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This subject generally covers the study of the art, literature, culture, and society of the ancient Mediterranean. Depending on the university, you can study the culture of Egypt and the Near East, Greece, and Rome. The time frame may cover from the Minoan period (c.3000 BCE) all the way down to late antiquity (c.500 CE). You will learn about myths and the gods; sculpture, architecture, pottery, and painting; poetry, tragedy and comedy. You may have the opportunity to study ancient novels and/or some historical writing. These topics will provide you with insight into the culture and people of the time and places you are studying. The skills you will gain from this major include (but are not limited to) the ability to communicate well, especially in writing, to appreciate other cultures, to analyse information, to be creative, and to think independently and laterally.

This is focused on the study of the historical events and people of the ancient Mediterranean. This major covers Egypt and the Near East, Greece, and Rome. There may be papers spanning any time from 3000 BC to 500 AD with a focus on Egypt (and its language), the Aegean, Greece, and Rome, as well as the way these cultures interacted. The skills you will gain from this major include (but are not limited to) the ability to discern authorial manipulation and bias, to write effectively, to present arguments succinctly and to appreciate other cultures and times. Ancient History differs from Classical Studies in the emphasis placed primarily on history rather than myths and material culture (e.g. art and architecture).

This subject is the study of the Latin language and its literature. The skills you will gain from this major include an understanding of how an inflected language works (that is, how a language works which uses changes to the word endings to change the meaning of the word). You will gain an appreciation for the main forerunner of many Romance languages (e.g. French, Spanish, Italian), and the ability to understand how translation works as well as its limitations. You will gain the ability to read famous works, such as Virgil’s Aeneid and Livy’s History of Rome, in their original language and fully enjoy the richness of language and the nuances put in by the author.

This subject is the study of the ancient Greek language and its literature. The skills you will gain from this major are similar to those you learn in studying Latin. They include an understanding of how an inflected language works (that is, how a language works which uses changes to the word endings to change the meaning of the word). You will gain an appreciation for this language which has roots in Indo-European and influences on a variety of European languages (e.g. English, German). You will gain the ability to read Classical Greek works in their original language. Examples of these are Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, Herodotus’ Histories, and Euripides’ tragedies. Knowledge of this language will allow you to appreciate the complexity of vocabulary used by the author, to enjoy the depth of meaning in different works, and will give you an understanding of the working and limitations of translation. Any study of an ancient language will also give you a greater knowledge of grammar generally, and a grounding which will assist you in learning many other European languages.