Dr Stephen Harrison

• The Evolution and Development of Soft Power within the Inner Courts of Imperial Rome, Achaemenid Persia, and the Hellenistic Kingdoms (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Mark Humphries

• Postcolonial Approaches in the Greco-Roman Near East. Third Space Interactions, Hybrid Cultures at Dura-Europos, Hatra and Palmyra (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Prof Nigel Pollard

• Surviving the Seleucids. Subject peoples and the Manipulation of Imperial Ideology (current)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Dr Maria Pretzler

• From Phocis to Aetolia: Ethnicity and Federalism in Greek Antiquity. (awarded 2023)

  PhD

  Other supervisor: Dr Maria Pretzler

• CL-M08 Research Methodologies in Ancient History

  This module is designed to develop academic research skills, an understanding of the methods used in the advanced study of Classics and Ancient History, and a grasp of appropriate ways of presenting the results of such study.

• CL-M09 Dissertation in Ancient History and or Classical Literature

  Dissertation in Ancient History or an approved Classical subject.

• CLD300 Classics, Ancient History, Egyptology Dissertation

  Dissertation module for students doing single honours or joint honours degrees in Classics, Classical Civilisation, Ancient History or Egyptology. The aim is for students to do detailed research, to work on a project for several months and to produce a scholarly study of c. 8000-10000 words. The dissertation topic can be chosen freely, in consultation with a member of academic staff and subject to compatibility with a student's degree scheme and availability of supervisors and library material. This is a chance for students to pursue an area in which they are especially interested, and to deal with it in depth. Students may choose to do museum-based research. There are two preparatory pieces of assessment: an abstract, outline and bibliography, and an analysis of crucial source material and/or secondary literature. Work on the dissertation itself takes up most of the two semesters. Students are expected to do research independently, but there is a series of lectures in the first semester to provide advice on research and scholarly writing, Every student will be assigned a supervisor who will be organising group sessions with his/her supervisees and who will also be available for one-to-one supervision sessions.

• CLH100 Greek History and Society

  The module introduces Greek history, focusing principally on the Classical period. The chronological limits of the course are provided by the Persian War and the conquests of Alexander the Great, so essentially covers c.499 to 323, though some sessions will range beyond these limits to provide appropriate context. While the module is framed by political narrative, the module will pay due heed to social and cultural concerns, such as gender. It will also introduce the principal sources for Greek history, especially Herodotus and Thucydides. Potential Topics Main topics in Political History ¿ Herodotus and the Persian War ¿ Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War ¿ The early fourth century ¿ Philip II and Alexander the Great Main topics in Social and Cultural History ¿ Social organisation ¿ Slavery ¿ Religion ¿ Daily life ¿ Gender, Sexuality ¿ Identity; Greeks and others ¿ Warfare

• CLH2009 Guided Research Project

  This module gives you the opportunity to take a deep dive into an area of ancient history that you may not have studied in great detail up until this point. You will choose one of two research topics to engage with and you will learn how to develop a research project from start to finish. You will: ¿ closely study major scholarly developments in the field of ancient history over the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. ¿ this will help you identify topics, debates and controversies and learn how to formulate interesting and important research questions. ¿ enhance your technical skills engaging with a range of relevant ancient evidence. ¿ formulate a research plan ¿ write an extended essay on a topic of your own choosing. This module will be led by ancient historians in the department and teaching sessions will be delivered with either the entire cohort in attendance, or in smaller study groups.

• CLH297 Alexander and the Hellenistic world

  This module focuses on Alexander¿s conquest of the Persian Empire and the impact it had on culture and politics of the ancient world. The first half of the module looks at the Macedonian campaign; the second half deals with the struggle among Alexander¿s successors and then deals with some of the cultural and political developments which defined the Hellenistic world.

• CLH397 Alexander and the Hellenistic world

  This module focuses on Alexander¿s conquest of the Persian Empire and the impact it had on culture and politics of the ancient world. The first half of the module looks at the Macedonian campaign; the second half deals with the struggle among Alexander¿s successors and then deals with some of the cultural and political developments which defined the Hellenistic world.

• FY-018 History, Memory and the Creation of Identity

  In most human societies, history and memory are important in the creation of identity. For example, consider how recent political debates often involve debates about the relevance of particular strands of history (such as `empire¿) to modern society. This module explores these relationships from the ancient societies of Egypt, Greece, and Rome to the modern world. It is designed to provide Foundation Year students intending to pursue degrees in Classical Studies, Ancient History, Ancient History & Egyptology, American Studies, Medieval Studies, or History with an opportunity to reflect critically on what the past means and how we go about studying it.

• HHC372 Monarchy: Ancient and Medieval

  This thematic module explores the institution of monarchy in the ancient and medieval periods. It will address a number of overlapping questions, and take a concerted comparative approach toward comparing the nature of kingship in both eras. What made a king a king? How did a monarch interact with his (or her) subjects? How was royal power reflected in the palaces and buildings constructed by monarchs? Could queens exercise power in the same way as kings? The module draws on modern theoretical observations about monarchy and explores specific examples from across the ancient and medieval world from the Achaemenid kings of Persia and Alexander the Great, to the Carolingians and the monarchs of the new Latin kingdoms founded during the expansion of Europe after 1000, with examples along the way from Egypt and Rome. Students will develop the skills required to work with a range of primary evidence including royal inscriptions, monuments and art, coins, archaeological remains, political treatises, administrative and legal texts, and manuscript illuminations. Students will also gain expertise in modern scholarship on the subject, engaging with key modern debates on the nature of kingship in the ancient and medieval epochs. Ultimately, the module will give students a framework for assessing monarchy which can be applied productively to monarchy in any period of history.

• Tutor in Ancient History, Swansea University

  2016 - Present

• Membership Secretary, Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies

  2018 - Present

Stephen is passionate about communicating with as wide an audience as possible and has been involved in several public engagement activities. Most notably, in 2018-2019, he co-led an exciting film project with Jo Berry. Entitled ‘The Ancient World on Film’ and funded by a £15,000 grant from HEFCW, the project saw more than twenty students work with professional filmmakers and members of the local community to transform some of our most important academic ideas into interesting and accessible films. The films can be viewed here, including one about Stephen’s own research (“Sisygambis”).