"Societies and Cultures in the Ancient World" is a basic first-year course in the Degree in History and the Degree in History of Art. It is taught in the first quadrimester and is worth 6 credits. Given that it is a basic subject, the aim is to provide those who develop its contents with an initial contact with the various sources related to the pre-classical and classical antiquity (written testimonies and archaeological evidence), as well as the methodological fundamentals for their appropriate historical analysis.

In this regard, the subject aims to provide students with analytical skills and a proper understanding of the main processes and events in the history of ancient civilizations: the Near East, Greece, and Rome. The theoretical and practical content of the course focuses on the analysis of historical processes in the Near East and the Mediterranean basin from the beginning of the 3rd millennium BCE to the 5th century CE, highlighting the characteristics of the peoples who played leading roles in terms of state formations, types of writing, religious practices, and legislative codes. Special importance will be given to the emergence and development of social relationships and political forms that constitute the basic framework of Western society.

With all this, students will be able to orient themselves towards professional practice in fields that handle historical records and knowledge of history, whether public or private.

M02CM01: Demonstrate sufficient knowledge and proper understanding of the main processes and events in universal, national, and regional history from a diachronic perspective, in its different aspects (economic, political, social, religious, cultural) and their relationship with current societies.

M02CM02: Identify the different historiographical approaches and perspectives that have existed over time and their relationship with the culture of each historical period.

M02CM03: Know the basic methods and techniques of historical research and show the ability to obtain, organize, and analyze various materials and sources of information.

M02CM04: Be able to present orally and/or in writing, with formal correctness and appropriate terminology, at least one topic or problem of historical research, demonstrating the ability to properly use primary and secondary historical sources.



Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students should be able to:

RA1: Understand the historical processes and events developed from a diachronic and synchronic perspective of the studied pre-classical and classical civilizations.

RA2: Apply the available tools for the analysis of historical sources (written and archaeological) in the different formats currently usable.

RA3: Develop syntheses and structure qualified discourses on a historical problem and present them orally and/or in writing with formal correctness and appropriate terminology.

1. Introduction. Geographical framework, chronology and sources.

2. The birth of the city in Mesopotamia: The "urban revolution". The city-state in Sumer.

3. Semites and Indo-Europeans in the Near East. Sargon of Akkad. The Code of Hammurabi. Hittite law

and state organization.

4. The Aegean world in the 2nd millennium B.C. Minoan Crete. The Mycenaean Greeks.

5. The Near East in the first millennium B.C. The Assyrian Empire, Chaldean Babylon and the small

kingdoms of the Near East. Phoenician trade expansion. The State of Israel. The Achaemenid Empire.

6. The dark ages in Greece: the dark ages and Homeric society.

7. Greece in the archaic age. The birth of the polis. The Great Colonization. Lawmakers and tyrants.

Sparta and archaic Athens.

8.- Classical Greece. Athens in the 5th and 4th centuries B.C.: institutions and political life.

International relations in Greece. Struggles for hegemony (Sparta, Thebes and Macedonia).

9. The Hellenistic Age. The Empire of Alexander the Great. The Diadochi and the Hellenistic Kingdoms.

10. Rome from the beginning to the end of the third century B.C.: from the monarchy to the republic.

The archaic republic: the patrician-plebeian conflict. The conquest of Italy and expansion through

the Mediterranean. The transformations of Roman society.

11. Rome in the second and first centuries B.C. The crisis of the Republic. The consolidation of

unipersonal power. Changes in socio-economic structures.

12. The Principality from Octavian Augustus to the Severus (44 B.C.-238 B.C.) The bases of power in

the new state and the creation of a new political regime. The domination of Rome and the

administration of the provinces.

13. Late antiquity (3rd to 5th centuries). The crisis of 3rd century. The Under Empire:

institutions, economy and society. The division of the Empire. The fall of the West.

The presentation of the theoretical contents of the subject will be accompanied by practical exercises (commentary on historical sources, maps, images) where basic concepts of the program will be emphasized, considering the progressive nature of learning the contents of the course.

The practical part will require prior preparatory work by the students according to the materials and guidelines provided by the teaching staff.

Both in theoretical presentation and practical work, special care will be given to the acquisition, learning, and management of historical vocabulary.

Individual tutorials to guide and monitor the learning process.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 60
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 40

A.Continuous assessment

Assessment Tools:

A.1. Practical exercises with continuous assessment throughout the course: historical commentaries on ancient sources, attendance at conferences and completion of a written test on them, reading reviews, etc.

Evaluation Criteria: active participation in various practical exercises; clarity and organizational skills; precise use of historical concepts; oral expression skills; correct spelling and neat presentation of content.

Percentage of final grade: 40%.



A.2. Written tests on the theoretical and practical contents taught throughout the course.

Evaluation Criteria: clarity and organizational skills; degree of knowledge assimilation; ability to relate historical concepts; synthesis ability; correct spelling and neat presentation of content.

Percentage of final grade: 60%.



To pass the subject, it is mandatory to obtain at least 50% of the grade in both practical exercises (A.1.) and written tests (A.2).



B. Final assessment

Assessment Tool:

Individual written tests with topics to be developed related to the theoretical and practical contents of the syllabus.

Evaluation Criteria: clarity and organizational skills; degree of knowledge assimilation; ability to relate historical concepts; synthesis ability; correct spelling and neat presentation of content.

Percentage of final grade: 100%.



According to the student assessment regulations, published in the BOPV, students have the right to be assessed through the final assessment system: Article 8.3. Assessment Systems (BOPV 13.03.2017). In any case, students have the right to be assessed through the final assessment system, regardless of whether or not they have participated in the continuous assessment system. To do so, students must submit a written renunciation of the continuous assessment to the responsible teacher of the subject within 9 weeks for semester courses (...), starting from the beginning of the semester or course respectively, according to the academic calendar of the center (...).



C. Waiver of the ordinary call

According to the degree management regulations, students do not need to submit their waiver to the call. It will be enough not to appear for the final test.

Assessment Tool:

Individual written tests with topics to be developed related to the theoretical and practical contents of the syllabus.

Evaluation Criteria: clarity and organizational skills; degree of knowledge assimilation; ability to relate historical concepts; synthesis ability; correct spelling and neat presentation of content.

Percentage of final grade: 100%.



To waive the extraordinary call, it will be enough not to appear for the final test.

Materials uploaded on the virtual platform e-Gela by the teachers.

Basic bibliography

1. Manuals and reference works:

BRAVO, G., 2008, Historia del mundo antiguo. Una introducción crítica, Madrid: Alianza.

DICKINSON, O., 2010, El Egeo, de la Edad del Bronce a la Edad del Hierro, Barcelona: Bellaterra.

DOMÍNGUEZ MONEDERO, A.J., 1991, La polis y la expansión colonial griega, Madrid: Síntesis.

GÓMEZ ESPELOSÍN, F.J., 2011, Historia de Grecia en la Antigüedad, Madrid: Akal.

GÓMEZ PANTOJA, J. (coord.), 2003, Historia Antigua (Grecia y Roma), Barcelona: Ariel.

GÓNZALEZ-WAGNER, C., 2005, Historia del Cercano Oriente, Salamanca: Ed. Univers. Salamanca.

HIDALGO DE LA VEGA, M.J., SAYAS ABENGOCHEA, J.J., ROLDÁN HERVÁS, J.M., 1998, Historia de la Grecia Antigua, Salamanca: Ed. Univers. Salamanca.

LIVERANI, M., 2012, El antiguo Oriente. Historia, sociedad y economía. Barcelona: Crítica (1a ed. 1995).

LÓPEZ MELERO, R., 2011, Breve historia del mundo antiguo, Madrid: Ed. Univers. Ramón Areces.

