Power Structures in the Roman Empire and Early India
Scholarly Specialisation and Collegial Knowledge Sharing at Birkerød Gymnasium
At Birkerød Gymnasium, strong academic standards are not only a goal for students’ learning; they also constitute a core element of teachers’ professional practice and ongoing professional development.
The school’s teaching staff contribute continuously to scholarly dialogue—through classroom teaching, research-related projects, and collegial exchange and knowledge sharing.
This was evident at the recently held symposium “Towards an Ancient History” at the University of Copenhagen, which brought together researchers from across Europe. Among the participants was history teacher and PhD Karsten Johanning of Birkerød Gymnasium, who presented his new book at the symposium, focusing on power structures in the Roman Empire and early India. The publication grows out of Johanning’s research and further develops perspectives from his doctoral dissertation, Reading the Signs: Hierarchy, Ambiguity, and Cosmopolitanism in the Roman Empire.
The book examines how political and social hierarchies are formed, sustained, and interpreted in complex societies. It also shows how historical power structures can inform our understanding of contemporary political and cultural dynamics. In this way, the work exemplifies how research-based teaching expertise can create connections between classical humanities disciplines and current societal challenges.
The symposium also brought together many of the school’s teachers and highlighted the strong academic culture that characterises Birkerød Gymnasium. The BG delegation was led by union representative and teacher Christian Kiirdal (pictured), reflecting the commitment that helps strengthen the school’s professional community and collegial culture of collaboration.
Beyond the classroom, relationships and civic engagement also play a significant role in the school environment. The reception was additionally attended by Karsten Johanning’s wife, Lisbeth, who works as a health visitor and volunteers with Danner.
The day thus served not only to mark a new book publication, but also as an occasion to underscore the importance of scholarly curiosity, research-informed teaching, and strong professional communities at Birkerød Gymnasium and in upper secondary education more broadly.