Courses about Ancient Civilisations

The Western Mediterranean, known as ‘Greater Greece’, preserves some of the loveliest art anywhere in the Greek world. Come and discover the role of these colonies in politics & warfare in the Mediterranean.

This is a follow-on course for those who have attended the Introduction to Hieroglyphs held at the British Museum, and the Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs: a continuation course.

This course aims to explore the multifaceted relationship between Africa and the Classical



world, highlighting Africa's significant contributions to the Classical world.

The Seven Wonders fascinate us, but what were they and why were they wonders? Using art, literature and



archaeology we'll explore possible answers.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

This unique and wide-ranging course provides a broad introduction to the three major languages of the Ancient Near East, which together traverse a vast history of four millennia. In them were written some of the great landmarks of world literature, such as the Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh, the Egyptian Book of the Dead and the Sumerian Descent of Inanna.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Discover the ancient language spoken by the Goths, an ancient Germanic population from Scandinavia who settled in North-Eastern and Eastern Europe.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

200 years after one of history’s most famous puzzles was deciphered, tour around the British Museum’s new Decipherment exhibition and learn how the mystery of Hieroglyphs was unravelled with the Rosetta Stone, with other archaeological clues, and with a bit of genius.

Mystery religions were very popular in the ancient world and were organised as voluntary associations. Their popularity is attested in writings and in material culture of the Greco-Roman world. They offered intense religious experiences outside the official, civic religions. The participants were initiated into the mysteries: whilst there is considerable variety in form and content, a belief in a form of salvation was a common denominator of many of these mystery religions. The question of the relationship between the mystery cults and Christianity will also be broached.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Discover the mysterious people who lived in Central Italy and ended up being enveloped by the Romans.

Continue to learn Cuneiform, which will allowing you to explore the words and world of the ancient Persians.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

The oldest profession as practised among the Romans - not for the squeamish.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

This weekend course will offer an insight view of the multifaceted history and multilayered culture of Sicily, the ancient island off the shore of Italy mainland.

Jerusalem is considered the holy city for the three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and is one of the most iconic cities in the world.

The Byzantines (circa 330-1453) have produced some of the finest works of art and erected the most remarkable buildings in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea and beyond.



This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.

Examine the history, architecture, aesthetics and religious significance of the Amaravati stupa. Admire parts of it during the visit at the British Museum.