HÆGK03461U Critical Analysis of Material Culture

Volume 2015/2016
Education

Master’s Programmes in Ancient and Medieval Near Eastern Studies, 2008

Content

The course gives an introduction to the main categories of documentary texts from ancient Egypt with a focus on how such material may be used to reconstruct various aspects of daily life in an ancient society. The course will look at various types of material from the letters and legal documents of private individuals to the daily journals and accounts of temples and palaces. Through a series of case-studies, the course will address a wide range of themes related to Egyptian history such as resource management (how were large-scale projects like pyramid building and tomb excavations organised?), scribal practice (what does an Egyptian scribe actually do?), the legal system (how does one sell a house? how does one get a divorce?), institutional organisation (how do temples and palaces function?), and state administration (who collects taxes, and how? who has to pay, and how much?). The course consists of a mixture of lectures and workshops, and will involve active participation by students in the form of presentations and discussion.

Learning Outcome

KA 2008-ordning:
Critical analysis of material culture (Fagelementkode HÆGK03461E)

The student will submit a syllabus of 2000 pages, chosen after consultation with the course organizer. This syllabus will include a core reading list that deals with the main topics covered by the course (details to be made available at the start of the course), as well as literature dealing with the specific exam topic chosen by the student.

Students are expected to have a basic reading knowledge of English, French and German.
Classroom lectures and seminars.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 28
  • Preparation
  • 384,5
  • Total
  • 412,5
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Criteria for exam assesment