Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (ARTHIST 314)

Transcription

1 1 Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (ARTHIST 314) Professor Jocelyn Boor, Ph.D. Phone n/a Lecture Time/Place M-W 12:30 1:45 pm, MIT 361 Office Department of Art History, Mitchell Hall 147E Office Hours Wednesday am & by appointment Course Description The rise of the first urban centers in the ancient Near East, combined with the invention of writing, led to Mesopotamia's status as the cradle of civilization. This course surveys the rise of the first cities and the accompanying complex ideology and religious beliefs as manifested in their art and architecture. The major archaeological sites, monuments, and objects from the earliest Neolithic settlements (ca. 10,000 BCE) to the conquest by Alexander the Great in 330 BCE will be studied in the context of the relationship between these ancient societies and their arts. Texts: Required readings will be assigned from the following texts: Mieroop: Marc Van De Mieroop, A History of The Ancient Near East ca BC. Second Edition (Blackwell Publishing, 2007) Roaf. Michael Roaf, The Cultural Atlas of the World: Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East (Andromeda Oxford Ltd. 1990). Chapters from this book will be posted on the course D2l site. Additional readings may be assigned periodically, and will be available on the course D2L site. Format and Requirements Format The course is divided into units that chronologically follow the rise of urbanism through the final empires in Mesopotamia (which includes present-day Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey). We will examine the art and architecture, with a focus on forms and the intertwined political and religious functions and meanings for the ancient inhabitants of this area. Handouts are the class outlines with important names, dates, and terms as well as images. These are available on the D2L course page and organized by period. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCESSING COPIES OF THE HANDOUTS THROUGH D2L and you should plan on bringing the correct handout to class. Please note that handouts will usually be available the weekend before these are needed in class. Undergraduate Written Assignments and Grading Policy Student evaluation will be based upon a series of in-class assignments, two quizzes, a gallery guide project, an experiential research project and a take-home final exam. These are designed to provide a deeper understanding of ancient Mesopotamian art, and the in-class assignments are part of the gallery guide project. A flowchart is attached to this syllabus. Please note that no make-up exams or extensions will be granted. Incompletes will be permitted only in very special circumstances. The quiz dates are listed in the syllabus; please manage your time and make arrangements to be present for these. Quizzes. There are two short quizzes: the first on the principles of ancient Mesopotamian art, February 4th, and the geography quiz on February 25th. A map is attached to this syllabus with the geographical terms and locations that will be on the quiz. Gallery Guide. The gallery guide is your visual guide to art and archaeology of ancient Mesopotamia. The guide consists of two separate timelines. The chronological timeline is divided into the chronological units followed in class: Villages, Cities, and Empires. Twelve images for each unit are required, with accompanying identification information and additional description. The in-class assignments are designed to progress from writing basic identifications (object labels) and compare/contrasts to content for mobile device applications, a needed skill in

2 2 today's world. These assignments will cover 15 of the 36 images needed. Instructor feedback on writing identifications, compare/contrasts, and content will be provided for these 15 images. You will choose the additional 21 images from select groups determined by class input. The second timeline focuses on human figural representation in ancient Mesopotamian art and changes in this by region and over time. One in-class assignment will cover the basics: choose four images for each unit, and use the information in your textbooks, the lecture presentations and your class notes to list the identifying features for that period. These images can be selected from all of the lecture PowerPoints. Identifications must be included. This is due during the final exam period for this class. Experiential Research Project This is the exploration of Mesopotamian textile production, using ancient techniques. Instructions will be available the first week of class. Remember, the documentation of the process of reproduction is more important than a professional-looking work of art. Graduate Written Assignments and Grading Policy Graduate students are required to complete all undergraduate assignments. You are, however, also expected to complete two additional assignments. The first is an additional section in your gallery guide. The second is the Future of Ancient Near Eastern Antiquities Symposium. Gallery Guide. You are expected to complete the two timelines described above, plus a third section on an ancient Near Eastern archaeological site or artifact class with images and text, demonstrating a grasp of its significance and current interpretation.. An in-class presentation on the third section is required, and should include the content of the application with appropriate text and graphics in a PowerPoint, along with a concise summary of your research and choices for the application content. Guidelines with topics, presentation dates, and due dates for completion of various stages of the third section will be distributed by the second week of class to allow preparation time. The complete project is due during the final exam period scheduled for this class. Future of Ancient Near Eastern Antiquities Symposium. The future of ancient Near Eastern antiquities (artifacts, sites, museums, libraries) is currently in flux with the civil and religious unrest throughout much of the region. The graduate students will organize and present a 30-minute symposium reviewing the current situation and presenting their best assessment. No paper is required, but a PowerPoint/handout is required. Grading System Assignment/Quiz Individual or Team Undergraduate Graduate Quiz - 2 Individual 30 (15 points each) 20 (10 points each) Identifications (in-class) - three Individual 15 (5 points each) 15 (5 points each) Compare and Contrast (in-class) - three Individual 30 (10 points each) 30 (10 points each) Top 15 Images (in-class) - five Team 50 (10 points each) 25 (5 points each) Human Figural Representation (in-class) -1 Individual Content (in-class) - three Individual 30 (10 points each) 30 (10 points each) Experiential Art Project Individual Gallery Guide Individual Gallery Guide and Class Presentation Individual Final Exam Individual Future of Ancient Near Eastern Antiquities Team Forum Totals Final Grading Scale(points) A = B- = D+ = A- = C+ = D = B+ = C = D- = B = C- = F = 74 or less

