Classics and Ancient History

Through the Departments of Classics and History, the University of Chicago offers graduate students the opportunity to study the history of the Mediterranean and the Near East from the Bronze Age down to the Byzantine era. While students are expected to familiarize themselves with the important political developments that occurred in the ancient world, the study of ancient history at the University of Chicago is particularly distinctive for its emphasis on social, economic, and cultural approaches to antiquity. The Classics faculty's recognized strengths in this area are further complemented by the expertise of a large number of affiliated faculty from the Departments of History, Anthropology, Art History, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, and the Divinity School.

Apart from acquiring a firm grounding in the critical interpretation of literary documents, inscriptions, and archaeological finds, students are encouraged to pursue innovative and imaginative avenues of inquiry, partly through their own programs of study and partly within the context of intellectual forums such as the Ancient Societies Workshop and various conferences and symposia organized by the Department. Students are also eligible for travel fellowships to allow them to conduct first-hand investigations in the Mediterranean and Near East.

People

Three Classics faculty have direct responsibility for research projects and instruction in Greek and Roman history:

In addition, training in papyrology is provided by David Martinez and Sofia Torrallas Tovar, who are both experts in papyrology, and in palaeography by Michael I. Allen, who specializes in Medieval Latin Literature.

Under the aegis of the Program in the Ancient Mediterranean World, two faculty in the History Department also offer instruction and guidance in Mediterranean History:

The Program in the Ancient Mediterranean World also allows students of ancient history to take instruction from the following affiliated faculty in a number of departments: