Skip navigation to main content

University of New England

Global UNE Links:

Contacts | Index | Staff Directory | AskUNE | myUNE

Course and Unit Catalogue 2013

Armidale, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA

You are here: UNE Home / Course and Unit Catalogue / 2013 / A-Z / ANCH515

Sub sections:

Quick Search

Quick Links

2007200820092010201120122013

ANCH515 The Shadow of Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum

Updated: 01 June 2012

Unit Information
Additional Information

Credit Points	6
Offering	Not offered in 2013
Intensive School(s)	None
Supervised Exam	There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites	candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites	None
Restrictions	None
Notes	None
Combined Units	None
Coordinator(s)	Bronwyn Hopwood (bhopwood@une.edu.au)
Unit Description	On 24th August AD79 Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying Pompeii and Herculaneum. Rediscovered in the 16th Century, sustained excavations of Pompeii began in 1748 under Charles III of Bourbon, who used the excavations to enhance his political influence. A World Heritage Site since 1997, today Pompeii and the towns of the Campi Flegrei (Fields of Fire) host millions of tourists annually. This unit explores the history of Pompeii and Herculaneum down to AD79, the daily pattern of town life at the height of Rome's empire, and the controversies arising from the subsequent excavation, conservation, and display of these sites, their artefacts, and human remains.
Materials	Textbook information will be displayed approximately 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the teaching period. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
Disclaimer	Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Assessment

Assessment information will be published prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Learning Outcomes (LO)

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

select, evaluate, and use written and non-written evidence effectively;
construct a logical, written argument in response to a set question or area of enquiry;
conduct independent research;
exhibit advanced knowledge of Pompeii and Herculaneum; and
demonstrate an awareness of the controversies and issues surrounding the excavation, preservation, display, and teaching of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Graduate Attributes (GA)

	Attribute	Taught	Assessed	Practised
1	Knowledge of a Discipline Knowledge of the discipline of ancient history is taught through lectures, online discussions, and unit materials. It is practised and assessed through online and written assessments.
2	Communication Skills Written communication in essays and online discussion forums. Use of the appropriate form of communication is practised in essays and in the online discussion forums, and the presentation of well reasoned arguments assessed in essays.
3	Global Perspectives This attribute is taught through the unit lectures, notes, and readings. The ability to understand the cultural characteristics of ancient Rome and their differences from present day Australia is an essential assessment critera.
4	Information Literacy The online activities and essay work are designed to develop student proficiency in both discipline specific and general research information literacy. Essay work specifically and directly requires the application of information literacy skills.
5	Life-Long Learning This unit is designed to (a) stimulate an enduring intellectual curiosity in and love of the ancient Roman world, archaeology, museum curation, and public history, and (b) to provide students with the intellectual and methodological skills required for independent learning.
6	Problem Solving Students must: (a) identify critical issues in the study of Ancient Roman society; (b) conceptualise problems associated with the study of Pompeii and Herculaneum, (c) formulate a range of solutions to both research and presentation, and (d) collect, collate, and analyse relevant information to assist problem solving. Essays are problem solving exercises. Students have to analyse the question to determine what is required, identify the best method of researching the question, and decide the best way of answering it. Guidance is provided in the unit handbook and in feedback on the assessment tasks and is practised in every assessment task. The student's success in solving a set problem is a major assessment criteria.
7	Social Responsibility A key component of this unit is examining the ethical issues surrounding the excavation, conservation, and presentation/public display of ancient Pompeii and Herculaneum for modern interest and consumption.
8	Team Work Students practise team work and participation in online discussion (on and off campus students).