world to the classroom through teaching? If so, this is the perfect first step for you to get there. This module is designed for students interested in pursuing a career as primary or secondary school teachers. You’ll take a placement in a secondary school, which will enhance your employment opportunities. You’ll also develop your knowledge and understanding of Classical Studies and Ancient History in the secondary school context.
By introducing you to the essentials of teaching practice during seminars and workshops, you’ll gain invaluable experience. Seminars and the internship will complement each other. During seminars, you’ll benefit from the opportunity to discuss aspects related to your placement and receive appropriate guidance from staff at regular intervals to support your journey.
You’ll usually make weekly visits to a school and have a designated teacher-mentor. As part of the internship, you’ll will observe real taught sessions. Initially, students will likely concentrate on specific aspects of the teachers' tasks, and their approach to teaching a class. As term progresses, it is expected that your role will be, to some extent, a teaching assistant, by helping individual pupils who are having difficulties or by working with small groups. This is the perfect way to gain crucial experience and take the first step to an exciting and rewarding career in teaching.
Survey the Mediterranean city from AD 300 to 650, the period in which Constantinople was founded and became Europe’s greatest polis.
City life in this period was, until recently, poorly understood, hindered by the prejudices of classical archaeologists, who removed late levels without record, and the selective interests of Christian archaeologists who concentrated on churches. Now, new archaeological fieldwork has revealed much greater complexity, with an urban collapse in the West but flourishing cities in the East, providing a foundation for Early Islamic urbanism.
You’ll explore this developing understanding of the ancient city through both regional and thematic patterns, visible in classic sites, such as Trier, Rome, Ostia, Sabratha, Phillipi, Ephesus, Gerasa, and Constantinople. You’ll learn to link changes in the physical appearance of cities to wider events and processes: the effects of war, the rise of pateres and circus factions, the decline of paganism, and the urban flowering of both Christianity and Judaism.
Through seminars you’ll explore the rich source material available, whether drawn from architectural remains, stratigraphic archaeology, epigraphy, and selected text, so you can better study a range of issues for cities of any period, from topography and morphology to processions, civic regulation, and economic change.
Explore the history, archaeology and culture of the Ancient Greek world from the Late Bronze Age to the Archaic period (ca 1600 BC – 480 BC).
You’ll begin at the very start of the Ancient Greek world, covering everything from the Greek trade and colonisation on the Mediterranean, the Tyrrhenian and the Black Sea; the cultural, architectural and artistic exchanges of the Greeks with Near Eastern, North African and Italian populations; the formation of the Greek polis (city-state) and the circumstances for the invasion of Greece by the contemporary Persian Empire. Through this you’ll develop a greater understanding of Ancient Greece and sharpen your focus on critical analysis and insights.
How did religion structure ancient Greek cosmovision? Did religion have extensive political power? How important was architecture and mythology to religious practice?
You’ll answer these questions and gain a comprehensive understanding of the major types of religious festivals and worship, the cults involved and the divine spheres of influence addressed through ritual, using archaeological, ancient historical, and literary material.
Explore the structure of the belief system and the ways it was used to assist in addressing uncertainties of the future. Apart from the study of material evidence and literary sources, you’ll also focus on the cognitive underpinnings of worship and the development and role of monumental architecture in religious practice.
Explore the impact of the Classical World on ancient Egypt between Alexander's invasion and the Arab conquest, and on the nature of the civilisation which emerged under Greek and Roman rule.
Alexander entered Egypt as liberator, but his successors created a regime with Greek as the main official language and Greeks as the ruling elite. Foreign soldiers were settled on reclaimed land, Greek cities were founded, especially Alexandria, one of the glories of the ancient world. An elaborate system of economic regulation maximised production to support warfare, city-building and display. New cults were created to unite the two peoples and strengthen the regime.
Native Egyptians showed their resentment in disaffection and rebellion. Roman rule was if anything harsher and more remote. Yet it is a mistake to see the relationship as wholly negative. Art and architecture flourished. In civil service, army, business the new regime offered avenues to advancement for native Egyptians. Egyptian religion retained its prestige and was adopted by many Greeks and Romans, spreading far outside Egypt.
