Ancient History and History

Ancient history and history together span the full sweep of recorded human experience, from the earliest civilisations of the ancient Near East and Mediterranean to the twentieth century and beyond. Ancient history focuses on the world before the fall of the Western Roman Empire, drawing on archaeology, inscriptions, ancient texts, and material culture to reconstruct societies for which documentary evidence is often partial and fragmentary. Modern history addresses the more recent past using the full range of historical methods, engaging with questions of politics, society, economy, and culture from the medieval period onwards.

At the University of Nottingham, you will develop expertise across both periods, learning the distinctive methods and source types that each demands. The programme includes the option to study Latin or Classical Greek through optional modules, with the level depending on your existing knowledge and experience, giving you the linguistic tools to engage more directly with the ancient sources. The programme includes a year abroad and runs over three years full-time.

Graduates of ancient history and history programmes pursue careers in education, research, museums and heritage, publishing, journalism, the civil service, law, and a wide range of other professions where critical thinking, research competency, and clear written communication are valued. The combination of ancient and modern historical training gives graduates an unusually broad chronological perspective that is valued in roles requiring deep contextual understanding. Many go on to postgraduate study in ancient history, classical studies, or modern history, where the breadth of their undergraduate experience provides a strong foundation for specialised research.