Skip to main content

Modules

Politics Ancient and Modern (CLAM084)

15 credits

Human beings, according to Aristotle, are suited by nature to live in a polis; hence, understanding the dynamics of political systems is essential for understanding people. This attitude was widely shared in antiquity, and a wide range of sources offer different perspectives on the political life and attitudes of the Greeks and Romans. Later writers have questioned the absolute dominance of politics in human existence, but have nevertheless drawn extensively on ancient ideas to make sense of their own societies. This module allows you to explore not only the political structures and theories of antiquity, but also their influence on subsequent debates.