Ancient History/Politics

Ancient history and politics is a combination that connects the origins of Western political thought and practice with the critical study of how power operates in the contemporary world. Ancient history examines the civilisations of Greece, Rome, and the wider Mediterranean between the eighth century BC and the fifth century AD, drawing on texts, inscriptions, material culture, and archaeology to reconstruct how these societies thought, organised themselves, fought, traded, and made meaning. Politics uses these same questions to examine the structures and processes of government, democracy, and power in the modern world, bringing ancient precedents into dialogue with contemporary analysis.

At Glasgow, this four-year degree allows you to pursue both disciplines seriously, with the option to study Latin and ancient Greek if you wish to engage directly with primary sources in their original languages. Ancient history modules will develop your ability to handle a wide range of evidence types, to construct historical arguments carefully, and to situate events and ideas in their cultural and social contexts. Politics modules will introduce you to the major traditions of political theory, comparative government, and international relations, developing your analytical and argumentative skills in a contemporary context.

The degree includes a year abroad, giving you the opportunity to study at a partner institution and to encounter scholarship on both ancient and modern politics from a different perspective.

Graduates of ancient history and politics degrees move into careers in the civil service, Parliament, politics, law, journalism, think tanks, education, and international organisations. The combination of historical depth and political analytical skill is valued by employers who want graduates who can think across time and understand the long roots of contemporary problems. Many go on to postgraduate study in history, politics, classical studies, or law, while others enter professional careers where the capacity for rigorous analysis and clear argument is the most important qualification they bring.