Ancient History/Archaeology

Ancient history and archaeology are sister disciplines that together illuminate the human past through complementary methods. Ancient history draws primarily on written sources, asking students to read, translate and interpret texts produced by the societies of Greece, Rome and the wider Mediterranean world, situating those documents within their social, political and cultural contexts. Archaeology approaches the same past through material evidence, analysing objects, buildings, landscapes and the traces left in the ground to understand how people lived, worked and organised their worlds.

Together they offer a richer picture of antiquity than either could provide alone.

At Glasgow you will explore the history and culture of the ancient Mediterranean from the eighth century BC through to the fifth century AD, including the great moments of political change, intellectual achievement and cultural exchange that shaped Western civilisation and its legacy. You will encounter the methods of the ancient historian, working with primary texts in translation and, if you choose, with Latin and ancient Greek. The archaeological component introduces you to excavation theory, finds analysis, landscape archaeology and the interpretation of material culture.

This programme is studied part time and includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to engage with ancient sites and collections in other countries. The part-time structure means you can balance your studies with other commitments, and the duration of the degree is flexible as a result.

Graduates of ancient history and archaeology pursue careers in heritage management, museums, galleries and archives, archaeological fieldwork and cultural resource management, education, publishing, journalism and the civil service. The analytical and communication skills the degree develops, including the ability to interpret complex evidence, construct well-reasoned arguments and write with clarity, transfer across a wide range of professional fields. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in classics, ancient history, archaeology or related areas, and some progress into academic research.