THIS IS A SAMPLE SYLLABUS FROM THE SPRING 2006 SEMESTER.
THE SYLLABUS FOR ANOTHER SEMESTER MAY BE DIFFERENT.

 ARCH 330: ARCHAEOLOGY OF BRONZE AGE GREECE

The Evolution of Civilization in the Aegean:

Agricultural origins, villages and craft specialization, states on the mainland of Greece, the Aegean islands, and Troy

Instructor: Prof. Marilyn Y. Goldberg

Office: FA 454

E-mail: goldberg@umbc.edu

Description: An introduction to the pre- and protohistoric human societies in the Aegean basin (mainland Greece, Crete, the Cycladic islands, Troy).  We will explore such well-known sites as Knossos, Mycenae, and Troy.  We will proceed chronologically beginning with the evidence for human occupation during the Middle and Upper Neolithic cultures and followed by the Early, Middle, and Late Bronze Ages.  We will consider the following topics: the origins and development of agricultural villages, the emergence of craft production and exchange and ritual, spheres of interaction in the Aegean; the evolution of Minoan and Mycenaean state-level societies.

Method and Goals: This course will combine short lectures and discussion.  Each unit will focus on a particular topic and class periods will be devoted to discussions of assigned readings.

A detailed handout on the goals of the course will be handed out in the second class period after class members have time to voice their own goals in the first class.  Broadly speaking, however, the goals of the course are (1) to learn to think critically about the material evidence of the human past, (2) to learn to read and assimilate archaeological material and syntheses, (3)  to write analytically on topics that illustrate the methods by which archaeologists interpret the past, and (4) to investigate major themes through class discussion.

Required Work:  Core reading assignments are given from three required text books, a website, and one chapter of a book on E-Reserves.

In the bookstore:

Oliver Dickinson, The Aegean Bronze Age (Cambridge: Cambridge 1994).

Curtis Runnels and Priscilla Murray, Greece Before History (Stanford: Stanford 2001).

Donald Preziosi and Louise Hitchcock, Aegean Art and Architecture (Oxford: Oxford 1999).

On line:

Jeremy Rutter The Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean, The Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean: projectsx.dartmouth.edu/history/bronze_age.

Additional research will be required in Tracy Cullen, ed. Aegean Prehistory, A Review, American Journal of Archaeology, supp. I (Boston: American Journal of Archaeology 2001), which is on RESERVE in the Library.

Students are required to become members of the class listserve arch330, which can be done through myUMBC.

You are expected to do THREE hours of studying and preparation outside of class for EACH class period.

Prerequisites: any ARCH course, ANTH 211, or HIST 453, 455, or 456

Class attendance: Required.  For your final grade, 10% is based on class participation.

            You are expected to pay full attention during class and not multi-task.

Academic Integrity: By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an active participant in UMBC’s  scholarly community in which everyone’s work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty.  Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and helping others to commit these acts are all forms of academic dishonesty and they are wrong.  Academic misconduct could result in disciplinary action that may include, but is not limited to, suspension or dismissal.  To read the full Student Academic Conduct Policy, consult myUMBC.

If you are not understanding the class material, get help EARLY.

            From me (goldberg@umbc.edu; 410-455-2970)

            From your classmates (Study groups are very helpful.)

            From the Learning Resource Center

            From the University Counseling Center (very good skills workshops.)

            From the Writing Center

Grading:

            Quizzes                                    15%

            Homework                               20%

                        (10% for handing in a serious attempt at homework on time;

                         10% for Homework Portfolio)

            Participation                             10%     (including class attendance)

            Exams  (each 10%)                  30%

            Short Paper (1 1/2 – 2 pp.)      5%

            Paper 2 (8 pp.)             20%

All homework assignments are due in class on the day for which they are assigned. 

There are no make-up quizzes, but you may drop your lowest quiz grade.

The only excuse for late exams, homework assignments or papers is a note from a health professional or a verifiable family emergency.  If it is at all possible, let me know before class.

Extra Credit:

Written summaries of lectures, films, television programs or museum exhibits on any aspect of archaeology around the world or any aspect of the ancient histories of civilizations of the Mediterranean basin and the Near East.  Local lectures will be announced in class.  Performances of Greek and Roman plays can also be summarized.

Extra credit will raise your grade if you have a borderline grade.  For example, should your final grade be an 89 and you have handed in 4 extra credit summaries, your final grade will be raised to a 90; 6 extra credit summaries will raise an 88 to a 90.

Proposed Schedule

R/M = Runnels and Murray, Greece Before History

P/H =  Preziosi and Hitchcock,  Aegean Art and Architecture

D =      Dickinson, The Aegean Bronze Age

Rutter = Prehistoric Archaeology of the Aegean website: projectsx.dartmouth.edu/history/bronze_age

Additional websites:  Be careful about hypotheses that are made in the chronos sites below.