LOZANO, A., 1992, El mundo helenístico, Madrid, Síntesis.

NICOLET, C., 1982-1984, Roma y la conquista del mundo mediterráneo, 2 vols. Barcelona: Labor.

PÉREZ LARGACHA, A., 2007, Historia antigua de Egipto y del Próximo Oriente, Madrid: Akal.

ROLDÁN HERVÁS, J.M., 2011, Historia de Roma, Salamanca, Ed. Univers. Salamanca.

VAN DE MIEROOP, M., 2020, Historia del Próximo Oriente Antiguo (ca. 3000-323 a.n.e.), Madrid: Trotta (1ª ed. 2004 Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell).



2. Topography and cartography:

BELTRÁN, F. y MARCO, F., 2019, Atlas de Historia Antigua, Zaragoza: Pórtico (1ª ed. 1987).

GRANT, M., 2004, Atlas Akal del mundo clásico, Madrid: Akal.

KINDER, H., HILGEMANN, W., HERGT, M., 2007, Atlas histórico mundial. De los orígenes a nuestros días. Madrid: Istmo.



3. Methodology and sources:

CRAWFORD, M. (ed.), 1986, Fuentes para el estudio de la Historia Antigua, Madrid: Taurus.

GÓMEZ PALLARÉS, J., CAEROLS PÉREZ, J.J. (eds.), 1991, Antiqua tempora. Reflexiones sobre las ciencias de la Antigüedad en España, Madrid: Ed. Clásicas.

GRANT, M., 2003, Historiadores de Grecia y Roma. Información y desinformación, Madrid: Alianza.

PLÁCIDO SUÁREZ, D., 1993, Introducción al mundo antiguo: problemas teóricos y metodológicos, Madrid: Síntesis.



4. Selection of texts:

DOMÍNGUEZ MONEDERO, A., PLÁCIDO SUÁREZ, D., GÓMEZ ESPELOSÍN, F.J., GASCÓ DE LA CALLE, F., 1999, Historia del mundo clásico a través de sus textos. 1. Grecia, Madrid: Alianza.

GARCÍA MORENO, L., GASCÓ DE LA CALLE, F., ALVAR EZQUERRA, J., LOMAS SALMONTE, F.J., 1999, Historia del mundo clásico a través de sus textos. 2. Roma, Madrid: Alianza.

LARA PEINADO, F., 2011, Textos para la historia del Próximo Oriente Antiguo, Madrid: Cátedra.

LARA PEINADO, F., LARA GONZÁLEZ, F., 2009, Los primeros Códigos de la humanidad, Madrid: Tecnos.

SERRANO DELGADO, J.M., 1994, Textos para la historia de Egipto, Madrid, Cátedra.



5. Dictionary of de terms:

GÓMEZ ESPELOSÍN, F. J., et alii, 2005, Diccionario de términos del mundo antiguo, Madrid: Alianza.

LARA PEINADO, F., 2009, Diccionario de instituciones de la Antigüedad, Madrid: Cátedra.

