Ancient History/Archaeology

Ancient history and archaeology is a degree that brings together two distinct but deeply complementary approaches to the ancient world. Ancient history is the study of the societies, events, politics, and cultures of the ancient Mediterranean world, drawing principally on written sources to reconstruct the past of Greece, Rome, and their neighbours from the eighth century BC to the fifth century AD. Archaeology recovers and interprets the material remains of those same societies, using excavated objects, architecture, and landscapes to illuminate the everyday realities of ancient life that texts often pass over in silence.

Together, the two disciplines give you a fuller picture of the ancient world than either could achieve alone.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year programme allows you to engage with the history and culture of Greece, Rome, and the wider Mediterranean, with the option to study Latin and ancient Greek if you wish, giving you direct access to the primary textual sources. Through the archaeology strand, you will develop the skills to interpret material evidence, engage with fieldwork and museum collections, and understand the debates and methods that allow archaeologists to reconstruct ancient lives. The combination develops both the textual and material dimensions of ancient studies, equipping you to move fluently between different kinds of evidence.

The programme includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution and engage with different scholarly traditions and approaches to ancient history and classical archaeology.

Graduates move into careers in museums, heritage and cultural organisations, education, publishing, the civil service, journalism, and many other fields where the analytical, linguistic, and research skills the degree develops are valued. Postgraduate study in ancient history, classical archaeology, or a related field is a natural route for those who wish to pursue research.