Research master thesis | Classics and Ancient Civilizations (research) (MA)
open access
This thesis examines Strabo’s conception of the relationship between Greek and Roman culture in his description of Magna Graecia, as outlined in chapter 5.4 and book 6 of his Geography. Sub...Show moreThis thesis examines Strabo’s conception of the relationship between Greek and Roman culture in his description of Magna Graecia, as outlined in chapter 5.4 and book 6 of his Geography. Sub-questions that receive attention include: What is Strabo’s attitude towards Roman rule? To what extent does Strabo view one of the two cultures as superior or the foundation of the other culture in the region? How does he characterize the interaction between the cultures? In what ways does he convey these views?Show less
The interwar period saw the rise of the European metropolis as 'hubs' of transnational anti-colonialism. This thesis focuses on the city of Amsterdam as one of these hubs and adds a spatial...Show moreThe interwar period saw the rise of the European metropolis as 'hubs' of transnational anti-colonialism. This thesis focuses on the city of Amsterdam as one of these hubs and adds a spatial approach to the historiography of the European anti-colonial 'hub'. Researching anti-colonial internationalism from a spatial perspective gives new insights into the interconnectedness of internationalism and specific sites. Transnational organizations and actors who formulated and propagated ideas on anti-colonialism were always grounded in spatial contexts. The approach to space and spatiality in this thesis is inspired by the research project ‘Conferencing the International: A Cultural and Historical Geography of the Origins of Internationalism, 1919-39’, which ran between 2015-2020 and was funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). This project approached internationalism from a geographical perspective, studying how divergent forms of internationalisms manifested themselves in international conferences in the interwar period. Informed by both the research project, the book Placing Internationalism, and the project’s virtual exhibition, this thesis examines the relationship between transnational anti-colonialism and the spaces of anti-colonial activity in Amsterdam.Show less
Gender differences in academic performance have been debated for decades, mainly due to inconsistencies in research findings. It is prevalent that boys achieve higher grades in masculine subjects...Show moreGender differences in academic performance have been debated for decades, mainly due to inconsistencies in research findings. It is prevalent that boys achieve higher grades in masculine subjects and girls perform better in feminine subjects. This study aims to determine how these gender differences in school performance are related to self-perceived abilities. Moreover, it investigates whether the self-perceived abilities differ for boys and girls depending on the subject and whether it could explain the prevalent gender differences in school performance. In this context, self-perceived ability is defined as a judgment of personal capacity to execute given types of educational assignments. To test the hypothesis that gender is related to school performance and corresponding self-perceived ability mediates this relation, Dutch families with teenage children were home visited. In the home visits, among other things, questionnaires were conducted. About 95 families participated and provided information concerning recent school grades of their children and self-perceived abilities. The study chose three academic subjects: mathematics (typically coded masculine), language (typically coded feminine), and geography (neutral) to investigate. Three mediation analyses were performed to examine the relation between gender, self-perceived abilities, and school performance. Self-perceived abilities partly mediated the relation between gender and academic performance in language but not for mathematics and geography. Although not all hypotheses were confirmed, this study is an eye-opener for possibly creating more understanding of the emergence of gender differences in school performance. School performance has been considered a precondition for later academic success and, more generally, pursuing successful life paths. Therefore, the educational system should encourage opportunities in learning regardless of student gender. More future studies on the subject should be engaged.Show less
Research master thesis | History: Societies and Institutions (research) (MA)
open access
Beginning under the Flavian dynasty, large quantities of river personifications start to appear in Roman art and coinage, a trend which lasts until the third century A.D. These images are often...Show moreBeginning under the Flavian dynasty, large quantities of river personifications start to appear in Roman art and coinage, a trend which lasts until the third century A.D. These images are often regarded as little more than fashionable decorative items. This thesis argues however that, far from being merely decorative pieces, river personifications give us a unique insight in Roman ideas on geography, imperial power and civilization.Show less