Neolithic – www.fhw.gr/chronos/01/en/nl/index.html

Bronze Age – www.fhw.gr/chronos/02/en.html

Minoan Crete – www.uk.digiserve.com/mentor/minoan/index.html

Middle Helladic Period – www.MHArgolid.nl

Nestor, a research website with bibliography: classics.uc.edu/nestor

Aegean Archaeology Research Resources: libraries.uta.edu/dillard/subfiles/aegeanbib.htm

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ALL ASSIGNMENTS, INCLUDING WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS, ARE DUE IN CLASS ON THE DAY THEY ARE ASSIGNED.  Make a copy of each written assignment, so that you can use one in class and hand in the other.  Note that written assignments will frequently be given in the class before they are due.

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Aug. 30            Introduction to the course.  Policies and Requirements. Scope of Aegean Prehistory.  Formulation of class learning goals.  Pretest.

                        No assignment, but know syllabus.

                        Class hand-outs on geography and chronology.

Sept. 6             A history of Aegean archaeology.  Schliemann and Evans.  Palaces, tombs, and tablets.  Discussion of class learning goals.

                        Read Peter Warren, “Discovery of the Bronze Age” on E-Reserves (username: arch330, password: bronze).

                        Written Assignment (2 copies, please): Using P/H 10 ff. write down several examples of the way the cultural background of the early excavators biased their excavation reports.

                        Sign up for class listserve – arch330     through myUMBC.

Sept. 11           Geography, environment and natural resources of the Aegean.: chronology: terms and conventions.

                        Read class handouts on geography and chronology.

                                    P/H 4-7; D 26 (last sentence) -29.

                        Read R/M 3 (the very last paragraph) – 5, 41–52;  Appendix A.

Written assignment (2 copies):  List six environmental factors that you think would have had an impact on the prehistoric Greeks. Define relative chronology, cross dating, and absolute chronology and give an example of how an archaeologist uses each one.

                        Hand-out in class on Artifact Paper

FOCUS ON CHOOSING THE ARTIFACT OR ARTIFACT TYPE ABOUT WHICH YOU WILL WRITE YOUR FIRST PAPER (Due Oct. 4).

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UNIT I             THE NEOLITHIC PERIOD – THE FIRST FARMERS

Sept. 13           Neolithic Greece I: Origins and general characteristics

                        Read R/M 41-64.

Written Assignment : List the evidence that supports the hypothesis that demic diffusion explains the appearance of farming communities in Greece?  In abbreviated form (chart, outline, spread sheet, …?), organize the material evidence for the Neolithic that was used in your readings for today.

QUIZ on geography and chronology.   

YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO arch330 by today.  This is a graded homework assignment.

Sept. 18           Middle Neolithic Sesklo

                        Read R/M 52-64, 144-149.  Class handout

                                    D 34-43.

                                    Neolithic website (above).

Written assignment: Present in abbreviated form the material evidence from Sesklo and the cultural information (e.g., economy, craft production, village organization, exchange, ritual or ceremony, social organization) derived from your readings and the Neolithic website.

ARTIFACT PAPER ASSIGNMENT DUE (see instruction sheet) 

Sept. 20           Late Neolithic Dimini and Neolithic on Crete and Cycladic islands.

                        Read P/H 33-45 (yes, 45).

Read Neolithic website, both VRML reconstruction of Dimini and in other       “chapters.”

Written assignment: Present cultural information about Dimini in abbreviated form.

QUIZ on Neolithic in northern Greece.

HENCEFORTH WRITTEN Homework ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE GIVEN IN CLASS and ON THE CLASS LISTSERVE.

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UNIT II – THE EARLY BRONZE AGE – EARLY COMPLEX SOCIETIES

Sept. 25           The Early Bronze Age in the Cycladic Islands (EC)

                        Read P/H 52-57.

Read Dickinson 56 (settlements); 95-98, 101, 105-7 (pottery); 131-32 (stone vases); 168-72 (figurines); 179-82 (jewelry); 208-12 (burial customs); 234-41 (trade, exchange and foreign contact); 257-64 (religion).

Summary of Cycladic culture: campus.lakeforest.edu/academics/Greece/BrzCyc.html.

Sept. 27           The Early Bronze Age on the Mainland – Early Helladic Period (EH)

                        Read R/M 65-75.

                                    P/H 44-47.

                                    Rutter Lesson 3.  Be certain to look at the Images.                   

                        Focus on Lerna, Eutresis, Tiryns, Kolonna (on Aigina).

WRITING PARTNERS EXCHANGE ARTIFACT PAPERS.

Oct. 2              Early Helladic II – proto-urban settlements

Read all references to Lerna III (EH II) and Lerna IV (EH III) in Dickinson and in previously assigned readings.

QUIZ on Early Cycladic and Early Helladic Greece.

ARTIFACT PAPER RETURNED TO PAPER PARTNER

Oct. 4              Troy in the Early Bronze Age

                        Read Rutter Lesson 7.

ARTIFACT PAPER DUE

                        Research paper assignment to be handed out in class with discussion.

Oct. 9              Research Class in Library, room 259.

                        This meeting is required and attendance will be taken.

Oct. 11            EXAM 1 – Neolithic and Early Bronze Age on Mainland, EBA Cyclades and Troy.  You will be allowed to bring to class one 3”x5” notecard as help in answering the questions on this exam.

