HIS 437 Civilizations of the Ancient Near East & Mediterranean (Optional Course: 3 Credits)
Aims and learning objectives
This course aims to give students a basic knowledge and understanding of the history of the societies
of the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean,
including their science and technology.
The course will also
note achievements in construction and the arts,
law, philosophy and political institutions.
Rationale for teaching this course
Ancient Near East and Mediterranean cultures are recognized as important sources for later Islamic
and modern Western civilizations. Ancient Egypt is of particular
relevance for students of African
history. Ancient Roman law is still one of the bases
of modern Botswana
law. Roman slavery served both as
a major precedent and a model for the much later Atlantic slave
trade conducted by western
Europeans, while ancient Roman imperialism provided models for
European colonial empires. "The
Ancient World" is taught at Junior Certificate and BGCSE levels and
it is desirable to provide an
introduction to the subject for future teachers.
Course synopsis
The course will follow a mainly regional pattern, focussing on the themes of science and technology,
and ancient slavery, but also identifying the major achievements of each major ancient civilisation.
The civilisations in question range from ancient Mesopotamia and
Egypt, through Greece, the Hellenic world, and the Phoenicians,
to the end of the Roman and
Byzantine empires.
Prescribed text:
L. de Blois & R.J. van der Spek,
An Introduction to the Ancient World. Routledge.
ISBN: 0415127742
Course outline.
Prehistory
Mesopotamia: Economy and society; writing; religion and culture; politics; mathematics; science and technology
Egypt: The Egyptian kingdom; economy and society; religion and culture; the role of women; mathematics; science and technology
The Phoenicians
Ancient Israel
Greece and the Hellenic world: Greek states and society; religion, culture and philosophy; mathematics; science and technology
Rome and the Roman Empire: Roman state and society; expansion and empire; ancient slavery; the decline of the empire; religion and the rise of Christianity
