Please note: this course has been cancelled
Admission requirements
None.
Description
This course offers a comprehensive overview of the archaeology of Greek culture in the Aegean and beyond, that is the overseas settlements along the coasts of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The course is structured along two basic lines: a chronological and a thematic one. We will start with the Minoan and Mycenaean civilisations of the Late Bronze Age, then continue with the Early Iron Age (also called “Dark Age”) and the Archaic period to finally reach the Classical time, which is often regarded as Greece’s heyday. Altogether, we will trace Greek culture over a timespan of more than a millennium, between ca. 1400 and 330 BCE. We will discuss the Greeks in a Mediterranean perspective, looking at their interaction with other Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures.
The second baseline considers major aspects of Greek society: cities and countryside, art and handicraft, society and gender, religion and cult, identity and the perception of otherness. We will follow these topics through time and analyse the developments. We will discuss current
academic debates together in class.
The elements of this course are lectures, reading materials, group discussions and active learning assignments. As a background, you will read relevant chapters in the handbook Classical Archaeology as self-study (You can download this book through the library portal: Classical archaeology - Leiden University Libraries). The handbook knowledge will be part of the exam. In addition, you will read thematic articles on pertinent major debates, which we will discuss in class. To test your comprehension of the reading materials, you will do group discussions and assignments.
Course objectives
The central aim of this course is to get an overview of Greek civilization in its main aspects and
to critically reflect on current academic debates about them.
The course objectives include:
Basic knowledge of the archaeology of the Greeks in the Aegean and around the
Mediterranean and the Black SeaKnowledge of the Greek society and its encounters with other cultures
Insights into Greek cult and religion
Acquaintance with current academic debates on Greek civilization and forming your
own viewpointCapability to critically analyse scientific publications and to discuss them among your
peers
Timetable
Course schedule details can be found in MyTimetable.
Log in with your ULCN account, and add this course using the 'Add timetable' button.
Mode of instruction
Weekly seminars with lectures and group discussions;
Discussion of ancient objects in the RMO;
Literature for self-study;
Active learning assignments
Assessment method
Assignments (40 %)
Written exam (essay) (60 %)
Following Faculty policy, the student should obtain at least a 5.0 for both the assignments and the exam, and a final grade of at least 5.5 to pass. If a retake is required, only the written exam can be retaken.
Attendance and active participation in weekly sessions and group work is a key element of this course. We will deepen the knowledge in group and plenary discussions. The class aims to foster a learning and discussion environment in which participants are active, but also respectful and understanding of forms of diversity and the views of others.
Weekly sessions will be reserved for lectures and group discussions of the reading materials. The obligatory readings include chapters from the handbook as well as thematic readings attached to individual sessions. These reading have to be read before each session, so that
participants are able to summarize and discuss the contents.
This course includes assignments that together count for 40% of the final grade. The final exam counts for the other 60% of the final grade.
Please note that in accordance with faculty policy, both the average of the assignments and exam need to be a 5 minimum in order to pass the course as a whole.
Plagiarism
In writing their assignments, the students should be aware of regulations on plagiarism. This
means that extensive paraphrasing is not permitted, and short paraphrasing and quotations
should always be properly referenced.
Assessment deadlines:
The dates of exams and retakes can be found in MyTimetable. The deadlines of papers, essays and assignments are communicated through Brightspace.
Deadlines for assignments are included in the course syllabus.
Reading list
Handbook (c. 160 pages)
Alcock, S. E., and Osborne, R., 2012. Classical Archaeology, Blackwell Studies in Global Archaeology Malden, MA – Oxford – Chichester, Wiley Blackwell (2nd edition) Chapters 1a. 4a. 5a. 6a. 7a. 9a. 10a.
Thematic readings (c. 120 pages)
See weekly schedule
Luraghi, N. 2014. “The Study of Greek Ethnic Identities.” In: McInerney, J. (ed.), A companion to ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean. Malden, MA – Oxford – Chichester, Wiley Blackwell. P. 213–227 (14 pages)
Registration
Enrolment for all components of your study programme through MyStudymap is mandatory. This applies to both compulsory elements and elective credits. If you are not enrolled, you may not participate.
General information about registration can be found on the Course and exam enrolment page.
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please contact the exchange coordinator for information on how to apply.
Contact
For more information about this course, please contact prof. dr. M.J. (Miguel John) Versluys.
Remarks
Compulsory attendance.