ANCW10001 Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 40%: mostly coursework
- About 3 class hours a week
Is ANCW10001 hard?
ANCW10001: Easier. Makes it easier: Reviewers say it’s manageable (10 reviews), First-year subject.
What you learn
The archaeology, history and literature of the first civilisations in Egypt and Mesopotamia, and their neighbours.
After it you can
- Describe the main features of each civilisation
- Compare their art, myths and institutions
- Use archaeological and written evidence
What you need first
None
What it leads to
How it’s assessed
Reports and essays 50%, Final exam 40%, Participation 10%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 10 students on StudentVIP (2012–2025)
- Most reviewers from 2012 to 2025 enjoyed it: lively lectures on ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, and tutorials where you handle real artefacts and replicas.
- No prior ancient history is needed. Assessment is essays (no exam in 2025) with wide topic choice, and good essay structure is what gets high marks.
- The common complaint is tutorials: several found them slow or unstructured, and in 2025 attendance was compulsory.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate ANCW10001
Quick answers
- When is ANCW10001 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking ANCW10001?
- No prerequisites.
- Does ANCW10001 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 40% of the mark. Assessment: Reports and essays 50%, Final exam 40%, Participation 10%.
- Is ANCW10001 hard?
- From 10 student reviews on StudentVIP: Most reviewers from 2012 to 2025 enjoyed it: lively lectures on ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, and tutorials where you handle real artefacts and replicas.
- What do students say about ANCW10001?
- Most reviewers from 2012 to 2025 enjoyed it: lively lectures on ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, and tutorials where you handle real artefacts and replicas. No prior ancient history is needed. Assessment is essays (no exam in 2025) with wide topic choice, and good essay structure is what gets high marks. The common complaint is tutorials: several found them slow or unstructured, and in 2025 attendance was compulsory.
- How many class hours a week does ANCW10001 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take ANCW10001 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after ANCW10001?
- 1 subjects need it first, for example ANCW30017.
- Can I rate ANCW10001?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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