You’ll get hands on exploring this exciting period through rich and varied sources: temples, tombs, remains of settlements, mummies, inscriptions, sculpture, coins and an extraordinary range of papyrus documents, offering unique insights.
The Hellenistic period, saw an expansion of the Greek world into the Near East and, as a result, the profound political and cultural transformation of the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean.
This played a crucial role not just in the transmission of classical Greek civilisation but also in the shaping of the Roman Empire and its culture, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean. For these reasons, it is a key period in the development of Greek, Roman and later European civilisations.
You’ll undertake a general survey of the political, social, economic and cultural history of the Eastern Mediterranean in the period between 336 and 30 BC, following on from the classical Greek and in part dovetailing with and in part preparing the ground for the Roman historical modules.
You’ll explore a range of sources, historical, literary, papyrological, epigraphic and archaeological. Particular attention will be paid to the interaction between the incoming Graeco-Macedonian and indigenous local populations and the formation of new states and cultures in order to gain a full understanding of this period of change, development and upheaval.
Get hands-on with a tailored made 70-hour internship within a local, regional or national heritage site. You’ll gain a first-hand comprehensive experience in heritage work, a crucial step towards a career in the field.
During the internship, you’ll deploy accurately the concepts and principles learned in class (in the Spring term) within the dynamic context of heritage sites. Choose the site of your internship as far as possible, ensuring that the internship aligns with your own interests and career aspirations. Finally, you’ll undertake a specific project, to be defined between the course leader, the heritage site and yourself. Clear objectives and skills to be acquired will be outlined and regularly monitored.
The systematic knowledge gained from the internship will be reinforced through classroom seminars, delving deeper into theoretical concepts and discussing their practical applications. Assessment methods include a blog to help critically evaluate the diverse skills acquired during your internship, and a final report where you’ll critically reflect on your experiences.
Heritage sites have often been in the news as core elements of tourism, identity and sometimes of the ‘culture war’. But what are heritage sites? How are they conserved, managed, developed, and interpreted? Why can they be controversial?
Throughout this module, you’ll gain a comprehensive and critical understanding of the principles of protecting, listing and conserving heritage, as well as of value-led management of heritage, with the full participation of local populations. You’ll also gain key employment skills, as you learn about drafting management and tourism plans, while also integrating heritage within development strategies. Using real world examples from across the globe, you’ll be introduced to diverse approaches. By the end of this module, you will have the necessary skills and critical knowledge to undertake an internship in a heritage site of your choice.
Monsters and monstrosity are found in all throughout Roman culture, both inside and outside mythology. Most were inherited from Greece but adapted for new tastes and purposes.
You’ll focus on Greek and Latin literature in ancient Rome, but earlier sources and visual media may be included to support this, as well as the interdisciplinary approach of monster theory.
Your interpretation of source materials leads to a broader and deeper understanding of monsters in ancient Roman stories and thought. If you are passionate about exploring the history of monsters and significance in Roman culture, this module is for you.
What does it take to become an archaeologist? You’ll find out. Explore fieldwork techniques deployed in the discovery, recording, and analysis of archaeological sites, over a combination of lectures, small-group work and practical assignments in the field, using professional grade equipment.
We aim to follow recognised professional standards so that you are ready for employment. Topics/methods may vary year to year but typically include strategies for finding and recording sites, from the study of archive sources to geophysics, field walking, and the survey of earthworks and standing buildings, drawing on new techniques such as laser survey and photogrammetry.
Fieldwork practicals will be outside, dependent upon weather and availability, around the rich historical sites of Canterbury and its hinterland.
Explore Britain through from the Late Iron Age and the time of Julius Caesar’s visits in the first century BCE to the fifth century CE and the much debated ‘end of Roman Britain’.
Historical testimonies of the ancient authors, epigraphy, coins and the archaeological and architectural evidence of sites and artefacts provide the rich forms explored as you examine the history of the changes to the province under Rome. The development of towns, villas, the new infrastructure and commerce are considered, as well as the deployment and impact of the Roman army and other institutions and cultural practices new to Britain.