3 3 POLICIES Please feel free to see Professor Boor about any problems you may have throughout the semester regarding the course. You can contact me through , office telephone, or visit during office hours (walk-in or by appointment). Attendance Policy. Your attendance is necessary if you want to succeed in this course. Students Needing Special Assistance. If you require special assistance please visit the Student Accessibility Center (MIT room 112) and let Professor Boor know what accommodations you need. Departmental Objectives. As part of UWM s ongoing assessment project, the Art History faculty has developed a set of objectives for all courses taught in our department. Our Art History courses are intended to: 1) foster an appreciation of art in its myriad forms, and, in so doing, increase sensitivity to cultural diversity and to the ways in which the past has shaped the present; 2) teach skills in visual analysis and critical thinking that are useful for a lifetime; and 3) require students to hone their written communication skills. University Policies. University policies governing student conduct and other important issues can be found via the Secretary of the University s website: Certificate Program in Ancient Mediterranean Studies (CAMS). The Certificate Program in Ancient Mediterranean Studies (CAMS) is designed to encourage students to pursue a serious interest in the ancient Mediterranean world in a structured way. This course counts towards the certificate. For more information on the CAMS program, including course requirements, faculty, and upcoming events, be sure to check the website: UWM now requires all syllabi to include an estimated number of hours of energy a student will be expected to expend to complete the class. The expected minimum number of hours of energy expended by students in this class is as follows: Classroom Lectures hours; Reading/Projects hours; Exam Study hours. Total: hours. Class Schedule and Assignments Introduction to the Ancient Near East: January 25/27 Readings: Mieroop: Ch.1 and Roaf: Preface Bring PowerPoint notes handouts to class (available on D2L). *Wednesday, January 27 in class: instructions and discussion of the art project Paleolithic and Neolithic: February 1/3 Reading: Roaf: Part One: Villages; bring PowerPoint notes handout to class. *Wednesday, February 3: QUIZ ON THE PRINCIPLES OF ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN ART The Uruk Period - the Rise of Urbanism: February 8/10/15 Readings: Mieroop: Ch.2 and Roaf: pg *Wednesday, February 10 in class: Identification 1, Compare and Contrast 1 *Monday, February 15 in class: Top 15 Images

4 4 The Early Dynastic Period - States in Conflict: February 17/22/24/29 Readings: Mieroop: Ch.3 and Roaf: pg *Wednesday, February 17 in class: Human Figure 1 *Monday, February 22 in class: Identification 2, Compare and Contrast 2 *Wednesday, February 24 in class: GEOGRAPHY QUIZ *Monday, February 29 in class: Top 15 Images The Akkadian Empire, the Third Dynasty of Ur and the Old Babylonian Period - Centralization, Charismatic Kings and Territorial States: March 2/7/9/21/23/28 Readings: Mieroop: Ch.4-6 and Roaf pg *Wednesday, March 9 in class: 30 minutes to work on your art project; bring your materials *Monday, March 21 in class: Identification 3, Compare and Contrast 3 *Monday, March 28 in class: Top 15 Images March NO CLASSES The Late Bronze Age and the Era of Small Kingdoms - Allies and Enemies: March 30, April 4/6/11 Readings: Mieroop: Ch. 7, 8, 9 and Roaf: pg *Monday, April 4 in class: Mobile Device Content 1 *Wednesday, April 6 in class: 30 minutes to work on your art project; bring your materials *Monday, April 11 in class: Top 15 Images EXPERIENTIAL ART PROJECT DUE Wednesday, April 13 The Collapse of the Bronze Age: April 13 Readings: Mieroop: Ch.10 and review Roaf, pg The Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian Empires; the Future of Ancient Near Eastern Antiquities Symposium: April 18/20/25/27, May 2/4/9 Readings: Mieroop: Ch and Roaf: pg *Monday, April 18 in class: Mobile Device Content 2 *Wednesday, April 27 in class: Mobile Device Content 3 *Monday, May 9 in class: Final exam instructions and handout *Monday, May 9 in class: Top 15 Images FINAL EXAM: Monday, May 16, 12:30-2:30 pm, MIT 361 Your Gallery Guide AND your final exam.

5 Ancient Near Eastern Chronology (from Podany, The Ancient Near East) 5

6 6 Period Paleolithic and Neolithic Uruk Period Early Dynastic Period Akkadian Empire Third Dynasty of Ur Old Babylonian Period Late Bronze Age Era of Small Kingdoms Neo-Assyrian Empire Neo-Babylonian Empire Dates 12,000-4,000 BCE ca BCE ca BCE ca BCE ca BCE ca BCE ca BCE ca BCE ca BCE ca BCE Geography Quiz - KNOW THESE: Hattusas Ugarit Byblos Kanesh Ebla Aleppo Carchemish Emar Khorsabad Nineveh Nimrud Assyria Hassuna Assur Mari Samarra Agade Sippar Babylon Isin Kish Jemdet Nasr Uruk Ur Tell el-ubaid Eridu Larsa Lagash Girsu Nippur Eshnunna Tell Asmar Babylonia Sumer Tell Halaf Susa Elam