2025-26

The first part of the course deals with the nature and methodology of ancient Greek history, with emphasis being placed upon the nature and range of coverage provided by the primary sources and thus on the appropriate approach and use of such sources by the ancient historian. The second part of the course offers a survey of ancient history from the Archaic period to Hellenistic times. Here stress will be laid upon how the subject matter of the survey is affected by the nature of the primary sources.

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.

The course deals with the history of Roumelia (the Balkan Province) from the 14th to the 20th century. Particular attention is given to Thrace, which is the main area studied.  Thrace was the heartland, nearest to Istanbul, the main city of the Balkan peninsula and played an important role in national movements and other developments during the period. The course also focusses on the issue of social mobility and the emergence of the Ottomans as new conquerors. Such social mobility changed the demographic composition of the area.

The course deals with the life of Muhammad and his career as a religious, political and military leader (570-632). It examines the creation and the evolution of the first Islamic community, firstly in Mecca and later in Medina. Different aspects of pre-Islamic Arab society (religion, culture, economy, social stratification, racial organisation and others.) are analysed, as well as how they affected Islam and, in their turn, how they were affected by the new religion