Course Description
Survey of sculpture, architecture, and painting from Prehistory (50,000 BP) to the Iron Age (800 BC) in the Prehistoric, Near Eastern, Egyptian, and Aegean-Mediterranean cultural traditions. Critical methodological issues, recent archaeological discoveries, and on-going debates are highlighted.
Athena Title
Ancient Art and Architecture
Prerequisite
ARHI 2000 or ARHI 2000E or ARHI 2000H or ARHI 2300 or ARHI 2300E or ARHI 2311H or ARHI 2400 or ARHI 2400E or ARHI 2411H or CLAS 1000 or CLAS 1000H or CLAS 1010 or CLAS 1010H or CLAS 1020 or CLAS 1020E or CLAS1020H or CLAS(ANTH)3015 or CLAS(ANTH)3015E
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course offers a critical survey of ancient (pre-Classical) art from Eurasia, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. Students learn how to visually analyze artworks and understand them at the technical and theoretical levels through direct object- oriented study and engagement with the different methodologies of art historical scholarship. Students learn about the historic and cultural context of such artworks, the ancient display environment, and the effect such works had on various diverse ancient viewers. Students demonstrate their skills in two written examinations covering the lectures, class discussion, and assigned readings.
Topical Outline
I: The Origins and Historiography of Ancient (pre-Classical) Art II: Prehistoric: Paleolithic III: Prehistoric: Mesolithic and Neolithic IV: Near East: Pre-Dynastic and Akkadian V: Near East: Babylonian and Assyrian VI: Egypt: Pre-Dynastic and the Old Kingdom VII: Egypt: Middle Kingdom VIII: Egypt: New Kingdom IX: Aegean: Neolithic X: Aegean: Middle Bronze Age XI: Aegean: Late Bronze Age XII: Transformations in the Iron Age and the First Millennium XIII: International Achaemenid Art and Architecture XIV: Defining and Assessing Ancient (pre-Classical) Art
Syllabus