In-depth bibliography

BARRY, J.K., 2016, El antiguo Egipto: tres mil años de historia, Barcelona: Crítica.
BOARDMAN, J., GRIFFIN, J., MURRAY, O., 2022, Historia Oxford de Grecia y el Mundo Helenístico, Madrid: La Esfera de los Libros
BROWN, P., 2016, Por el ojo de una aguja. La riqueza, la caída de Roma y la construcción del cristianismo en Occidente (350-550 d.C.), Barcelona: Acantilado.
CAMERON, A., 2001, El Bajo Imperio romano (284-430 d.C.), Madrid: Encuentro.
DICKINSON, O., 2000, La Edad del Bronce egea, Madrid: Akal.
GÓMEZ ESPELOSÍN, F.J., 2019, Geografía de lo exótico. Los griegos y las otras culturas, Madrid: Síntesis.
GONZÁLEZ SERRANO, P., 2019, Los minoicos, Madrid: Síntesis.
GRIMAL, P., 2021, El helenismo y el auge de Roma. El mundo mediterráneo en la Edad antigua. II, Madrid: Siglo XXI.
KAPLAN, M. y RICHER, N. (dirs.), 2003, El mundo griego, Granada: Univers. Granada.
KAPLAN, M. y RICHER, N. (dirs.), 2003, El mundo romano, Granada: Univers. Granada.
KUHRT, A., 2014, El Oriente Próximo en la Antigüedad. (c.3000-330 a.C.). Barcelona: Crítica (1ª ed. 2000-2001).
LIVERANI, M., 2003, Relaciones internacionales en el Próximo Oriente antiguo, 1600-1100 a.C., Barcelona: Bellaterra.
LIVERANI, M., 2006, Mito y política en la historiografía del Próximo Oriente antiguo, Barcelona: Bellaterra.
LIVERANI, M., 2022, Asiria. La prehistoria del Imperialismo, Madrid: Trotta
LÓPEZ CASTRO, J.L. (ed.), 2021, Entre Útica y Gadir. Navegación y colonización fenicia en el Mediterráneo Occidental a comienzos del primer milenio a.C., Granada: Comares.
PINA POLO, F., 1999, La crisis de la República (133-44 a.C.), Madrid: Síntesis.
SÁNCHEZ LEÓN, M.L., 1998, El Alto Imperio romano (14-235), Madrid: Síntesis.
TALLET. P., PAYRAUDEAU, F., RAGAZZOLI, C., SOMALIGNO, C., 2022, El Egipto faraónico. Historia, sociedad y cultura, Madrid: Dilema
VERNANT, J.P., 2013, Mito y pensamiento en la Grecia antigua, Barcelona: Ariel.

Journals

Gerión (Universidad complutense)
Memorias de Historia Antigua (Universidad de Oviedo)
Polis (Universidad de Alcalá de Henares)
Studia Historica. Historia Antigua (Universidad de Salamanca)
Veleia (Instituto de Ciencias de la Antigüedad. Antzinaroko Zientzien Institutua. UPV/EHU)

Electronic journals. UPV/EHU
http://www.ehu.eus/es/web/biblioteka/aldizkariak
DIALNET. Servicio de alertas y hemeroteca virtual de revistas científicas. Universidad de La Rioja
https://dialnet.unirioja.es/documentos

Web addresses

Only references are included to websites created and managed by researchers attached to universities, university departments, research centres or groups. It is not recommended to use the resources available on personal websites, websites of amateur associations, mailing lists, etc., which do not have the corresponding scientific endorsement.

HISTORIA ANTIGUA E INTERNET
http://clio.rediris.es/clionet/articulos/clio.htm
INSTRUMENTOS INFORMÁTICOS PARA EL ESTUDIO DE LA ANTIGÜEDAD CLÁSICA. UNIVERSIDAD DE BOLONIA
http://www.rassegna.unibo.it/index.html
PERSEUS DIGITAL LIBRARY. COLLECTION GREEK AND ROMAN MATERIALS. TUFTS UNIVERSITY (MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, EEUU)
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/
RECURSOS EN RED PARA FILOLOGÍA CLÁSICA. UNIVERSIDAD DE SALAMANCA
http://www.clasicasusal.es/portal_recursos/
BIBLIOTECA VIRTUAL MIGUEL DE CERVANTES
http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/bib/portal/antigua/
INSTITUTO DE CIENCIAS DE LA ANTIGÜEDAD. UPV/EHU
http://www.ica-azi.ehu.es/p295-home/es
CULTURA CLÁSICA. CULTURAS GRECO-LATINAS. GRANADA
http://www.culturaclasica.com/
ANCIENT HISTORY EN LA BBC (BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION). REINO UNIDO
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient