Ancient History offers you the chance to study the civilisations of ancient Greece, Rome, Persia and beyond, analysing their political, cultural and social histories, and how they’ve been received and interpreted by other cultures. You’ll combine core and optional modules to gain an understanding of life in these unique societies as they evolved, developing your own interests through investigating the ‘Athenian empire’, Sparta and the Peloponnesian League, and Rome from Republic to Empire.
You’ll explore the full range of poetry, prose and drama in English, from Old English and medieval literature to contemporary writing from around the world. Core modules will give you a thorough grounding in the history and development of English literature, while optional modules enable you to develop specialist knowledge of topics that interest you. From Arthurian legends or Shakespeare to postcolonial fiction, there’s plenty to choose from.
Explore our libraries
Leeds has plenty of useful resources for Ancient History students. The world-class Brotherton Library holds a wide range of scholarly material on the subject, and its Special Collections include manuscript, archive and early printed material, as well as coins and other materials from the ancient world. You’ll be able to get hands-on experience of working with ancient manuscripts, coins and other artefacts, including one of the longest surviving inscriptions from Ancient Britain.
The University Library offers comprehensive training and support to help you make the most of these resources, and you'll also have the chance to visit other collections close by, such as Leeds City Museum.
