Module overview
A basic appreciation of the cultural phases and events that took place in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean region from Prehistory to Late Antiquity will be assumed as a prerequisite of the module. With this in hand a thorough examination of the maritime aspects of a region that from earliest times depended to a greater or lesser extent, upon riverine and sea-going craft as a means of communication and exchange, will be undertaken. The module will essentially be approached chronologically from the earliest evidence for seafaring in prehistory to late antique times. Within this approach particular themes relating to seafaring, maritime trade and communication will be explored and the problems and challenges of interpreting the available evidence examined. Issues concerning patterns of geomorphological and sea-level change and maritime conditions of the region will be addressed, together with the evidence for harbours and shipwrecks, vessels and patterns of trade, navigation and maritime landscapes and how these changed over time in the Mediterranean and beyond. These themes will be examined comprehensively through case studies and examples, and maritime artefacts and images will also be considered.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- The maritime environment in which ancient seafarers operated and the many factors that determine the location and abandonment of sites located in the coastal interface.
- The different types of evidence that contribute to an interpretation of the patterns of maritime exchange, the form and development of water transport, and the capabilities of the vessels and the seafarers of the region.
- The various themes and problems involved in an evaluation of a maritime landscape of the ancient Mediterranean world.
- The pattern, influences and players involved in ancient Mediterranean and Indian Ocean seafaring.
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the maritime landscape of the ancient Mediterranean.
- Apply theoretical models to specific aspects of maritime trade in the ancient world.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the watercraft that facilitated trade and exchange in the ancient Mediterranean.
- Apply the analysis of various types of evidence to the interpretation of archaeological material.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Show understanding of theories and models relating to patterns of trade, exchange and connectivity.
- Show appreciation of the importance of the sea and the influence it had on shaping ancient cultures.
- Demonstrate ability to identify the types of evidence that can be utilised to form an appreciation of ancient seafaring.
- Demonstrate that you have acquired a broad understanding of the archaeological context of maritime activity within the context of the ancient Mediterranean.
- Show an appreciation of the archaeological potential of boats and ships and associated material culture.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Undertake research in an independent capacity or as part of a team/group.
- Assimilate a large and interdisciplinary body of material in order to acquire an appreciation of the broader picture.
Syllabus
Typically, the syllabus will cover:
- Introduction: Evidence, Environment, Seafaring & Navigation
- Harbour Archaeology
- Early Prehistoric Seafaring
- Late Prehistoric Seafaring
- Bronze Age Seafaring and Trade
- Seafaring in the 1st Millennium BC
- Seafaring in the Greco-Roman world
- Indo-Roman Seafaring
- The Roman Imperial Period
- Late Antiquity Seafaring: Continuity & Change, Economics & Technology
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching is carried out using a mixture of formal lectures and informal seminars. Lectures aim to synthesise key information and topics in a uniform and consistent way. Seminars offer you the opportunity to explore individual subjects and topics of study on a more personal basis and through group discussion and debate.
Introduction: Evidence, Environment, Seafaring & Navigation
Harbour Archaeology
Early Prehistoric Seafaring
Late Prehistoric Seafaring
Bronze Age Seafaring and Trade
Seafaring in the 1st Millennium BC
Seafaring in the Greco-Roman world
Indo-Roman Seafaring
The Roman Imperial Period
Late Antiquity Seafaring: Continuity & Change, Economics
& Technology
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Completion of assessment task | 40 |
| Work based learning | 10 |
| Lecture | 20 |
| Wider reading or practice | 50 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 20 |
| Project supervision | 10 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Journal Articles
Sherratt, S. & Sherratt, A. (1993). The growth of the Mediterranean economy in the early first millennium BC. World Archaeology, 24(3), pp. 361-78.
Textbooks
Tomber, R. (2008). Indo-Roman Trade: From pots to pepper. London: Duckworth.
Horden, P. & Purcell, N. (2000). The Corrupting Sea. Oxford: Blackwell.
Sidebotham, SE (2011). Berenike and the Ancient Maritime Spice Trade. Los Angeles.
Casson, L. (1995). Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World. London: The Johns Hopkins University.
Rainbird, P. (2007). The Archaeology of Islands. Cambridge: Cambridge University.
Broodbank, C. (2013). The Making of the Middle Sea. London: Thames and Hudson.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Assignment One (35%): Artefact or Site Analysis (1,000 words)
You will each be assigned an artefact or an archaeological site or a navigational route and be asked to prepare a short report about its significance, its wider context and what is tells us about the maritime context..
The assignment will allow you to demonstrate your ability to conduct independent focused research into a specific subject and to analyse and synthesise published records of archaeological material. The assignment will also allow you to develop and demonstrate skills in concise writing for a specific purpose.
Assignment Two (65%): Research Essay (3,000 words)
You will be given a list of essay titles to choose from or the option to develop an individual research idea, in conjunction with the module co-ordinators to create an individual essay question exploring an area of personal research interest. The subsequent essay should be thought of as a short paper that is potentially publishable in a refereed journal. As such, it should be appropriately structured, referenced, draw upon suitable archaeological case studies to validate any theoretical claims and be illustrated as required.
The assignment will allow you to demonstrate your ability to conduct independent focused research into a specific subject. It will allow you to develop and pursue individual research within your own agenda and to demonstrate your ability to synthesise and analyse archaeological material from the widest possible range of sources. It will also allow you to demonstrate your ability to plan, structure and organise your research in a manner appropriate to a masters degree.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Research essay | 65% |
| Artefact or site analysis | 35% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Coursework | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External