2023-24

The course deals with theoretical problems in the history of Modern Greek literature, such as the various views regarding when it can be considered to begin, its periods, its language and the distinction between literature and written material in general.  The students are taught the basic features of Modern Greek prosody and Modern Greek dialects.  The course then deals with writers and representative texts, mainly historical, from the 10th c.

The course deals with cultural matters, such as public and private education, schools for the public, academies, libraries, the circulation of manuscripts and printed matter, literary production, painting and music. Selected archival sources are discussed and analysed, with a view to students familiarizing themselves with archival sources.
Students may take an optional one-hour study session, whose aim is to familiarize them with archival sources in Greek.

Upon the imposition of the Pax Romana, the Greek world was to enjoy an extraordinary cultural renaissance from the middle of the 1st century AD to the mid 3rd century. This phenomenon was promoted chiefly by the upper classes of the Greek poleis, under the aegis of the Romans, who were enthusiastic admirers of Greek culture, and is associated with many well-known names, such as that of Lucian, Dio Chrysostom and Pausanias. These draw their materials from the glories of the Classical past, to produce a new Greek culture.

This course examines both the rise and expansion and the decline and fall of the British Empire from 17th to the 21st centuries. Its main goal is to examine the issues that arise from occupation by an imperial power, both for the conquered and the conquerors. It shows the unsystematic fashion in which the empire expanded,  in which it was influenced both by chance, risk and venture and by political and social circumstances in Britain itself.

The course deals with the palaeobiology of contemporary man and the evolutionary processes that have led to his present form, both phenotypically and genetically. The course examines anatomical and genetic adaptations to the ecological environment of the time and the accompanying socio-political influences.