A study of the conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great, exploring in particular the military, political and social issues of his reign and campaigns.
Alexander the Great was one of the most influential generals in Western history, conquering vast portions of the Mediterranean world and beyond. Yet even now he remains an elusive figure: he was both a founder and a sacker of cities; he spread Greek culture, but also adopted Persian customs and married a foreign princess; he was worshipped as a god, but was also a victim of human vices; he was a remarkable general, yet led his men into a desert where they died by the thousands. This paper explores the achievements and paradoxes of this fascinating historical figure.
| Paper title | Alexander the Great |
|---|---|
| Paper code | CLAS241 |
| Subject | Classical Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 2 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $955.05 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- (18 CLAS, GREK or LATN points) or 54 points
- Restriction
- CLAS 334
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Eligibility
Suitable for all people interested in history, historiography and ancient personalities.
- Contact
- classics@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
View more information on the Classics Programme website
- Teaching staff
- Lecturer: Associate Professor Pat Wheatley
- Paper Structure
- Internal Assessment 40%
- Teaching Arrangements
- This paper consists of two lectures per week and one tutorial per fortnight.
- Textbooks
Arrian, Alexander the Great trans. M. Hammond (Oxford World's Classics 2013).
Plutarch, The Age of Alexander trans. I. Scott-Kilvert (Harmondsworth, Penguin 2011).
Quintus Curtius Rufus, the History of Alexander (tr.) J. C. Yardley, with introductions and notes by W. Heckel (Penguin Books, 1984; reprint 2004).
Diodorus of Sicily. The Library, Books 16-20 (tr.) R. Waterfield (Oxford World’s Classics, 2019).
A.B. Bosworth, Conquest and Empire: The Reign of Alexander the Great (Cambridge University Press, 1988, paperback; repr. Canto 1993).
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Self-motivation,
Teamwork, critical thinking.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
- To investigate the nature of ancient history and the methods and sub-disciplines used to analyse it
- To analyse and understand how Greek and Eastern cultures interacted when brought into confrontation by Alexander's expedition
