Ancient History
Ancient history is the scholarly investigation of the Greek and Roman worlds, encompassing their politics, warfare, society, culture, religion and economy, drawing on a rich but incomplete body of evidence that includes literary texts, inscriptions, coins, archaeological remains and material culture. It is a discipline that trains you to work with primary sources in translation, to evaluate historical arguments critically and to construct your own interpretations of the ancient world with precision and care. The Greeks and Romans shaped the intellectual and institutional heritage of Western civilisation in ways that still reverberate in law, philosophy, literature, art and political thought.
At Royal Holloway, University of London, this three-year programme immerses you in the ancient world from the Bronze Age through to late antiquity, examining the major civilisations of the Mediterranean basin and their interactions. You will engage with a wide range of evidence and develop the analytical skills to work with texts, material culture and historical argument across the full breadth of what ancient history encompasses. A sandwich year, work placements and a year abroad are all built into the programme, providing opportunities for professional experience and international study that broaden your perspective and develop your skills in real contexts.
Royal Holloway's location and connections in London provide access to world-class collections and cultural institutions relevant to the ancient world.
Graduates of ancient history are found in a wide range of careers. Heritage and museum work, including roles in classical collections and archaeological organisations, draws those with a scholarly interest in the material dimension of the ancient world. Teaching at secondary level, academic research, publishing, journalism and the civil service are among the most common professional destinations.
The analytical skills developed through engaging with fragmentary ancient evidence, constructing arguments from limited sources and evaluating competing interpretations, are valuable in law, policy, archival work and many other fields that depend on careful reasoning and precise writing. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in ancient history, classics, archaeology or related disciplines.