War: Ancient and modern

Wars and armed conflicts remain a subject of great topicality. From the Middle East to Africa conflicts of different sizes and levels of intensity continue, while in Eastern Europe, the possibility of war remains a permanent threat. War has shaped much of the past and present but it has changed its character over time. This module will introduce students to the changing character of war from ancient times to the present, highlighting the latest research results on a large variety of conflicts and themes: wars, piracy and civil wars in the ancient world, the Viking conquests in Europe, the Crusades, the Wars of Religion, the Napoleonic Wars of the 19th century, the total wars of the 20th century and the current crisis in the Middle East. The module combines insights from history, classics, politics, medicine and sociology. Together, faculty from these diverse disciplines will introduce some of the latest research on the topic, including aspects of violence and gender, medical responses to the outbreaks of war and the new wars on terror in today s Middle East.