Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis The subject provides an overview of four major cultures (Egyptian, Minoan, Mycenaean and Hittite) of the Mediterranean Bronze Age. In the process of studying their differing political, social, economic and religious systems and their cultural exchange and interaction, students are confronted with varieties of source material, monuments, artefacts and texts, upon which the reconstruction of ancient societies is based. Fundamental aims throughout are to introduce students to the methodology of archaeology and textual analysis and to train them in the development of critical appraisal of evidence. Students who complete the subject will (i) have a basic knowledge of major cultures of the ancient Mediterranean, (ii) be aware of the differing political, social, economic and religious systems which each culture developed, (iii) be aware of the cultural and documentary exchange always operative in the Mediterranean area, (iv) be aware of the range of material (monuments, artefacts, documents and texts of others kinds) available for use in the reconstruction of ancient societies; (v) have acquired basic understanding of methodologies of archaeology and of textual analsis and (vi) have acquired basic training towards the development of critical appraisal of source material of whatever kind.
Assessment Written (2500 words): 55% + Examination (2 hours): 45%