Year
Bachelor year 1.
Description
The lecture series World Archaeology gives an outline of the deep history of humans and society from our early ancestors to the more complex societies in the world. The role of material culture in society is discussed and shown in many regions and periods. Comparisons between different regions and scales allow us to understand connections between the unique and the global.
In this course we will provide an introduction to important themes of the archaeology of Europe and the Mediterranean in Medieval and Modern times (e.g. Byzantines, Arabs, Franks).
We will introduce you to towns and the process of urbanisation using the town where you will study the coming years: Leiden.
We will also deal with the process of Christianisation, exchange, trade and economy, empires, and material culture. We will finish with food and its cultural dimensions.
Set-up of the course:
Each meeting, a lecture will be followed by a tutorial and individual work.
Course objectives
Basic understanding of the major empires of Medieval and early Modern Europe and the Mediterranean;
Basic understanding of 4 long-term major processes in Medieval and early Modern Europe and the Mediterranean: Christianisation, urbanisation, commercialisation of exchange, and fragmentation of political structures;
First introduction to a number of categories of material culture;
Learn to co-operate in small groups;
Learn to present research results.
Timetable
Course schedule details can be found in the BA1 time schedule.
Mode of instruction
Lectures;
Tutorials, in which students work under supervision on assignments on the literature and practice their knowledge;
Visit to the town of Leiden.
Course load
The course load will be distributed as follows:
16 contact hours (0,5 ec);
56 hours of course preparation, assignments, literature (2 ec).
Assessment method
Each World Archaeology course focuses on 1 regional theme/research area. Each theme will be assessed by a final written exam on the contents of the classes and the compulsory literature.
Retakes of the exams are only possible in case of a fail (conform our teaching rules and regulations) and only when the requirements of the attendance and assignments are met. Retakes for assignments are not possible.
All exam dates (exams, re-sits, paper deadlines etc.) can be found in the BA1 examination schedule.
Reading list
To be announced at the start of the course.
Registration
Registration via uSis is mandatory.
The Administration Office will register all BA1 students for their tutorials (not lectures; register via uSis!).
BA2, BA3, MA/MSc and RMA/RMSc students are required to register for all lectures and tutorials well in time.
The Administration Office registers all students for their exams, students are not required to do this in uSis.
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Prospective students website for information on how to apply.
Registration ‘Contractonderwijs’
All information (costs, registration, entry requirements, etc.) for those who are interested in taking this course as a Contractstudent is on the Contractonderwijs Archeologie webpage (in Dutch).
Contact
For more information about this course, please contact prof. dr. F.C.W.J. (Frans) Theuws.
Remarks
Compulsory attendance during tutorials and lectures.