Prospectus

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The Prehistory of Asia Minor and Cyprus

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Description

This course provides an overview of the prehistory of Asia Minor and Cyprus, from the Neolithic up to the Early Bronze Age. Key issues that will be discussed are:

  • The history of research, the geography and climate of Anatolia and Cyprus, and how this changed over time;

  • The origins of Neolithic societies in Anatolia and Cyprus;

  • The spread of Neolithic societies to western Anatolia and beyond;

  • The development of idiosyncratic Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic societies in Anatolia and Cyprus;

  • The emergence of exchange networks in Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Anatolia and Cyprus;

  • The emergence of elites and a prestige goods economy in Anatolia;

  • The second ‘colonisation’ of Cyprus in the Philia period.

Course set-up

A critical introduction into the archaeology of the specific topic is provided at the start of the session (1 hour). Students work in groups to prepare a presentation and discussion points (2 hours). In the final hour we do the student presentations and discussion.

Course objectives

  • To gain an overview of the culture-historical development of prehistoric Anatolia and Cyprus;

  • To gain insight into research traditions in prehistoric Anatolia and Cyprus and the current academic controversies within these fields;

  • Ability to critically assess key issues in the prehistory of Anatolia and Cyprus in oral and written formats;

  • Ability to critically read articles, write about key issues and present on them;

  • Ability to work in a team.

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

  • Lectures;

  • Student presentations;

  • Discussion.

Assessment method

  • Presentations and discussion during the course (40%);

  • Mini essays, dealing with the case studies discussed in class (30%);

  • Final essay (30%).

Assessment deadlines:
The dates of exams and retakes can be found in MyTimetable. The deadlines of papers, essays and assignments are communicated through Brightspace.

Reading list

A list of readings is provided two weeks prior to the start of the course.

Registration

Registration start dates for the BA2 seminars differ from the registration dates of the regular courses.

Registration will take place with the use of forms. These will be e-mailed by the study advisers to all BA2 students at the beginning of January.

Contact

For more information about this course, please contact dr. B.S. (Bleda) Düring.

Remarks

  • Compulsory attendance. If attendance and participation in group discussions is too limited, no credits will be awarded;

  • The maximum number of participants for this class is 20. If the number of interested students exceeds 20, those who have to take this course as part of their programme requirements will be prioritised.