Module overview
The ancient Greeks were said to live like ‘frogs around a pond’ (Plato, Phaedo 109b) and the sea was omnipresent in their history and societies. This was true in particular for those who inhabited the islands scattered around the Aegean Sea, between mainland Greece and modern-day Turkey. In Islands and Empires, we explore the history of the Aegean from the Classical age until the Roman Imperial period. The course takes you on a journey through time and space, addressing questions of political power and control as well as social and cultural history.
This module (part 2) explores the ancient history of Greek islands in the Aegean from a local and regional perspective. What was it like to live on an Aegean island? Combining written sources with material evidence, you will explore the political structures of island societies, alongside social, cultural, economic, and religious aspects, as well as the relations of these islands with other communities in the Aegean and the wider Mediterranean. You will gain in-depth knowledge of a series of case studies of specific islands (incl. major centres such as Delos and Rhodes) and learn about key themes and approaches for the study of local and regional history in the ancient Greek world. The underlying theme of the module is that of continuity and change.
Working with a wide variety of sources throughout the module, you will develop the skills to piece together the histories of specific islands as well as gaining an understanding of both the shared features and unique characteristics of different parts of the Aegean.
Linked modules
HIST3178