This course introduces the history, literature, and material culture of the ancient Near East from 3000 BC to 330 BC, drawing upon sources from Sumer, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Syria, Anatolia, and Israel to address questions such as, “How did the peoples of this region address the challenges in their lives, and how did they understand the world around them? How were their societies structured and how did the ancient peoples justify or defy these structures? How did the peoples of the ancient Near East use the creative arts to enrich their lives, and what practical functions did their creative works serve?”
Course assignments include fun in-class activities, weekly time travel logs, two quizzes, and a final. On Wednesdays students choose their own reading assignment from a list - so you can pick what interests you!
By the end of this course, students are expected to
- gain a broad understanding of ancient Near Eastern geography
- know the major historical periods in the ancient Near East from 3700 to 330 B.C.[E]
- discuss the significance of major historical figures such as Shulgi, Hammurabi, Akhenaten, or Nebuchadnezzar II
- describe different aspects of ancient life such as art or trade
- understand how and why ancient societies operated as they did
- appreciate differences and similarities between ancient Near Eastern worldviews and life experiences and modern worldviews and life experiences
The course meets in person.
Course trailer link (for the last time I taught this) here: https://youtu.be/5inowdMwUDc
Syllabus: SYLLABUS MELC 201 - 2024-2.docx