THIS IS A SAMPLE SYLLABUS FROM THE FALL 2006 SEMESTER.
THE SYLLABUS FOR ANOTHER SEMESTER MAY BE DIFFERENT.
ARCH 200 / 0101
Fall, 2006
MWF 1:00-1:50, FA 215
Dr. Carolyn G. Koehler
FA 427; (410) 455-2979 / 6265
koehler@umbc.edu
Office hours: MTW 11:00-12:00; by appointment
INTRODUCTION TO GREEK ARCHAEOLOGY (This syllabus is also available in RTF.)
Course Description
An introduction to the art and archaeology of the ancient Greeks from the Bronze Age through the Hellenistic period (ca. 3000-30 BCE). As one of the core courses of Ancient Studies, it presents key monuments and artifacts as basic reference points in the context of ancient Greek history and society. From these, students learn how archaeologists interpret a culture through its physical remains.
Learning Goals
Anticipated Schedule and Reading Assignments
Aug 30 INTRODUCTION; survey of Greek history and geography
Sept 1 Excavation in the Greek world;
overview of archaeological methods
Read by class time: Pedley, Introduction: pp. 10-13; 12-25; skim 14-20
4 Labor Day (no class)
6 THIRD-MILLENNIUM AEGEAN (3000 - 2000 B.C.E.)
Pedley, Ch. 1: 26-41.
Ordering and dating the material remains
8 MIDDLE BRONZE AGE (ca. 2000 - 1550 BCE)
Pedley 2: 42-61.
Quiz #1: Geography, chronology, and archaeological terms
Sept 11 LATE BRONZE AGE (ca. 1550 - 1100 BCE)
Pedley 3: 62-65. The Uluburun Shipwreck [Film]
13 Crete: Architecture and wall painting. Pedley 3: 65-74.
Assignment due: Uluburun essays
15 Crete: Sculpture, pottery, Linear B. Pedley 3: 74-85.
18 Cyclades. Pedley 3: 85-89.
20 Greece: Geography; Grave Circles at Mycenae
Frost 1: 1-16; Pedley 3: 89-92.
22 Greece: Architecture and wall painting. Pedley 3: 92-99.
“Warmup” slide quiz
25 Greece: Sculpture and pottery. Pedley 3: 99-103.
27 Quiz #2: Bronze Age, including slide i.d., significance, definitions; and:
(lecture) Troy; end of Bronze Age. Pedley 3: 104-105.
29 "DARK AGE" AND GEOMETRIC GREECE (ca. 1100 - 700 BCE)
Architecture. Pedley 4: 106-114; Frost 2: 17-30.
Oct 2 Sculpture. Pedley 4: 114-118.
4 Pottery. Pedley 4: 118-125.
6 ORIENTALIZING PERIOD (ca. 700 - 600 BCE)
Pottery. Pedley 5: 126-137; Frost 2: 30-39, 6: 125-129.
9 Architecture and sculpture. Pedley 5: 137-151.
11 Quiz #3: "Dark Age," Geometric and Orientalizing periods; and:
ARCHAIC GREECE (ca. 600 - 480 BCE)
Doric and Ionic orders. Pedley 6: 152-157.
13 Temples and treasuries; Athens. Pedley 6: 157-166, 173-4; Frost 3: 41-65.
16 Sculpture. Pedley 6: 174-192; Frost 4: 67-72.
18 Cont.; pottery. Pedley 6: 192-207.
20 Midterm Examination (Bronze Age through Archaic)
9/20 - 9/30 Ancient Studies Week: See handout for extra-credit lectures and events.
23 PERIOD OF TRANSITION (ca. 480 - 450)
Background and architecture. Pedley 7: 208-218; Frost 4: 72-86.
25 Athens; "Severe Style" Sculpture. Pedley 7: 225-238; Frost 5: 87-106.
27 Cont. Frost 5: 106-124.
30 Pottery and wall painting. Pedley 7: 238-243.
Nov 1 HIGH CLASSICAL PERIOD (450 - 400 BCE)
Architecture: Acropolis and Parthenon. Pedley 8: 244-262.
3 Cont. Frost 6: 129-144.
6 Propylaia, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion. Pedley 8: 262-268.
8 Hephaisteion and Agora. Pedley 8: 268-275.
10 Sculpture. Pedley 8: 275-279.
13 Pottery. Pedley 8: 279-285.
15 Quiz #4: Fifth Century; and:
15 FOURTH CENTURY (400 - 300 BCE)
Background and Corinthian order. Pedley 9: 286-295.
