O tempora: The current presence of classics and ancient history in Australian and New Zealand public universities

Abstract

The study of classics has been part of Australian and New Zealand higher education from the beginnings of tertiary education in these countries, followed shortly after by the study of ancient history. This article offers an analysis of current units of study in each Australian and New Zealand public university that continues to teach classics and ancient history. Set in the context of the origins of this field in both countries and contemporary debates on the value of studying not only the humanities in general but also classics and ancient history in particular, this article offers detailed analysis of what is taught and how universities conceptualize the merit and usefulness of this field of study. Analysis reveals some decline in more traditional areas, but also identifies the evolutionary trajectories that classics and ancient history have followed, including departures from the ‘sober’ political history to offerings that have been enabled by methodologies prevalent in social and gender history.