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    Overview

    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.

    About this paper

    Paper title Alexander the Great
    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
    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

    Timetable

    Semester 2

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Monday 11:00-11:50 28-34, 36-41
    Wednesday 11:00-11:50 28-34, 36-41

    Tutorial

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    A1 Thursday 11:00-11:50 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40
    A2 Thursday 14:00-14:50 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40
    A3 Thursday 15:00-15:50 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40

    Overview

    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.

    About this paper

    Paper title Alexander the Great
    Subject Classical Studies
    EFTS 0.15
    Points 18 points
    Teaching period Semester 2 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $981.75
    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
    Teaching staff

    Lecturer: to be confirmed

    Paper Structure

    .

    Teaching Arrangements
    This paper consists of two lectures per week and one tutorial per fortnight.
    Textbooks

    A selection of primary source and secondary source readings will be made available through Blackboard.

    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

    Timetable

    Semester 2

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Monday 11:00-11:50 29-35, 37-42
    Wednesday 11:00-11:50 29-35, 37-42

    Tutorial

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    A1 Thursday 11:00-11:50 30, 32, 34, 37, 39, 41
    A2 Thursday 14:00-14:50 30, 32, 34, 37, 39, 41
    A3 Thursday 15:00-15:50 30, 32, 34, 37, 39, 41
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