Democracy and its Enemies: Politics in Greece and Rome

Undergraduate | 2026

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Area/Catalogue
ARCY 3001
Course ID icon
Course ID
200878
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course level icon
Course level
3
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

Most ancient political thought which has come down to us is anti-democratic. In this course, students learn how Athenian democracy produced a philosophical response to the idea of the mixed constitution. They further learn how Greek theory and Roman practice collided in the dramatic and vicious politics of the last century of the Roman Republic. Problems of land, justice, civil rights, and the best way for humans to live together were fought out with words and, ultimately, swords. The result was the extinction of democracy from the world.

Course learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the origins, nature and evolution of ancient historical sources related to political thought
  • Draw lessons from ancient history for how political struggles play out in ancient and modern reality
  • Write coherent and evidence-based arguments about ancient political thought and/or issues
  • Evaluate and critique ancient and modern authors’ writings about ancient politics based on the assumptions and biases they observe
  • Offer a clear, literate and logical exposition of ideas in independently researched work (written or oral), based on suitable primary and secondary sources, using appropriate referencing

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A