Ancient History/Celtic Civilisation

Ancient history and Celtic civilisation are two disciplines that between them span the major cultural traditions of the ancient world as it reached and shaped the British Isles. Ancient history takes you to Greece, Rome, and the wider Mediterranean, examining the political, social, military, and cultural development of the ancient world from the eighth century before the common era to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Celtic civilisation explores a parallel world: the history, languages, literature, art, and religion of the Celtic peoples, from their origins on the European continent through the development of Irish, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, and Brittonic traditions.

At Glasgow you will engage with both traditions in depth across four years. Ancient history trains you to work with primary sources, to understand archaeological and textual evidence, and to think carefully about how and why ancient societies developed as they did. Celtic civilisation immerses you in a world that is both adjacent to and distinct from the classical Mediterranean, with its own literary traditions, material culture, and historical trajectory.

The combination gives you a genuinely broad perspective on the ancient world and on the long transition to the medieval period. You may have the opportunity to engage with Latin and ancient Greek as part of your ancient history studies. The four-year full-time programme includes a year abroad, allowing you to study at a European university where these traditions are taught from a different national perspective.

Graduates go on to careers in academia, heritage and museum work, publishing, journalism, education, cultural organisations, and the civil service. Many continue to postgraduate study in classics, ancient history, Celtic studies, medieval history, or archaeology.