This module offers students an interdisciplinary and thematic examination of an ancient city in Italy, explored through archaeological, epigraphic, and historical evidence. The module will be taught on the main Liverpool campus and will include a five-day research and learning experience in Italy, either in Rome or in a Sicilian city with significant Greek and Roman material.
You will investigate the city’s topography, historical development, and urban functions, conducting detailed research on selected sites and monuments. Key themes include infrastructure (such as sewers and sanitation), domestic spaces, religious practices, and commemorative traditions. The module will provide you with the opportunity to acquire a strong understanding of the material and visual culture of the chosen city, contextualised within broader historical and socio-cultural processes of the ancient Mediterranean world.
Whether exploring the legacy of Rome or cities in Sicily, you will consider how these ancient cities have attracted and influenced visitors across time. The module also introduces students to the history of archaeological collections and heritage practices in Italy, as well as the role of national and international cultural institutions. Students will engage with international scholarship, including non-English bibliographies, both on campus and during their field experience.