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Modules

Ancient Sources (Material Evidence) - Pompeii: Destruction, Discovery and Afterlife (CLA1514)

StaffDr Claire Holleran - Convenor
Credit Value15
ECTS Value7.5
NQF Level4
Pre-requisitesNone
Co-requisitesNone
Duration of Module Term 1: 11 weeks;

Module aims

This module aims to:

  • Provide you with a thorough and detailed understanding of the archaeological site of Pompeii, including the nature of its destruction, the history of its discovery and excavation, and the issues raised by the preservation and conservation of the site
  • Introduce you to the particular difficulties of using the site as a source, what we can learn from it about life in the Roman world, and the reception and afterlife of the town

ILO: Module-specific skills

  • 1. Demonstrate knowledge and a basic understanding of the archaeological site of Pompeii
  • 2. Demonstrate an elementary appreciation of the reception and cultural influence of the site from the eighteenth century onwards
  • 3. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the ways in which Pompeii can contribute to our knowledge of urban life in Roman Italy

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

  • 4. Demonstrate a basic understanding critical approaches to ancient source material
  • 5. With guidance, conduct independent research in Classics and Ancient History
  • 6. Show elementary skills in formal academic writing in Classics and Ancient History

ILO: Personal and key skills

  • 7. Show basic skills in critical analysis
  • 8. Digest and organise diverse information to form a coherent argument
  • 9. Understand how to write an analytical essay or report
  • 10. With guidance, conduct independent research
  • 11. Show team-working skills through small group work
  • 12. Discuss issues with peer group

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • The development of the city
  • The eruption
  • The aftermath and ‘rediscovery’ of the site
  • Excavation and cataloguing
  • The use of the site as a ‘source’
  • Preservation and conservation
  • Reception and cultural influence
  • Society; commercial life
  • Streets and traffic
  • Houses
  • Graffiti
  • Prostitution and sexuality

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
271230

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching22Lectures (11 x 2 hours)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching5Seminars (5 x 1 hour)
Guided Independent Study123Private study

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Participation in seminarsIn seminars1-3,11-12Oral feedback in seminars

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
30700

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Source commentary30750 words1-10Mark and written comments
Examination702 hours1-10Mark and written comments
0
0
0
0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Source commentarySource commentary1-10Referral/deferral period
ExaminationExamination1-10Referral/deferral period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

A full and detailed bibliography will be provided by the lecturer, but key reading will include:

  • Allison, P. 2004. Pompeian Households: an Analysis of the Material Culture (Los Angeles: University of California Press)
  • Beard, M. 2008. Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town (London: Profile)
  • Berry, J. 2013. The Complete Pompeii (London: Thames and Hudson)
  • Cooley, A. 2003. Pompeii (London: Duckworth)
  • Cooley, A. E. and M. G. L. Cooley, 2014. Pompeii and Herculaneum: A Sourcebook, 2nd edition (London and New York: Routledge)
  • Dobbins, J. J. and P. W. Foss (eds.), 2007. The World of Pompeii (New York: Routledge)
  • Laurence, R. 2007. Roman Pompeii: Space and Society. 2nd edition (New York: Routledge)
  • Wallace-Hadrill, A. 1994. Houses and Society in Pompeii and Herculaneum (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press)
  • Zanker, P. 1998. Pompeii: Public and Private Life (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press)

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

02/02/2015

Last revision date

11/03/2019

Key words search

Roman history, Roman archaeology, Pompeii