Module ARCH52830: RESEARCH TOPICS IN THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF EGYPT, NEAR EAST, ANCIENT INDIA

Department: Archaeology

ARCH52830: RESEARCH TOPICS IN THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF EGYPT, NEAR EAST, ANCIENT INDIA

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a specialised aspect of Egypt, India and/or Near East archaeology chosen from a list of topics representing the main areas of research in the Department and the strands within the MA in Archaeology.

Content

• One of the following topics as available:
• Ancient Near East: later prehistory to early urban societies: The framework of current research on the development of complex societies in the region; The nature of late prehistoric communities in the near east; Regional sequences in north and south Mesopotamia, and the Levant; Evidence for, and significance of, long-distance interactions; The archaeology of complex organizations; Approaches to the analysis of archaeological evidence.
• Ancient Near East: Middle and later Bronze Ages: The origins and influence of the key 20th century research frameworks; The nature of societies in the East Mediterranean world during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages; Regionalism and diversity during the 2nd millennium BC; The relationship between archaeology and documentary sources; Language, 'ethnic' groups and archaeology; Archaeology and present-day politics in the Middle East; Evidence for, and significance of, long-distance interactions; The archaeology of complex organizations; approaches to the analysis of archaeological evidence.
• Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam in South Asia: Theory of comparative religion and the archaeology of religion; "Spiritual" India and the earliest religions from Mehrgarh to Harappa; Vedic culture and ritual and the Upanishads; The politics of religion and the politics of the past in South Asia; Buddhism, economy and society in Early Historic South Asia; Buddhist art and architecture; The development and roots of Hinduism; Urban decay and the formation of early medieval kingdoms; The development of the Hindu temple; Hindu art and inconography; The origins and development of Islam; Islam in South Asia; Case studies: e.g. Kalibangan, Sanchi, Aihole, Kajuraho, Gangaikondacholapuram, Agra, Delhi.
• Archaeology and Economy: Theory of economic archaeology (Polanyi, market and embedded economies, capitalism, Wallerstein, Kondratieff, Frank); Global approaches (comparative historiography comparative archaeology); Background developments (seafaring techniques and monsoon winds, Bronze-age trade, Periplus, Rome, India, and China, silk and spice trade); Tracing patterns of global development using survey data (the Mediterranean, the Near East, Iran and South Asia); Tracing patterns of global development using historical evidence; Tracing patterns of global development using numismatic evidence; Tracing patterns of global development using artifact evidence; Historical questions: The Islamic conquests and the Pirenne debate; Early Medieval urban decline in South Asia (R.S. Sharm's model); Feudalism and state formation in Early Medieval India; The emergence of a medieval world economy - China and the Indian Ocean (the Fijjuin pattern); European domination and Wallerstein's long - 16th century; Example Case studies: Buirma (A. Reid), Java (J. Wisseman-Christie), Iran and Hormuz (Williamson), Ras al-Khaimah I (settlement, trade urbanism), Ras al-Khaimah II (marginal zones and the Barker model), Shanga (Horton).
• Archaeology of the Ancient Egyptian State: Research tools and research orientation in Egyptology; Mechanisms of control: ideology, writing and status; Geographical and Environmental pressures; Administrative organisation; The practice of economic systems; Expressions of religious beliefs; The Priesthood; The role of the King; Monumental architecture; Military Power; Imperial Dynamics; Settlement organisation.
• Townscapes in North Africa & the Near East: This topic will enable students to develop an understanding of the urban form and its transformation from Late Antiquity to the early Arab period. The major focus will be on the Mediterranean provinces, especially North Africa and the Near East from the Roman Imperial period to the 8th / 9th centuries AD. Comparison between eastern and western Mediterranean. Transformation of cities through major historical events; the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, the Vandal occupation of North Africa, the Byzantine Empire and the arrival of the Arabs. Overview of the classical city and the range of public and private buildings and their development over time. The transformation of space from Late Antiquity, both the urban layout of towns and the reuse of individual buildings. The changing nature of society during a period of great historical upheaval. Christianization - the changes to urban topography brought about by the foundation of churches and the rise of the power of the clergy.
• Continuity and Change in South Asia: The emergence of South Asia’s two urbanisations, the Indus and the Early Historic. Exploration of specific issues concerning the degree of continuity and change within the region’s developmental sequence. Evidence for the diffusion of ideas and materials from West, Central and Southeast Asia; the limitations imposed by current South Asian archaeological methodologies and techniques; the impact of colonialism and nationalism on the theoretical frameworks of South Asia’s archaeologists. Geopolitical context; Colonial archaeologies and archaeologists; Nationalist archaeologies and archaeologists; Neolithic revolutions; Normative states; Aryans and imperialism; The Asokan ideal.

