UCL - Archaeology of the Ancient Near East

[ARKA2590]

[15h] 4 credits

This course is taught in the 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Virginia Verardi

Language: French

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

Advanced course for archaeologists specialising in the Ancient Near East. The aim is to develop a critical sense and analytical methods of material culture of Mesopotamia and the neighbouring regions. Application of theoretical and anthropological concepts in archaeological interpretation.

Main themes

The aim of the course is to describe the highlights of human achievement in Mesopotamia and the ancient Near East against the background of the geography of the region

Content and teaching methods

Contents: From the end of the last Ice Age until the emergence of the civilizations of Greece and Rome the most advanced societies lived in the Near East. It was here that the fundamental transition from hunting and gathering to farming first took place. Here also, were the first cities, temples and palaces, the first metalworking, the first writing, the first kingdoms, the first empires. The heartland of the ancient Near East was Mesopotamia, the fertile plains watered by the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. At different periods the power of the various Mesopotamian kingdoms extended far beyond the lowland plains, making contact with neighbouring regions (Iran, Syria, Turkey, Palestine) which also made important contributions to the civilization of Mesopotamia.

Teaching methods: a combination of ex-cathedra lessons by the teacher or invited speakers and seminars. The sessions are prepared by the students on the basis of one or more articles of which the list is given at the beginning of the year. The students are also invited to participate actively in certain sessions which may take the forms of seminars prepared by the students. Possibility to organise study tours to the famous collections of Near Eastern Art (Louvre, British Museum, Pergamon Museum) with presentations by students.

Reading list:
Jean-Louis Huot, Une archéologie des peoples du Proche-Orient, Tome I-II, Paris 2004.
Jack M.Sasson, Civilizations of the Ancient Near East, Volume I-IV, New York 1995.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Prerequisites : The course FLTR Arts et Civilisations I or similar.
A course of Introduction à la pratique scientifique in the Humanities.
Accessible to students that have followed a minor in Archaeology and Art History.
Evaluation : Oral exam at the end of term (10 points), continuous evaluation (seminars) (5 points) and personal paper (5 points).
Support : Summary, bibliography and PPT presentations are available on the intranet of the department ARKE.