SPRING 2005

Anthropology 3969 01/5969 01

Pharaonic Egypt: Gift of the Nile

Spring Semester 2005

Dr. Ewa Wasilewska

COURSE OUTLINE

Instructor: Dr. Ewa Wasilewska

Office hours: By appointment only; please call the Department of Anthropology (581-6251) and leave your name, phone number, and class number.

Time: Each Thursday at 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Location: Campus, ST 205

Important dates: Jan. 19, 04 – last day to drop classes

Jan. 24, 05 – last day to add classes

Jan. 24, 05 – last day to elect CR/NC option or to audit classes

March 4, 05 – last day to withdraw from term length classes

Required Texts: William Stevenson Smith et al: Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt. Yale University Press: 2000. (WSS)

Nicholas Grimal: A History of Ancient Egypt. Blackwell: 1994. (NG)

Claude Traunecker: The Gods of Egypt. Cornell University Press: 2001. (CT)

1 The above books can be purchased at the University of Utah Bookstore.

Ewa Wasilewska: Pharaonic Egypt. Notes. 2005. (EW)

1 Notes can be purchased during the first three class meetings from an instructor.

Optional Texts:

William H. Stiebing, Jr.: Uncovering the Past. Oxford University Press: 1994. (WS)

Karl-Theodor Zauzich: Hieroglyphs without Mystery. University of Texas Press: 1996. (KTZ)

1 The above books can be purchased at the University of Utah Bookstore.

2 Also on the Reserve in the Marriott Library.

Subject: This course is an introduction to archaeology, religion, history, art, architecture and other aspects of Pharaonic Egypt. It covers a period directly preceding the unification of Egypt (ca. 3200 B.C.) until the Hellenistic period, beginning with the "liberation" of Egypt by Alexander the Great in the fourth century B.C. The most important and interesting elements of the more remote prehistoric past will also be discussed.

Throughout the semester special focus will be placed on theoretical and methodological issues involved in interpretation of ancient Egyptian records. Students will concentrate on such problems as chronology of Egypt, interpretation of written records and main characteristics of archaeological artifacts, which facilitate process of proper identification of cultural groups and interpretation of behavioral patterns.

During the semester numerous references will be made to other cultures of the Middle East and outside of this region.

This course will be richly illustrated with visual aids.

Requirements:

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

The final grade will be based on three exams. Exams will consist of different sections (including essay questions) especially designed for the type of material that will be covered during class meetings. In order to pass these exams it is necessary to attend lectures and to read the required material. Since the amount of information to which students will be exposed is enormous, three or four extra review sessions are planned after the last session before each exam, after the regular class period. The most important information, names, terms, definitions, etc., can be found in the notes prepared by the instructor in order to structure the learning process in the most effective way. At the end of the semester each student will be required to write a ca. 5 page essay on the topic that he or she found the most interesting with regard to the influence of ancient Egyptian civilization on modern cultures.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

In addition to the requirements listed above, graduate students are required to write a research paper of ca. 20 pages (plus bibliography). Each topic must be discussed with the instructor first and by the end of the semester each graduate student will be asked to present a brief summary of his or her research to the class.

Week # 1 – Jan. 13, 2005

Time and Space: introduction to terminology and geography of the area.

Movie: Egypt: The Habit of Civilization (LEGACY #4) -- V-Cass CB 311 L43 1991 pt.4 / 1991; 57 min. color

Readings for WEEK # 1:

E.W.: H. # 1

WSS: Chapter 1. Pp. 1-6

Readings for WEEK # 2 & 3:

E.W.: H. # 2,3

NG: Introduction. Pp. 1-13. Writing. Pp. 31-35.

WS: Retrieving Egypt's Distant Past. Pp. 55-84.

KTZ: Whole book.

Week # 2 – Jan. 20, 2005

History of studies. Decipherment of Egyptian Script and Language. Inscribed material. Part 1.

Week # 3 – Jan. 27, 2005

History of studies. Decipherment of Egyptian Script and Language. Inscribed material. Part 2.

Movie: Egypt Uncovered – Part 4: Deities and Demons. DT61 E336 1998 V.4; 50 min.

Readings for WEEK # 4, 5, 6:

E.W.: H. # 4, 5, 6

NG: Chapter 2. Pp.40-48.

CT: Whole book.

Week # 4 – Feb. 3, 2005

Chronology. Religion and Funerary Beliefs. Part 1.

Movie: Egypt Uncovered – Part 5: Mummies: Into the Afterlife. DT61 E336 1998 V.5; 50 min.

Week # 5 – Feb. 10, 2005

Chronology. Religion and Funerary Beliefs. Part 2.

REVIEW!!!

Week # 6 – Feb. 17, 2005

EXAM!!!

Readings for WEEK # 7 & 8:

E.W.: H. # 7, 8

NG: Chapter 1. Pp.17-39. Chapter 3. Pp.49-59.

WSS: Part One. Pp. 8-24.

Week # 7 – Feb. 24, 2005

The Pre-Dynastic and Early Dynasty Period: Main events, Art and Architecture. Part 1

Movie: Egypt Uncovered – Part 1: Chaos and Kings. DT61 E336 1998 V.1; 50 min.

Week # 8 – March 3, 2005

The Pre-Dynastic and Early Dynasty Period: Main events, Art and Architecture. Part 2.

Readings for WEEKS # 9, 10, 11, 12:

E.W.: H. 9, 10, 11, 12

NG: Chapter 4: Pp. 63-101. Chapter 5: Pp. 102-136.

WSS: Part Two. Pp. 26-79.

Week # 9 – March 10, 2005

The Old Kingdom: historical outline, architectural achievements, art. Part 1.

Movie: Egypt Uncovered – Part 2:The Resurrection Machine. DT61 E336 1998 V.2; 52 min.

Week # 10 – March 17, 2005

SPRING BREAK!

Week # 11 – March 24, 2005

The Old Kingdom: historical outline, architectural achievements, art. Part 2.

REVIEW!!!

Week # 12 – March 31, 2005

EXAM !!!

Readings for WEEKS # 13 & 14:

E.W.: H. #13, 15

NG: Chapter 6. Pp.137-154. Chapter 7. Pp.155-181.

WSS: Part Three. Pp. 80-125.

Week # 13 – April 7, 2005

The First Intermediate Period. The Middle Kingdom: Historical Outline.

Week # 14 – April 14, 2005

The Middle Kingdom: Its Artistic and Other Contributions to the Dynastic Egypt.

Readings for WEEK #15:

E.W.: H. #15

NG: Chapter 8. Pp. 182-195. Part III. Pp. 197-292.

WSS: Part Four. Pp. 126-225.

Week # 15 – April 21, 2005

The Second Intermediate Period. The New Kingdom: Historical Outline.

Movie: Egypt Uncovered – Part 3: Age of Gold. DT61 E336 1998 V.3. 50 min.

Readings for WEEKS #16:

E.W.: H. #16

NG: Part III. Pp. 197-292.

WSS: Part Four -- keep reading

Week # 16 – April 28, 2005

The New Kingdom: The Art and Architecture of the Empire.

REVIEW!!!

In order to study the Late Period please proceed with the following readings:

E.W.: H. #17

NG: Part IV. Pp. 309-388.

WSS: Part Five. Pp. 226-251.

The last day to turn in essays (undergraduate and graduate students) and research papers (graduate students).

Week # 17 – May 5, 2005

FINAL EXAM!