You’ll also cover daily life in the province through indicators such as religious practice, consumption, burial, art and crafts. This transformative time witnessed huge differences of wealth and life experience, from that of governors and elites to humble rural communities and enslaved people.
You’ll also establish the context of Roman Britain through reference to the western provinces of empire and the world of ‘barbaricum’ – Scotland and Ireland. Processes of change are put under the microscope as ‘Romanisation’ theory, creolisation, post-colonial perspectives, and identity, ethnicity and interactions are scrutinized through the various remains.
These sources do not provide the entire picture, and you’ll learn to use them in combination and in an evaluative and critical manner as well as handing the materials themselves through practical workshops.
How can a democracy survive when it is faced by a rising tide of populism, demagoguery, and squeezed living standards for the many? Though these same questions could be applied to our own period of history, you’ll explore this question through the dramatic history of the hundred years that led to the collapse of the Roman Republic and its transformation into a monarchy by Augustus.
To understand this dramatic and famous period of Roman history you will combine historiography, biography, political philosophy, art, coinage, architecture, and inscriptions. By looking at the full range of this evidence from the ancient world, you can delve into themes such as: crisis theory; women and subaltern groups as political actors; rhetoric and the abuse of rhetoric; warfare; imperialism; tradition and innovation; consensus and dissensus; and the relationship between art and the political.
You’ll be challenged to explore the history of Rome in innovative ways that unlock your potential. The assessments focus not only on demonstrating factual knowledge and understanding of the period, but on using wider passions, hobbies, and transferable skills outside of the classroom to pursue a Thematic Project, giving you the freedom to demonstrate what you have learned in your own way. Previous Thematic Projects for this module have included TED Talks, ‘Time Team’ documentaries, short stories, epic poems, podcasts, clay portrait sculptures, coin minting, toga-making, and videogame design.
Teaching include seminars, language classes, practical training, lectures, and tutorials. Lectures deliver essential content and guidance on key methods and approaches. In seminars, students work independently and in groups on activities that develop and challenge thinking, foster key skills, and build confidence. Training in specific skills and abilities is provided through appropriate methods tailored to the relevant areas.
We use assessments that offer research opportunities, integrate work-based or practical learning, and offer realistic tasks relating to both employment and research practices, for example, reflective portfolios, data assessment and report writing, blogs, creative projects, posters, and oral presentations. To support student development, we align assessment with module learning outcomes and tailor it to appropriate levels of study.
For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours. The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.
Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.
Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.
For course aims and learning outcomes please see the course specification.
As a Kent graduate, you will be ready to construct and lead engaging arguments, be quick to recognise context and skilled to propose alternative solutions. And your wide-ranging work with historical sources will improve your ability to think critically, take part in debate and make informed decisions, allowing you to effect change in the places you want to see it.
Career prospects for history graduates are wide ranging, with our students launching careers in everything from teaching to business, research to politics. For ancient history, your specialisation, and modules help boost your prospects, with natural routes into the heritage, archives and museums.
The creative problem solving, critical thinking and communication skills you develop at Kent can prepare you for a career in any field. The study of ancient history at Kent equips you with the adaptability to thrive in an exciting career in whatever area you are passionate about. This means Kent’s ancient history graduates are ready to step into a career of limitless opportunities, from education to business, charity to government; you’ll have the talent and insight to build the career you want.
*The Government announced on 4 November 2024 that tuition fees in England for Home students will increase to £9,535 from £9,250 for the academic year 2025/26. This increase requires Parliamentary approval, which is expected to be given in early/mid 2025.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Fees for undergraduate students are £1,900.
Fees for undergraduate students are £1,430.
Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Students will require regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. Please see information about the minimum computer requirements for study.
There may be additional costs associated with the Year in Industry such as travel or accommodation, which will need to be covered by the student. Please see Careers and Employability webpages for more information.
There will be additional costs associated with the Year Abroad such as travel, accommodation, health and food costs. Please see Kent’s Go Abroad webpages on Costs and Funding for more information.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
If you are from the UK or Ireland, you must apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not from the UK or Ireland, you can apply through UCAS or directly on our website if you have never used UCAS and you do not intend to use UCAS in the future.
We welcome applications from students all around the world with a wide range of international qualifications.
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