Learning Outcomes

• Using one of the following topics as available, students will have:
• Ancient Near East: later prehistory to early urban societies: developed a critical knowledge of the key classes of evidence pertaining to the development of complex societies in the near east; developed an appreciation of the diversity of regional sequences; acquired a sophisticated understanding of key theoretical concepts; evaluated competing theoretical interpretations of this material; demonstrate an understanding of the way in which particular scholarly perspectives have influenced the nature of archaeological explanation.
• Ancient Near East: Middle and Later Bronze Ages: developed a critical knowledge of the key classes of evidence pertaining to the archaeology of the second millennium BC in the near east; developed a sound understanding of the relationships between various aspects of ancient complex societies, and the ways in which these can be investigated through material evidence; developed an appreciation of the diversity of regional sequences; acquired a sophisticated understanding of key theoretical concepts and the datasets to which these can be most readily applied; evaluated competing theoretical interpretations of this material; evaluated the relationship between the analysis and interpretation of material and documentary evidence; demonstrated an understanding of the way in which particular scholarly perspectives have influenced the nature of archaeological explanation.
• Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam in South Asia: demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the subject matter (specifically the origins, development, and practice of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam); show a detailed and advanced critical understanding of the ways in which archeological monuments can be used to illustrate and investigate religious practice and history; show a detailed knowledge of a range of key religious monuments in South Asia; critically assess current issues and interpretations, and the evidence and theoretical and political positions which underpin them; show a detailed understanding of the link between social and economic change, and the development of the three religions under consideration; demonstrate a sophisticated and critical understanding of the political positions which underlie current interpretations of the religious past in South Asia.
• Archaeology and Economy: have developed a critical understanding of the historical background to, and significance of, the development of the Indian Ocean economy, and the basic historiographical problems related to it; demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of the subject matter (specifically evidence relating to the development of the Indian Ocean economy between the 4th and the 17th Century) with specific knowledge of selected sites, regions, and case studies; show an in-depth understanding of the theory of writing economic history and addressing questions of economic development using archaeological evidence; be able critically to assess current issues and interpretations, and the evidence and theoretical positions which underpin them.
• Archaeology of the Ancient Egyptian State: Developed a critical knowledge of the types of archaeological objects, and sites, geographical and environmental data and documentary evidence available from Ancient Egypt; Analysed specific data-sets relating to each of the main institutions of the Egyptian State; Appreciated the nature and biases inherent in the evidence; Evaluated methodological and theoretical approaches to the Egyptian material.
• Townscapes in North Africa & the Near East: Demonstrate advanced levels of current knowledge and intensive understanding of: Roman and Late Antique urbanism (particularly in the North Africa – Tunisia, Libya, Algeria - and in the Near East), The diffusion of Christianity and the progressive Christianization of urban areas, The major debates on the fate of classical Roman towns after the fall of the Roman Empire, Roman, Vandal, Byzantine urbanism, Early Arab occupation of classical Roman towns: did urban areas (in the civic sense) survived?; Evaluate the available sources of evidence and current issues and interpretations; Investigate and analyse specific case-studies for each period; Consider in detail the re-use of former public buildings and the social, political and economic contexts in which these transformations occurred.
• Continuity and Change in South Asia: demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of the subject matter; critically assess current issues and interpretations, and the evidence which underpins them; appreciate the impact of colonialism and nationalism on interpretations of South Asia’s cultural sequence; apply their analytical and evaluative skills to specific case studies; consider in depth the role of concepts of ‘material culture’ in the south Asia.

• Students will have acquired an appreciation of the complexity and diversity data available on different temporal/spatial scales, have gathered relevant data and evaluated competing interpretations of available materials and data.

• Students will have developed independent research and learning skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• through a series of lectures and tutorials.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

The preparation achieved in the module RSS that precedes this module is considered to be sufficient formative preparation for the summative assignments in this module.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University