UCL - Introduction to the Study of Antiquity

[GLOR1410]

[30h] 3 credits

This course is taught in the 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Charles Doyen, Aline Smeesters

Language: French

Level: First

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

By the end of the course, the student should master the procedures necessary to the knowledge and use of sources of information relative to Greco-Roman Antiquity, and (s)he should be able to express his results of research in a rigorous and pertinent way. The student should be able to produce a scientifically correct status quaestionis about a chosen subject relating to the Antiquity.

Main themes

The Ancient culture, the different kinds of primary sources and the sciences related to these, modern bibliography and academic writing will constitute the successive main themes of the course.se modern works dealing with classical studies, particularly modern reference works and collections

Content and teaching methods

The course begins with a general introduction to the Ancient culture (especially mythology). Thereafter it exposes the primary sources relevant for the study of Antiquity (literary, epigraphical, papyrological, archaeological, and numismatic documents), the modern corpora (reference editions and main collections), and the methods used in their study (specific sciences, translation, and interpretation). The course will help the student with the use of secondary sources and with the effective use of a library in order to find the necessary documentation for the study undertaken. Finally the student will be introduced into academic writing, with special attention paid to the usual conventions in Classical scholarship (e.g. current abbreviations).
The course is alternately taught by the two teachers. Several exercises based on the resources of the University Library and practised in small groups will be requested.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Course entry requirements: none.
Evaluation: written work (status quaestionis of an issue pertaining to Greco-Roman Antiquity) and oral examination.
Course material: a reference bibliography will be provided during the course.