Teaching code

4S012056

Teacher

Federico Giusfredi

Coordinator

Federico Giusfredi

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

L-OR/01 - HISTORY OF ANCIENT NEAR EAST

Period

CuCi 2 A, CuCi 2 B

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

Aim of the course is providing a general knowledge of the political, economic, social and cultural history of the civilizations of the pre-classical Ancient Near East, from the earliest phases (III millennium BCE) through the downfall of the Iron age Mesopotamian kingdoms (VI century BCE). It will also provide the critical tools required to study and analyse the documents and sources that are typical of those ages that pre-date the Greek-Roman history, by examining some specific examples that refer to highly significant periods (Late Bronze Age, Early Iron Age).

Prerequisites and basic notions

none

Program

The course will regard the historical and cultural development of the civilizations of the Ancient Near East. Among the main topics, the following phases will receive specific attention:
- IV-III millennium, until the Ur III dynasty
- Birth of the great kingdoms of the Late Bronze Age
- The Amarna archives and the dyplomacy in the Ancient Near East
- The collapse of the Bronze age kingdoms and the Dark age
- The Neo-Assyrian rebirth and the small kingdoms of the Iron age
- From the Late Babylonian Empire to the Persian egemony
Students who do not attend the lessons must contact the teacher to define a specific program.
With regard to the SDG 4, the class contributes to the development of a non-Eurocentric cultural perspective and a multicultural approach to the subject.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Lectures, including seminars, with reading and commenting of ancient sources in translation. Non attending students need to contact the teacher to obtain an alternative program.

Learning assessment procedures

Oral test. Questions will regard the political, economic, social and cultural history of the Ancient Near East. The student will also be asked to critically comment one of the sources discussed in class.
During the test, together with the historical knowledge, the teacher will also judge the skill at critically analyse the sources, and the clarity of the exposition.

Evaluation criteria

Assessment of the knowledge acquired in class, of the control of the critical tools of ancient history and of the technical language of the discipline.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

Evaluation of the oral exam

Exam language

italiano