The early Mediterranean cultures provide the foundations of Western civilisation and so their study is highly relevant today. You will learn about the history, literature, religion, philosophy, social customs, art and architecture of ancient peoples as diverse as the Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Romans. Courses span a huge period from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity and focus on a variety of important individuals, ideas and achievements, e.g. Alexander the Great, Greek democracy, and the rise of Imperial Rome. Since their achievements continue to influence modern ideas and institutions, the study of Ancient History is a good way to understand the modern world.