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UNIT III – THE EVOLUTION OF COMPLEX SOCIETY ON CRETE

Oct 12 e-mail assignment for Research Paper  (see assignment sheet)

Oct. 16            Prepalatial Crete (EM, MM IA): settlement and architecture. Myrtos (Fournou Korifi), Vasiliki, Mochlos, Chamaizi, and Mesara tholoi.

                        Read R/M 76-78.

                                    P/H 48-52, 57-61.

                        Consult Crete website (see above).

            Class discussion about Research Paper.

RESEARCH PAPER ASSIGNMENT DUE

Oct. 18                        Prepalatial Crete: evidence for unequal distribution of wealth and site hierarchy?

                        Read D 50-55 (settlement and economy); 95-98 (crafts); 102-5, 108, 109-10 (pottery); 144-45, 158 (architecture); 164 (frescoes); 172 (figurines); 181-83 (jewelry); 189-191 (seals); 198-99 (weapons); 208-10, 212-19 (burial customs); 234-38, 239-41 (trade); 257-64 (religion).

                        Consult Crete website (see above).

ANCS Week Lecture: “Free Speech, Terrorism, and Political Transformation: Ancient              Experiences for Modern Citizens” by Chris Hoffman.  FA 215 noon.

Oct. 23            The First Minoan Palaces: Proto-palatial Crete (Palace Period I; MM IB- IIB); evidence from Knossos and Phaistos.

                        Read P/H 63-87.

QUIZ on Prepalatial and Protopalatial Crete

ANCS Week Lecture: “Free Speech, Terrorism, and Political Transformation: Ancient              Experiences for Modern Citizens” by Chris Hoffman.  FA 215 noon.

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UNIT III – QUESTIONS OF STATEHOOD: The Neopalatial Period on Crete

Oct. 25            Neopalatial Crete (MM III-LM IB): Palace structure and function. Knossos, Phaistos, Mallia, (Kato) Zakro

                        Read P/H 89-103.

                                    Rutter Lesson 12.

                        Paper Groups meet in class.

RESEARCH PAPER ASSIGNMENT DUE

ANCS Week Lecture: “Decoding the Villa of the Papyri” by Carol Mattusch. Library Gallery, 4 

ANCS Week Presentation, Friday, Oct. 27: ANCS Majors discuss their excavation experiences at Pompeii and Beth Shemesh in Israel. FA 450, noon.  

Oct. 30            Neopalatial Crete: Villas and Towns (Ayia Triadha, Gournia, Palaikastro).  Daily life outside the palaces.

                        Read D 60-73.

                                    P/H 103-120.

QUIZ on Neopalatial Crete

Nov. 1             Neopalatial Crete: Minoan economy and crafts

                        Read D 95-101, 114-118 (pottery); 137-140 (other containers); 164-167 (frescos); 192 (seals): 193-4 (writing); 200-1 (weapons).

Class discussion about thesis.

RESEARCH PAPER ASSIGNMENT DUE

Nov. 6             Neopalatial Crete: Burials and religion: Cave sanctuaries, peak sanctuaries, tripartite shrines, “bull sports.”  The destruction of the palaces.

                        Read D 212-20 (burials); 264-281

                                    P/H 140-48.

Nov. 8             Expansion of Minoan Influence: Akrotiri, the Thera eruption and its consequences; the legend of Atlantis.

                        Read R/M 129-38.

                                    P/H 122-40.

UNIT IV -  MYCENAEAN STATE SOCIETIES

Nov. 15           Origins of the Mycenaeans and the first rulers of Mycenae: Shaft Graves

                        Read R/M 95-96, 106-7.

                                    P/H 148-52, 174-75.

                                    Rutter Lesson 16.

Summary of Mycenaean culture: campus.lakeforest.edu/academics/Greece/BrzMyc.

Nov. 20           Mycenaean Palaces and Administration: Pylos

                        Read R/M 95-99.

                                    P/H 155-65.

                        Guest lecturer on Mycenaean Palace Administration – Michael Lane

WRITING PARTNERS EXCHANGE PAPERS

Nov. 22           Writing partners meet to discuss papers.

Nov. 27           Mycenaean Palace Society and Burials: Tiryns, Mycenae, Gla

                        Read P/H 184-90.

                                    D 153-158, 160-64.

WRITING PARTNERS RETURN FIRST DRAFTS

QUIZ ON MYCENEAN PALACES

Nov. 29           Mycenaean Economy, Exchange and Late Bronze Age Internationalism; Mycenaean Knossos

Read Rutter Lesson 22, 25.

                                    D 250-256.

                        Read Gelidonya Shipwreck: ina.tamu.edu/capegelidonya.htm;

                        Uluburun Shipwreck: ina.tamu.edu/ub_main.htm

Dec. 4              Troy in the Late Bronze Age; the Trojan War

                        Rutter, lessons 23, 27

Dec. 6              Collapse of Bronze Age Civilizations

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Dec. 11            EXAM 3 – Mycenaeans, LBA Troy and the Collapse of the Bronze Age

Dec. 15, 1:00-3:00 Final class meeting.  Required.  Research Log and Homework Portfolio due at this meeting.