https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2025-2026/L_AAMPOHS010This course explores theoretical approaches and key concepts used in recent interdisciplinary research of ethnic identities in Antiquity. At the end of the course the students will be able to understand and critically discuss publications on the topic of race and ethnicity in the ancient world. The students will be able to apply theoretical concepts and approaches to a case study of their choosing in the field of classics, ancients studies, or archaeology: they will be able to formulate a relevant and original research question, to perform the case study, and to present their findings both in oral and written form.Key topics include ethnicity and power, ethnicity and language, ethnicity and race, ethnicity and religion, multi-ethnicity, as well as material culture and texts as sources for our knowledge of ethnic identifications and relations. Topics are taken from the entire ancient Mediterranean and adjacent regions. After an introduction into social theories concerning ethnic identity and nationalism, we will discuss a number of case studies, such as the discourse of the ‘barbarian’ in Greek literature; ethnic, linguistic, and regional identities in the Hellenistic and Roman Near East; the ethnogenesis of the Batavians.Seminars (2 x 2 hours)(1) Week 2-7: Weekly assignments and participation in discussions (20 %) (2) Week 6: Abstract (20 %) (3) Week 8: Presentation plus extended handout (60 %)Reading materials will be made available through Canvas.Research Master students Classics & Ancient Civilizations.This course (6 ec) alternates with the core course Text and Matter (6 ec). The course will therefore not be taught in 2026-2027.