HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST I

The course is part of the teaching activities that characterize the Bachelor's Degree Program in History. Aim of the course is to help students developing a basic critical knowledge of the main issues of the ancient Near Eastern history from the mid 3rd millennium BC down to the Persian conquest. Students will be guided to acquire the necessary methodological skills for research purposes and the basic criteria for bibliographical search, in order to be able to interpret and contextualise, both in a syncronic and diacronic perspective, the main historical issues in the discipline. Reaching the basic objectives, the student will be able to apply the methodology and tools for the correct analysis of the political, economic and social issues relating to the discipline and for the source analysis in the field, necessary for its further study.

1. Knowledge and understanding:
- knowledge of the discipline related lexicon
- knowledge of the main themes and issues of the Ancient Near Eastern history
- knowledge of the main tools and methods for the discipline
- methods for the bibliographical research in the field
2. Abilities, learning skills and communication skills:
- ability to use discipline-specific lexicon
- ability to use the discipline appropriate tools and methods in communicating the acquired knowledge
- ability to use the learning skills and methods necessary to undertake simple research in the field with a certain degree of autonomy
- develop the ability to contextualise historical issues in an appropriate manner.

No special qualifications are requested. A basic knowledge of ancient history will certainly help.

The course provides an introduction to Ancient Near Eastern history, from the so-called first urbanization to the Persian empire. The geographical scope extends from Mesopotamia to the Levant, Anatolia and the Iranian plateau. The classes will touch upon selected topics regarding historiographical issues and approaches, taking in due consideration primary sources in translation. The focus is on distinctive features in the Ancient Near East civilizations, including those of Sumer, Assyria and Babylonia, with special reference to historical geography, politics, economics, society and religion.

For students who are not able to read Italian, the following readings in English and French are suggested:

Van De Mieroop, M. 2004: A History of the Ancient Near East, ca. 300-323 BC. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Bordreuil, P. – Briquel-Chatonnet, F. – Michel, C. (édd.) 2008: Les débuts de l'histoire. Paris : Éditions de la Martinière.

Additional bibliography is required for students that are unable to attend classes (to be established on a case-by-case basis).

In a written essay the student will answer a series of questions dealing with historical geography, chronology, sources, economic, social and political history of the Ancient Near East.

Public lectures. Sources and other materials will be provided through Power Point presentation or handouts. Discussion of specific topics will be carried out with attending students. An overview of digital sources and applications relevant to the field will be also given in the lectures.

Italian

Students who are interested to specialize in the field of Ancient Near Eastern Studies should take into consideration the attendance to the following courses:


Archaeology and Art History of the Near East (I and II),
Archaeology of the Islamic World
Art and Visual Culture of the Islamic World
Assyriology,
Egyptology (I and II)
Phoenician Archaeology,
Sumero-akkadian epigraphy

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development