This course is a survey of political, economic, religious, and social change in ancient Egypt from ca. 3000BCE until ca. 1000BCE, and of the ancient Near East from ca. 3000BCE until Alexander the Great's conquests. Both areas were characterized by powerful empires, impressive architecture and monuments, and significant developments in science and technology. Students will analyze the influences that shaped the history of these areas, the experiences of their peoples, and growth and development of their governments.
Class will consist of lecture and discussion. We will also analyze and discuss primary sources in class. Be prepared to use course materials to support your opinions.
Taught by:
Rosemary Moore
159 Schaeffer Hall
Office hours: 2-3:30 Mondays and Tuesdays
rosemary-moore@uiowa.edu, 335-2304
Books
The books are for sale at Iowa Book.
Lecture and Discussion Schedule with Assigned Readings
August September October November December
Note: you will be able to download lecture outlines before class from WebCT. I have also assigned primary sources that are not in the required texts. These are available through the course WebCT site. Go to Information for information on accessing WebCT.
Important: There are two editions of Ian Shaw, ed. The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt available. Unfortunately, while the text is the same, the page numbers are different.
If you have this book (ISBN 0-19-280458-8), then the syllabus is correct. Use the page numbers as indicated.
If you have this book (ISBN 0-19-280293-3), use the page numbers in parentheses following the first set of numbers.
Aug. 25
The beginnings of history? Civilization and its development in the ANE. Religion, city-state, and secular power
Read
Mieroop pp. 19-38; Atrahasis I in Dalley, pp. 9-20 and notes; optional supplementary material in Mieroop 1-16
Aug. 27
Cities and city-states: Uruk and Sumer. Writing, accounting, and administration.
Read
Mieroop pp. 39-58; The Sumerian King List linked through WebCT, or at http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=t.2.1.1
Aug. 30
Akkad's "empire" and Ur III.
Read Mieroop pp. 59-79; The Legend of Sargon (linked through WebCT or at http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=t.2.1.4) , A Praise Poem of Shulgi (Shulgi B) linked through WebCT or at http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=t.2.4.2.02
Sept. 1
Political changes in the ANE, east and west
Read Mieroop pp. 80-98; The Lament for Urim , linked through WebCT or at http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=t.2.2.2
Sept. 3
Hammurabi and other regional powers
Read Mieroop pp. 99-118; Gilgamesh Tablet 1 in Dalley, pp. 50-59 and notes
Sept. 6
LABOR DAY - NO CLASS
Sept. 8
Transition to territorial states
Read Mieroop pp. 121-140; Selections from The Code of Hammurabi (go to http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/medieval/hammenu.htm and read the Preface, #1-28, 48-65, 108, 116, 127-89, 195-238, and the Epilogue)
Sept. 10
Guest lecture - Ex oriente lux : the Middle East under Roman rule
Read
Mieroop pp. 141-160
Sept. 13
New powers in the late second millennium BCE
Read Mieroop pp. 161-178; The Creation Myth in Dalley pp. 233-277
Sept. 15
The collapse of the "club of great powers"
Read
Mieroop pp. 179-194; Selections from the Assyrian code via WebCT or at http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/1075assyriancode.html
