Geometric and Archaic Greece (ca. 1000-480 BCE) formed a fascinating and formative period of world history. The Greek alphabet, the Olympics, the Delphic oracle and the Persian Wars are just a few of its cultural and historical phenomena which changed the course of western thought and identity. Join us as we explore revolutionary arts, decisive clashes and intercultural communities through a multitude of learning materials and a museum visit. We will analyse the art and archaeology of Geometric and Archaic Greece through major categories such as pottery, architecture, sculpture and written sources. In the process, we will unravel the ways in which we can elicit a wealth of information about how people lived and thought in past societies.
Course starts: 02 Oct 2019
Week 1: Introduction to Art, Archaeology and Geometric-Archaic Greece
Week 2: Architecture
Week 3: Sculpture
Week 4: Pottery
Week 5: Literacy, trade and economy
Week 6: Religion
Week 7: Polis, Politics, Societies
Week 8: Conflicts
Week 9: Museum visit
Week 10: Geometric-Archaic Greece: past and present
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Availability of titles on the reading list (below) can be checked on SOLO, the library catalogue.
If you are planning to purchase books, remember that courses with too few students enrolled will be cancelled. The Department accepts no responsibility for books bought in anticipation of a course.
Preparatory reading
Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.
To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from between January 1st and July 31st after the current academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £215.00 |
| Take this course for CATS points | £10.00 |
Dr. Anna Simandiraki-Grimshaw is an Aegean Bronze Age archaeologist. She lectures in Archaeology at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, among other institutions. She is also affiliated with Durham University and Humboldt University in Berlin.
This course aims to introduce students to the art and archaeology of Geometric-Archaic Greece (ca. 1000-480 BCE) through a diachronic exploration of major material culture categories, such as architecture, sculpture and pottery, as well as themes, such as societies, politics and religion.
This course aims to:
1. teach and analyse the most important specimens of Geometric-Archaic Greek art and archaeology, in combination with select written sources;
2. explore the aesthetic, social, political and other origins and influences of Geometric-Archaic Greek art and archaeology;
3. enable students to critically approach a past system of aesthetics, creativity and ideological expression by exploring concrete examples of Geometric-Archaic Greek material culture.
A variety of teaching and learning methods will be used, taking into consideration students' different learning styles and possible special needs. We will use tutor presentations and explanations, substantial visual material and handouts, some documentary footage and extensive discussion. Group presentations will offer opportunities when main topics will be analysed by different teams. We will also use props. Students will study between sessions and will progress through a workbook according to their evolving understanding and skills. There will be the opportunity of on-site learning during a museum visit in session 9.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. recall and analyse the most important specimens of Geometric-Archaic Greek art and archaeology, in combination with select written sources;
2. discuss and evaluate the aesthetic, social, political and other origins and influences of Geometric-Archaic Greek art and archaeology;
3. critically approach a past system of aesthetics, creativity and ideological expression by exploring concrete examples of Geometric-Archaic Greek material culture.
For this course, all students will be given a workbook at the second session (Option A). This will contain 5 questions and guiding material, the answers for which will become apparent as we progress through the course. Students will be expected to draw on both what is covered in class and on their private study, reflection and museum visit(s). They will be expected to demonstrate their progression and development by completing the workbook and handing it in by the last session. The entire length of the answers should be approximately 1500 words, i.e. about 300 words for each answer.
In the case of students who are unable to complete the workbook (e.g. who feel that their learning styles are not compatible), the tutor will be flexible in accommodating other ways of equivalent written assessment (Option B). Additional coursework, if a student wishes to produce it, will be very welcome.
Student progress will also be evaluated on the basis of analysis, collaboration, organisation and knowledge, as demonstrated during class activities.
Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form.
To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an application form.
This is an introductory course, and so no prior knowledge of the subject is required - just your enthusiasm!
Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.
