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Archaeology

Archaeological Biographies

Course Times & Enrolment

This course is currently unavailable.

Course Summary

Most people are familiar with the pharaohs of Egypt and other well-known rulers from the ancient Near East. This course examines the early history and societies of the Near East through the lives of some of its less well-known inhabitants, including women, workers and possible mythological characters.

Course Details

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge of the subject is assumed.

Content of Course

1. Introduction and background to the Ancient Near East. How to compare archaeological, mythological and textual evidence and identifying the individual. Case study: Unknown skeleton.

2. The first biography: evolution of writing and the earliest written evidence. Case study: Enheduanna - poet, priestess, princess.

3. Akkadian Mesopotamia: political propaganda and the Cult of Personality. Case study: Naram Sin the God-King.

4. The Egyptian Everyman. Case study: The Story of Sinhue, ‘Son of the Sycamore’.

5. Anatolia: The Hittites. Case study: Puduhepa and Hattusili - Royal Court and international diplomacy

6. Egypt: The Amarna Period. Case study: Ankhsunamun – heretics and a lost princess.

7. Levant: in-between Empires. Case study: Rib-Hadda, the servant king.

8. Egypt: collapse of the Bronze Age system. Case study: The workers of Deir el Medina.

9. Levant: the Bible and Archaeology. Case study: Samson and the Philistines – facts and fancy.

10. Conclusion: Towards the Classical world. Case study: Aeneas.

Teaching method(s)

A two-hour class per week will consist of a PowerPoint presentation followed by a critical discussion of the issues raised in the lecture. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the chronology and societies that make up the Near East during the 2nd and 3rd Millennia BCE;

  • Critically evaluate both written and archaeological evidence, presenting a logical, reasoned argument;

  • Evaluate culture and history through the study of specific individuals and the reports of their lives.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended:

There are no books that cover the exact time, place and people covered by this course. Several books are available on the ancient Near East, including:

  • Mieroop, M. van de, 2004. A History of the Ancient Near East ca 3000-323 BC.  Oxford: Blackwell. Covers most of the course content within a wider time period.

  • Moran, W.L., 1992. The Amarna Letters.  Baltimore ML: John Hopkins University Press.

  • Podany, A. H., 2013. The Ancient Near East: A very short introduction. Oxford: OUP. This is an excellent and concise summary.

Web Sources

Relevant websites will be recommended in each class.

Class Handouts

A relevant text will be circulated when appropriate.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.