Sept. 17
Overview of the ANE in the early first millennium BCE; the shift to empires
Read Mieroop pp. 195-215; Erra and Ishum in Dalley, pp. 282-315
ESSAY 1 DUE
Topics
Sept. 20
Assyria
Read Mieroop pp. 216-231
Sept. 22
Assyria's empire
Read Mieroop pp. 232-243, Accounts of the Campaign of Sennacherib 701BCE
Sept. 24
Assyrian culture and influence
Read Mieroop pp. 244-252
Sept. 27
Media and Babylon
Read Mieroop pp. 253-266
Sept. 29
The Persian Empire
Read Mieroop pp. 267-280
Hourly review
Oct. 4
HOURLY 1
Format and Study Guide
Oct. 6
Egypt - an overview
Read Shaw pp. 1-16
Oct. 8
The Badarian and Naqadan cultures
Read Shaw pp. 36-53
Oct. 11
Naqada 3, Dynasty "0," and the emergence of a unified state
Read
Shaw pp. 53-76
Oct. 13
Ancient Egyptian religion: an introduction
Read
Shaw pp. 308-315 (pp. 314-322); Selection from The Cultural Atlas of Egypt via WebCT, Foster The Resurrection of King Unis, pp. 64-69
Oct. 15
Kingship, religion, and monumental architecture: developments in the early Old Kingdom
Read
Shaw pp. 76-87 (pp. 76-93)
Oct. 18
The pyramids
Read
Shaw pp. 87-93 (pp. 93-101)
Oct. 20
Building the pyramids
Read
Shaw pp. 93-98 (pp. 101-108)
Oct. 22
Changes in religious beliefs; the 5 th and 6 th dynasties
Read
Shaw pp. 98-106 (pp. 108-116), Foster The Transfiguration of the King pp. 70-75
Oct. 25
The end of the Old Kingdom; provincialism and the First Intermediate Period
Read
Shaw pp.106-123 (pp. 116-133); Selection from the Life of Ankhtifi
Oct. 27
The Theban and Herakleopolitan kingdoms
Read
Shaw pp. 123-126 (pp. 133-137); Foster The Instruction for Merikare pp. 191-205
Oct. 29
The Middle Kingdom - consolidation and a new capital
Read
Shaw pp. 137-154 (pp. 148-165); Foster The Instruction for Little Pepy on His Way to School pp. 32-43
Nov. 3
The Middle Kingdom - expansion southwards and eastwards; Nubia
Read
Shaw pp. 154-165, 317-321 (pp. 165-177, 324-328)
Nov. 5
The Middle Kingdom - cultural changes; literature
Read
Shaw pp. 165-171 (pp. 177-183); Foster The Tale of Sinuhe pp. 124-148
Nov. 8
The collapse of the Middle Kingdom; the Second Intermediate period
Read
Shaw pp. 172-187 (pp. 185-199)
Nov. 10
The Second Intermediate Period: the "Hyksos" and Theban dynasties
Read
Shaw pp. 188-206 (pp. 199-217)
Nov. 12
Consolidation under Thebes; the New Kingdom
Read
Shaw pp. 207-210 (pp. 217-221)
Nov. 15
Cultural and religious changes in the New Kingdom
Read
Shaw pp. 211-216 (pp. 221-226); Foster From The Leiden Hymns nos. IX, X, XXX, LXX, LXXX, D, DC, within pp. 149-168
SECOND ESSAY DUE
Topics
Nov. 17
The 18 th Dynasty
Read
Shaw pp. 216-235, 316-317 (pp. 226-243; pp. 322-324)
Nov. 19
The 18 th Dynasty continued
Read
Shaw pp. 235-264 (pp. 243-271)
Nov. 20-28
THANKSGIVING BREAK - NO CLASSES
Nov. 29
Akhenamen and Akhenaten: the Amarna Period
Read
Shaw pp. 265-78 (pp. 272-286); Foster Akhenaten's Hymn to the Sun pp. 1-7
The Amarna revolution and its failure; Tutankhamen
Read Shaw pp. 278-286 (pp. 286-295)
Dec. 3
The 19 th Dynasty
Shaw pp. 286-288 (pp. 295-296); Foster Two Spells pp. 89-93
Dec. 6
Rameses II
Read
Shaw pp. 288-296 (pp. 297-304); Foster Prayer of King Ramesses II pp. 96-99
Dec. 8
Rameses II's successors and the end of the New Kingdom
Read
Shaw pp. 296-307, pp. 321-323 (pp. 304-313; 328-329)
Dec. 10
Egypt after the New Kingdom; conclusions
Read
Shaw pp. 324-332 (pp. 330-338)
The final exam will be held 9:45 a.m. on December 15 in 140 Schaeffer Hall.
Final Exam Guidelines