General provisions

The course belongs to the minor field Assyriology.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements and English 6

Learning outcomes

The course intends to give a basic knowledge of Akkadian and some knowledge of the cuneiform script, a knowledge of resources for interpretation of these and an introduction to the Near East's ancient history, archaeology and cultural history.

Module 1. Ancient Near East: Introduction, 7.5 credits

For the grade of Pass, on completion of the course students should be able to

• place well-known archaeological sites, historical personalities, periods and state formations in time and space
• give a basic summary of the state of evidence concerning important historical personalities, object categories and events
• distinguish between and explain principles of archaeological and historical dating systems
• distinguish between and explain basic features of written language and writing systems and relate these to language families and historical cultures
• conduct coherent arguments around cultural expressions and the occurrence and dispersion of ideas and technologies in the Near East.

Module 2. Akkadian, 15 credits

For the grade of Pass, on completion of the course students should be able to

• give an account of basic concepts in general phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics in established linguistic terminology
• give an account of the place of Akkadian and Sumerian among the ancient languages of the Near East and give an elementary account of the role of Akkadian as a Semitic language
• give an account of the basics of the phonology, morphology and syntax of Akkadian
• interpret a small selection of basic Neo-Assyrian cuneiform signs
• transcribe, read aloud and translate simple transliterated Akkadian texts that have been introduced during the course, and carry out basic grammatical and content-based analysis of these texts
• transliterate, transcribe, read aloud and translate simple Akkadian texts that have been introduced during the course, and carry out basic grammatical and content-based analysis of these texts.

Module 3. Ancient Near East: Archaeology and art (7.5 credits)

For the grade of Pass, on completion of the course students should be able to

• describe regional differences in environment and relate these to variations in settlement patterns and economic strategies
• distinguish distinct features of Mesopotamian material culture, ritual practice and ideology and their development over time
• summarise crucial developmental stages regarding urbanisation, state formation and information technology and give examples of expressions of these stages in the archaeological material
• discuss trade networks and cultural contacts within the scope of broader geographical and archaeological contexts.

Content

The course consists of three modules.

Module 1. Ancient Near East: Introduction, 7.5 credits

Orientation in the history, archaeology, art and religion of the ancient Near East. Chronological overview of the prehistory of the area since the emergence of agriculture, its historical geography and shifting mosaic of state formations and important features of these. Thematic overviews of archaeological and historical sources through which cultures in this important region can be studied, with a special focus on Mesopotamia's literature, science and religion.

Module 2. Akkadian, 15 credits

Overview of Akkadian grammar in the Old Babylonian dialect and introduction to the cuneiform script through proficiency-training seminars and tools in the form of dictionaries and sign lists. Phonetics, a thorough review of morphology, the most important aspects of the syntax, and reading and interpretation of about 300 lines of Akkadian text in cuneiform script.

Module 3. Ancient Near East: Archaeology and art (7.5 credits)

Broad and in-depth orientation in the Near East's archaeology and art. A series of thematically organised lectures and seminars with studies of the region's geography, economics, trade, social organisation, aesthetics and symbolism, and their material expressions with an emphasis on Mesopotamia.

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, exercises and assessment components. The student's own learning activities are crucial during the course. Good preparations for and active participation in each teaching session are required in sessions involving language and text. Absence from more than two seminars in module 2 and more than one seminar in module 3 can be made up by written assignments corresponding to the contents of the seminar concerned.

Assessment

Module 1. Ancient Near East: Introduction, 7.5 credits

Assessment takes place in the form of continuous written assignments and a written examination at the end of the course. Pass with distinction requires this grade in at least one of the components as well as a result in the other component that, after overall assessment of knowledge and presentations in both the components, is deemed to correspond to a higher grade.

Module 2. Akkadian, 15 credits

Assessment takes place in the form of continuous oral and written assignments and a written examination at the end of the course. The general linguistic terminology is mainly assessed through an online examination. A high degree of preparation for and active participation in each teaching session contributes to the grade on the continuous assignments.

Module 3. Ancient Near East: Archaeology and art (7.5 credits)

Assessment takes place in the form of continuous written assignments and a written examination at the end of the course. Pass with distinction requires this grade in both the components. A high degree of preparation for and active participation in each teaching session contributes to the grade on the continuous assignments. Submission of the take-home examination after the due time is taken into consideration when grading.

To pass the course with distinction, this grade is required on at least 22.5 credits from the modules.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other directives

The course may not be used in a degree together with the course Ancient Near East: Introduction (5AS103) or Ancient Near East: Archaeology and Art (5AS104).