Aims

The aim of this module is to develop an understanding of the history of the Mediterranean, conceived as a zone of mobility and connectivity. Drawing on a wide range of expertise within the School, the module will focus on specific instances of connectivity and mobility across the Mediterranean, and a range of methods for contextualizing and interpreting source materials that are specific to those instances. Students will thereby be introduced to a range of disciplinary perspectives and to the value of interdisciplinary research in developing an understanding of the Mediterranean’s past. From a broader perspective, students will be invited to re-evaluate conventional aspects of knowledge about the past in terms of chronologies, regional divisions, orientations, and disciplinary boundaries.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module will draw on a wide range of expertise from contributors with a commitment to creating a programme of learning that is substantive and coherent. Depending on staff availability, topics covered in the module may include:

Biomolecular evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age mobility.

The Etruscans: Connectivity, trade, and interactions within and outside Etruria.

Pirates of the Mare Nostrum.

The Peutinger Table.

Roman shipwrecks.

Privateers and Corsairs.

Cold War Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean and its connected historiographies.

The movements of migrants and refugees, and attitudes towards these.

Histories of inter-cultural contact and identity-formation.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The Module talk serves to highlight connectivity and mobility as the key themes of the module. The workshop serves to introduce the assessment methods for the module. Lectures serve to introduce regional instances of mobility and connectivity across the Mediterranean. Seminars serve to consolidate the knowledge introduced in the lectures and develop skills in the analysis of source material related to the specific instance introduced in the lectures. Seminars will offer an opportunity for communicating ideas sensitively and effectively, while responding to diverse viewpoints.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Assessments are designed to assess progress against learning outcomes. The portfolio of reflective writing allows students to demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge and the ability to think critically and thematically across the topics covered in the module. This assessment will also feed-forward to the source commentary for the second assessment, including developing the ability to identify materials beyond those recommended for the module. The source commentary gives the opportunity for students to demonstrate skills in the analysis of source materials that are developed in the seminars.

Study-abroad, non-Erasmus exchange and Loyola students spending semester 1 only are required to finish their assessment while in Newcastle. Where an exam is present, an alternative form of assessment will be set and where coursework is present, an alternative deadline will be set. Details of the alternative assessment will be provided by the module leader.