Ancient Studies Courses 2026/2027 (TENTATIVE)

This course introduces students to peoples and cultures of the ancient world across several continents, including Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe prior to European imperialism and contact. These cultures may include the Kingdom of Mutapa, the Olmecs, Han China, Classical Greece and Rome, and the Celts. The focus will be on seminal characteristics and achievements in their respective historical, political, and economic contexts such as the burial of royal retainers, the development of writing, forms of worship including sacrifice, alignments, menhirs, and henges, and ziggurats and pyramids.

• Instructor: tbd

Mesoamerica defines a region of relative historical and cultural continuity that also contain distinct ancient civilizations. This course will examine the roots of pre-conquest Mesoamerican culture and its development, with particular focus given to the Maya and Aztec civilizations. Emphasis will be placed on architecture, religion, social organization, and values.

• Instructor: Dr. Karljurgen Feuerherm

A survey of Greek history from the rise of the city-state to the empire of Alexander with emphasis upon the evolution of Athenian democracy and upon movements toward unification of the Greek cities. (Cross-listed with AR225).

• Instructor: tbd

A survey of the development of Rome from its founding to the later Roman Empire. The emphasis is upon the unification of Italy, the growth of political institutions and the expansion of the Empire. (Cross-listed with AR226)

• Instructor: tbd

The period of the Viking raids has often been characterized as a 'second dark age' in Medieval Europe. In reality, the Northmen must be seen as more than simply raiders. This course will survey the major events of the Viking Age in order to examine how the Vikings also became neighbours, allies, co-religionists, and even political leaders in the wider medieval world. The course will also assess how the influence of Scandinavian settlement and culture reshaped the social and political structures of regions from Ireland to Russia. Other topics addressed may include Viking colonization in the North Atlantic, conversion and state-building within Scandinavia, and popular perceptions (and misconceptions) about the Vikings.

• Instructor: tbd

Genghis Khan has the reputation as one of the greatest warriors of all time. He was also the leader of the largest contiguous empire in history. This course will explore the rise of the Mongol Empire. Topics may include the horse culture of the nomadic tribes, relations with China, the Silk Road, religious accommodations, the character of the Mongol Empire and military tactics during the 13th century. 

• Instructor: tbd

Over the course of only a few millennia, the cultures of the Near East witnessed significant developments which successively transformed prehistoric hunter-gatherer societies into small states and ultimately into the vast Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian empires among others. This course will seek to uncover the underlying factors and catalysts which prompted these developments and trace the evolution of culture in the region with a focus on significant innovations such as agriculture and the first invention of writing one hand and social and religious perspectives on the other.

• Instructor: Dr. Karljurgen Feuerherm

Examines the art objects and practices of Asia, India, Africa and the Americas, regions with complex social and cultural histories often overlooked within art historical studies. Prior to contact with Europe, each region was home to flourishing societies with sophisticated artistic production and development. This survey introduces students to the diversity of global artistic production and the forces of cultural change that contributed to the development and spread of artistic ideas.

• Instructor: Dr. Karljurgen Feuerherm

Examines the sexual identities of men and women in Ancient Greek and Roman societies, and attitudes towards perceived anomalies including the figures of the hermaphrodite and eunuch. Primary sources include artistic representations, poetry and drama.

• Instructor: Dr. Judith Fletcher

• Instructor:  Dr. Karljurgen Feuerherm

History and Homer’s Odyssey

In this course students read the most recent translation of Homer’s Odyssey, composed c. 750BCE, for insights into the so-called “Dark Ages” of ancient Greece. The text is an invaluable source of information about travel, trade and colonization, social organization and hierarchies, food and drink, gender roles and domestic life, story-telling and mythmaking, ritual, religion and magic. We approach the text as evidence for the dynamic, interconnected, heterogeneous world of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin that included Egypt, Western Asia, the Greek mainland and islands.

This is a hybrid course that meets weekly as a group for the first eight weeks. Students will be responsible for short presentations and writing projects, but there is also an emphasis on participation and discussions. In the final four weeks, students consult with the instructor as they work independently to produce papers on topics related to the Odyssey. These could include the treatment of enslaved people, attitudes towards the Phoenicians and other ethnic groups, seafaring, the status of women, animal husbandry, ancient theories of psychology.

• Instructor: Dr. Judith Fletcher

• CRN (fall): 1092
• CRN (winter): 1445

Directed study and research on a topic appropriate to the student’s specialization and chosen in consultation with the faculty supervisor. Students in the single honours History BA program who receive departmental permission to take this course must also take two 400-level seminars (either two readings seminars or one readings seminar and one research seminar). Students in the combined honours History BA program must also take a 400-level readings seminar.