ATS1247 - Ancient cultures 1 - 2017

An introduction to the study of ancient cultures incorporating approaches drawn from archaeology, ancient history and classics, to show how we attempt to understand the ancient past and its relevance to the present. Case studies are drawn from the Mediterranean world, Asia and Australasia reflecting the research expertise of the teaching staff and focus upon the period before 1000 BCE. Topics include human evolution; origins of farming; the city states of Iraq and Syria; Egypt, the Minoans and Mycenaeans, and the Indus Valley; the development of writing and the role of myth.

Upon successful completion of this unit students will:

1. have acquired a basic knowledge of the major stages in cultural evolution to 1000bce.
2. have developed an awareness of the different political, social, economic and religious systems of each of the ancient cultures studied.
3. be aware of the cultural and documentary exchange that operated between various regions and its significance.
4. be aware of the range of material - monuments, artefacts, texts - available for use in the reconstruction of ancient societies, and their limitations.
5. understand the different methods employed in reconstructing the past.
6. demonstrate basic training in the critical appraisal of source material of all kinds.

Within semester assessment: 70% + Exam: 30%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Dr Jessie Birkett-Rees

Ancient cultures

History