mountainman

By this, studies in ancient Greek history, perhaps
ancient Egyptian history and ancient Roman
history, to the period of late antiquity.

1) Classicial history knowledge is critical
2) Classicial history knowledge is helpful, but not critical.
3) Classicial history knowledge doesn't really help

Peter Kirby

I voted "helpful," even though it is not usually taught in our universities in a helpful way (this general on this date won this battle...zzzZZZzzzZZZ). What is helpful is the general grounding in historical methods as well as the general background for the cultures in which the biblical writings were birthed.

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Peter Kirby

Roger Pearse

I voted 'critical', since I don't honestly see how anyone can write usefully about antiquity if he hasn't any idea how that world worked and what happened when. We see many, many examples online of anachronism.

Besides, what is there that one could not acquire in a year by just reading?

All the best,

Roger Pearse

Peter Kirby

Unfortunately, Roger, ancient history isn't taught right. There is a lot of emphasis on knowing what happened when, less emphasis on understanding why it happened, and still less emphasis on "how the ancient world worked." It is little surprise that the ancient are viewed as moderns with togas and swords.

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Peter Kirby

Roger Pearse

Well, I'm in favour of fact-driven teaching (as are you, I'm sure). Ultimately the why's and how's are liable to be theories. In the humanities the theories can get pretty detached from the data, in my experience. So in a way that is the right approach. The problem would be that it doesn't give you the 'feel' of antiquity as well.

A few years ago I went to see Prof. Robin Osborne, who holds the chair of Ancient History at Cambridge, as I was considering a possible return to academia (which came to nothing). Inter alia I asked him to recommend me a book on methodology for ancient history. He laughed and said they were all more or less rubbish. A grim thought, if so.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

mountainman

The student has no integrity?

Many people tend to forget that when they are assessing the likelihood
of, say. Constantine's conversion to christianity prior to taking Rome,
to failing to take into account the fact that he sent Max's head through
the streets of Rome on a pike, and then across to Africa "as a message".

By some students of history, but certainly not all.

I am glad there are at least twice the distribution of people
in this forum who understand that ancient history is exceedingly
important in understanding anything at all about BC&H.



Pete