17 Architecture and architectural sculpture, cont. Pedley 9: 295-305.
Paper due by beginning of class!
20 Sculpture. Pedley 9: 305-316.
22 Pottery, painting and mosaics. Pedley 9: 316-326.
24 Thanksgiving holiday (no class)
27 Macedon. Pedley 9: 326-335; Frost 6: 144-150 and 7: 151-153.
29 Cont.
Dec 1 HELLENISTIC PERIOD (323 - 31 BCE)
Background and architecture. Pedley 10: 336-349.
4 Cont. Frost 7: 154-178.
6 Sculpture. Pedley 350-367.
8 Cont. Frost 8: 179-206.
11 Conclusion. Pedley 367-386.
15 Final Exam covering the entire course (1:00-3:00, FA 215)
We shall engage actively in learning about the ancient Greeks through their archaeological remains. You'll gradually gain skills for this by looking closely at artifacts (or images of them), making comparisons, and posing questions in order to understand the people who made them. This is not a passive activity! You must come to each class having read the assignment beforehand and having made every effort to understand it. I shall present material for discussion as clearly and concisely as possible, and offer study aids.
If you have any questions at all, be sure to raise them in class or outside of it. I am always glad to get to know you, to answer questions, and to help with problems--the sooner, the better. Build connections with your classmates, too, for checking notes, studying for quizzes, and discussing the material.
Making sense of another culture's physical remains is a bit like learning a language; it takes steady acquisition of new vocabularies of forms as well as words. This is not "crammable" information! You will need to recognize characteristic artifacts and styles, constantly building a base of knowledge to tap into when considering broader aspects of society. Expect to spend a minimum of two hours per class period on readings.
Required Texts
Frost, Frank J. Greek Society, 5th ed. Boston: D.C. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997.
Pedley, John Griffiths. Greek Art and Archaeology, 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc., 2002.
Other Resources
You must own and use a good English dictionary, such as Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary or The Random House Unabridged Dictionary.
There are books with additional illustrations of Greek artifacts and works of art on reserve in the library that will be helpful for your paper and reviewing for exams. For some web resources, especially the Perseus Project, see the ANCS web site: http://www.umbc.edu/ancs/resources/html . Try also http://www.stoa.org/athens/sites/agora.html . Be on the alert for others.
Evaluation
The class grade will be based on a minimum of 465 points, earned throughout the semester as follows:
points
09/08 Quiz 1: Map, dates, and introductory material 30
09/15 Assignment: Uluburun essays 15
09/27 Quiz 2: Bronze Age, including slides 40
10/11 Quiz 3: Dark Age, Geometric and Orientalizing 40
10/20 Midterm: Bronze Age through Archaic 100
11/15 Quiz 4: Fifth Century 40
11/17 Paper due (on object at The Walters Art Museum) 100
12/15 Final Exam on whole course 100
A = 90% (i.e., 418 points or above); B, 80% (372 points); C, 70% (326 points); D, 60% (279 points). Pop quizzes may be given in addition, and factored into the final mark. Short homework assignments may also carry points added to the total possible and the total earned. Extra credit will apply only if a student’s work is on the edge between two letter grades, for attending Ancient Studies Week events, lectures of the Archaeological Institute of America held at Johns Hopkins or in Washington, D.C., or other lectures approved in advance. (Turn in a half- to one-page summary of the talk, adding your own assessment of the presentation if you wish.)
Class attendance is required, and you will be asked to sign your name against a list at each class. It is your responsibility to sign the attendance sheet; if it doesn't get to you, come up after class and sign it. You will be permitted only two unexcused absences, after which your point total will be lowered 10 points per cut. Make-up exams or quizzes will be given only in the case of illness, upon presentation of a doctor's statement, or in other dire circumstances that can be documented.
It is vital that academic integrity be upheld in all course activities by students (as well as by me). Plagiarism or other academic misconduct will result in a failing mark for the class. UMBC's Policy on Student Academic Conduct and Policy for Resolving Cases of Academic Misconduct are available online at the Academic Integrity website <http://umbc.edu/provost/integrity/faculty.html>.
READ ALL of it, so that you know your rights as well as your responsibilities!
SGA Resolution (3/12/2004):
"I hereby assume the responsibility of an engaged member in a scholarly and civic community in which academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty. It is my active participation that affirms these principles and gives them true meaning as well as value in my education. I realize that by committing acts of dishonesty I hurt myself and place an indelible mark on the reputation of UMBC. Therefore, I will not cheat, fabricate materials, plagiarize, or help another to undertake such acts of academic dishonesty, nor will I protect those who engage in acts of academic dishonesty."