AAH1010 - Ancient Civilisations 1

Leader: Colin A. Hope

Offered

Clayton First semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

Overview of ancient cultures of the Mediterranean world: Crete, Egypt, Greece, Iraq, and Turkey, and their contribution towards western civilisation. Examines political, social, economic and religious systems, art, architecture, and material culture. Source material includes monuments, artefacts and texts on which reconstruction of the past is based. Introduces archaeological methodology, textual analysis and critical appraisal of evidence.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this unit students will:

1. Have acquired a basic knowledge of the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean that are studied and their contribution to western civilisation.
2. Have developed an awareness of the different political, social, economic and religious systems of each of these cultures.
3. Be aware of the cultural and documentary exchange that operated in the Mediterranean region.
4. Be aware of the range of material - monuments, artefacts, texts - available for use in the reconstruction of ancient societies.
5. Understand the basic methods of archaeological and historical interpretation.
6. Demonstrate basic training in the critical appraisal of source material of all kinds.

Assessment

Map assignment (15 minutes) : 10%
Two tutorial essays (1000 and 1500 words respectively) : 50%
Examination (2 hours) : 40%

Contact hours

3 hours (2 x 1 hour lectures and 1 x 1 hour tutorial) per week