BA Ancient History and History

In Ancient History, you will discover the Near East, Persia and the Byzantine Empire, as well as the Greek and Roman worlds, by exploring a wide range of literary, visual, epigraphic and archaeological evidence. Prior study of ancient history isn’t essential; our programme will develop your knowledge and critical understanding of ancient societies, as well as the skills and knowledge that you need to succeed at university level and beyond.

For us, social and cultural topics are just as important as political history. You will encounter fascinating themes with contemporary relevance, such as warfare, gender and sexuality, religion, medicine, art and literature, and you will discover how antiquity continues to inspire the modern world.

The History element of this degree lets you shape your passion for history according to your interests, using the latest approaches to study the past with a critical eye and make connections to debates in the public sphere.

Our expertise reaches an extraordinary breadth of societies, periods and places, spanning the British Isles, Europe (east and west), Africa, Asia and the Americas. You will analyse topics from across the globe, allowing you to put into practice your skills as a historian. Moreover, prestigious collections in the University’s Special Collections and Archives give you access to a wide range of original texts and sources, including some of the world’s oldest printed books.

Combining Ancient History and History is a great way to gain a wealth of transferable skills and knowledge, while exploring the entire range of the human past. The time spent on each subject is equally shared, allowing you to fully absorb ancient, medieval and modern history through material, written and visual evidence.

This programme is also available with a year of study abroad, extending your degree to a four-year programme, with your third year spent at a partner institution outside the UK.