Ancient History

Ancient history is the study of the ancient Mediterranean world and its cultures, focusing primarily on Greece and Rome but often extending to Egypt, the Near East and the broader ancient world that surrounded and interacted with these great civilisations. It is a discipline that engages with the foundational period of Western culture, exploring the political institutions, literary traditions, philosophical ideas, religious practices, economies and social structures of societies that shaped the world we still inhabit in important ways. Ancient history requires working with a remarkable variety of evidence: literary texts, inscriptions, papyri, coins, archaeological remains and visual art.

At the University of Durham, this three-year programme develops analytical, practical and research skills that prepare you for careers across cultural, heritage and museum organisations, education, media and many other sectors, as the university's own description notes. You will study the history of Greece and Rome and the ancient Near East, engaging with primary sources in translation alongside the full range of archaeological, numismatic and material evidence. The degree includes a sandwich year, a year abroad and work placement opportunities, providing structured routes to develop professional experience and an international perspective alongside your academic study.

Durham's strengths in classics and ancient history make it an exceptionally well-resourced environment for this kind of study.

The skills ancient history develops, including the analysis of complex evidence, the construction of historical arguments, close reading of texts and cross-cultural interpretation, are highly transferable.

Graduates go on to careers in heritage and museums, archives, education, journalism, publishing, the civil service, law (with further training), arts administration and many other fields. Further study in ancient history, classics, archaeology or related disciplines is also a common route.