Anthropology 3969 04/5969 04 (16956; 17470) & 396-4
 Middle East Studies 3753-01 (24788)
 University of Utah - Spring Semester 2007
 Dr. Ewa Wasilewska



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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 Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location:  Campus ST 216
Important dates:  January 17, 07 - last day to drop classes
January 22, 07 - last day to add classes
January 22, 07 - last day to elect CR/NC option or to audit classes
March 2, 07 - last day to withdraw from term length classes
Required Texts: Gay Robins: The Art of Ancient Egypt. Harvard University Press: 2000. (GR)

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

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

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

Ewa Wasilewska: Pharaonic Egypt. Notes. 2007. (EW)

* 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)

* The above books can be purchased at the University of Utah Bookstore.
* 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 transparencies, slides, and films. 

Requirements:  UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

The final grade will be based on three or four 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. 

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Week # 1 - January 9, 2007


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 

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.

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Week # 2 - January 16, 2007


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

 

Week # 3 - January 23, 2007


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.

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Week # 4 - January 30, 2007


Chronology. Religion and Funerary Beliefs. Part 1. 

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

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Meeting # 5 - February 6, 2007


Chronology. Religion and Funerary Beliefs. Part 2. 

REVIEW!!!
 

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Week # 6 - February 13, 2007



 

Readings for WEEK # 7 & 8:

E.W.: H. # 7, 8
NG: Chapter 1: Pp.17-39. Chapter 3: Pp.49-59.
GR: Chapter 1: Pp. 12-29. Chapter 2: Pp. 30-39.

 

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Week # 7 - February 20, 2007


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 - February 27, 2007



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.
GR: Chapter 3: Pp. 40-57. Chapter 4: Pp. 58-79.

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Week # 9 - March 6, 2007


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.

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Week # 10 - March 13, 2007


The Old Kingdom: Historical Outline, Architectural Achievements, Art. Part 2.

REVIEW!!!
 

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Week # 11 - March 20, 2007



SPRING BREAK!
 

Week # 12 - March 27, 2007


Readings for WEEKS # 13 & 14:

E.W.: H. #13, 14
NG: Chapter 6: Pp.137-154. Chapter 7: Pp.155-181.
GR: Chapter 5: Pp. 80-89. Chapter 6: Pp. 90-109. Chapter 7: Pp. 110-121.

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Week # 13 - April 3, 2007


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

Week # 14 - April 10, 2007


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.

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Week # 15 - April 17, 2007


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 WEEK #16:

E.W.: H. #16
NG:  Part III: Pp. 197-292.
GR: Chapter 8: Pp. 122-147. Chapter 9: Pp. 149-165. Chapter 10: Pp. 166-193.
 

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Week # 16 - April 24, 2007


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.
GR: Last chapters.
 

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

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Week # 17 - May 1, 2007



FINAL 
 
 
 
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