COURSES FOR OXFORD UNIVERSITY

Dr. Steve Kershaw has been a tutor for Oxford University Department for Continuing Education since 1998, authoring and teaching a wide variety of courses at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level.

COURSES IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2019-2020

Reading Latin Literature

Aimed at people who already have a pretty secure grasp of the fundamentals of the language, and would like to read some classic Roman texts in their original language, this course will focus initially on the first book of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, which contains his marvellous account of the Flood, Python, and the myths of Apollo and Daphnis, and Io. We will then start to explore Livy's memorable account of Hannibal's crossing of the Alps. Our discussions will extend beyond the nuances of language into fascinating aspects of Roman thought, religion, society and history. Students should have a reasonable working knowledge of all the major grammatical and syntactical constructions in Latin, and the course will be conducted in a light-hearted yet rigorous way

For more information and to enrol, follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/reading-latin-literature-5?code=E19P330AHW

The Barbarian History of Rome

History is written by the victors, and Rome had some very eloquent historians. Those the Romans regarded as barbarians left few records of their own, but they had a tremendous impact on the Roman imagination. Resisting from outside Rome’s borders or rebelling from within, they emerge vividly in Rome’s historical tradition, and left a significant footprint in archaeology. By looking at key barbarian figures - Brennus, the Gaul who sacked Rome; Viriathus, the Iberian shepherd and skilled guerilla; Jugurtha and the struggle to free Africa; Vercingetorix and rebellion in Gaul; Arminius, the German destroyer of Roman legions; Boudicca, the Queen of the Iceni and the scourge of Rome; Alaric the Goth and the Sack of Rome; and Attila the Hun, ‘Born to Shake the Nations’ - this course will explore whether one of the highest points of human achievement was destroyed by barbarian invaders, or whether, as Rome was ravaged, new life was infused into an expiring Italy, transformed through religious and cultural revolution.ts, and aims to be an interesting, and perhaps surprising, look at one of the most important periods in world history. 

For more information and enrolment, follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/the-barbarian-history-of-rome?code=O19P519AHW

Reading Ancient Greek Literature

This course is aimed at those who have (or who have had in the past), a reasonable working knowledge of the fundamentals of the Ancient Greek language and who would like to read some classic Greek texts in the original. We will begin by reading Thucydides’ famous narration of the conflict between the Athenians and Spartans at Sphacteria during the Peloponnesian War, before exploring Plato’s fascinating discussion about the nature of arete in his dialogue Protagoras. In the process of reading these texts we will concentrate on securing and developing the key elements of the language, but also explore the world of the Ancient Greeks through an examination of their thought, history, mythology and literature. This will involve a light-hearted yet rigorous exploration of the Greek language and its influence today, and students should anticipate being able to read, understand, and make an informed personal response to the original material.

For more information and enrolment, follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/reading-ancient-greek-literature?code=E19P331AHW

Reading Latin Literature (Private Course in Stratford-Upon-Avon)

Steve has run an Reading Latin LIterature course on a private basis for some years now. For more information and enrolment, visit this website:https://warwickshireleisurestudies.com/steve-kershaw/

MASTERS IN LITERATURE AND ARTS

This two-year part-time Masters Degree in Literature and Arts course offers the opportunity to study the literature and arts of three different periods of English history (ranging from the c16th to the c19th) in an interdisciplinary manner over four five day residences and two online modules. The course offers full access to the library and electronic resources of the university, a team of expert tutors, and a high level of personal and academic support.

Steve Kershaw teaches the 'British Collectors and Classical Antiquities' option as part of The ‘Long Eighteenth Century’
section.

For further information, follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/details.php?id=V210-21&search=MLA%20Literature&submitbutton=Search&multisearch=none

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY: SUMMER PROGRAMME 2023

Held at Merton College from Mon 15 Jul to Sat 3 Aug 2023 this programme, now in its 44th year, is designed for adults no longer in full-time education, but graduate students and undergraduates who have completed their junior year are welcome.

Steve Kershaw will be teaching the course on 'Roman Britain'. Further information will be found on the website of the University of California, Berkeley - https://alumni.berkeley.edu/travel/cal-discoveries/europe/oxford-berkeley-program-2019/seminars-2019

RESOURCES FOR KERSHAW'S PREVIOUS COURSES

Various sets of resources are now available at open.conted.ox.ac.uk, This is the gateway to Open Educational Resources and other freely available resources created or selected by tutors of the University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education. Initially developed to support learners on the Department’s weekly classes, through the Sesame project, the site is open to all to use and no registration is required. Resources from Steve's previous courses for OUDCE are:

The Twelve Caesars

The Fall of Rome, Part 1

The Fall of Rome, Part 2

Minoans & Mycenaeans

STEVE KERSHAW'S OTHER PREVIOUS COURSES

  • Plato's Atlantis
  • The Fall of Rome (Part 1)
  • The Fall of Rome (Part 2)
  • Minoans & Mycenaeans
  • Greek Art 750 - 404 BC
  • Classical Greek Art and Architecture
  • Greek Art 400 - 50 BC
  • Greek Art in Context
  • Hellenistic Art
  • Minoans and Myceneans
  • The Ancient Greeks
  • Alexander the Great
  • The Legacy of Alexander; From Alexander to Cleopatra
  • The Hellenistic Age
  • Cleopatra
  • Rome from Kings to Empire
  • Hannibal
  • The Golden Age of Rome
  • The Cities of Vesuvius
  • Roman Poetry
  • The Twelve Caesars
  • Latin for Beginners
  • Latin for Continuers
  • Intermediate Latin
  • Advanced Latin
  • Latin Terms 1 to 9
  • Ancient Greek for Complete Beginners
  • Further Ancient Greek
  • Intermediate Ancient Greek
  • Ancient Greek Terms 4, 5 & 6
  • Greek Myth
  • The Mythology of Herakles
  • Greek Myth Revisited
  • Troy
  • The Birth of Democracy
  • Ancient Greek Theatre
  • The Ancient Olympic Games.

Day Schools

  • Greek Art for Art Historians
  • Art and Morality. 

Summer School Programmes in Oxford

  • MSU/Northwestern, on The Roman Empire (2003)
  • MSU/Ohio State on Roman Britain (2004)
  • MSSU on Roman Britain (2005-7)
  • U.C. Berkeley on Roman Britain (2006-7, 2009), Greek Mythology (2010) and Ancient Greek Theatre (2011)
  • UNC/Duke on Roman Britain, 2008.

University of Warwick, Department of Continuing Education, 2002 - 2010

  • Reading Classical Greek,
  • Latin and Rome for Beginners,
  • Continuing Reading Latin,
  • Advanced Latin
  • Reading Latin Literature 
Steve is currently continuing the Reading Latin Literature on a private basis after Warwick cut its Open Studies programme. For further information contact Steve directly:

E-mail: DrSPKershaw@msn.com