History of the Mediterranean in the Ancient World
Code: 106864 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2504611 Archaeology | OB | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Jordi Cortadella Morral
- Email:
- jordi.cortadella@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge (introductory) in Ancient History of the Near East, Greece and Rome.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The objective of the subject is to analysed the main social and political structures of Mediterranean civilizations during Antiquity. Firstly, we will focus on the context of the Eastern Mediterranean of the 3rd millennium BC, and on the impact of this area on the peripheral Mediterranean areas, affected by the phenomena of exchange, colonizers, migration and conquests. Secondly, we will look at those phenomena and events that led to Mediterranean unity, both on a cultural and political level. It will also be important to delve into institutional aspects and issues of daily life. To achieve our objectives it will be important to become familiar with the available primary sources (textual and archaeological), which must be related to historical interpretations.
Learning Outcomes
- KM19 (Knowledge) Understand the main and diverse theoretical (epistemological and ontological) and methodological debates in the context of the study of ancient and medieval societies.
- KM21 (Knowledge) Explain ancient and medieval historical processes from a critical and reflective perspective, analysing how archaeological evidence can question current theoretical frameworks.
- KM22 (Knowledge) Understand the processes of social formation in the ancient and medieval periods and from the perspective of geographical, social and gender diversity to build inclusive historical accounts that avoid taking androcentric and Eurocentric perspectives.
- SM21 (Skill) Develop critical and reflective archaeological thought from the inference and generation of ancient and medieval archaeological information.
- SM22 (Skill) Consider the relationship between the archaeological record and the historical processes of ancient and medieval times in their respective contexts and social complexity.
Content
1. The Sea, the mountains, the Sahara and the Atlantic. The long march towards civilization: The first agricultural civilization (Fertile Crescent and Asia Minor).
2. Mesopotamia and Egypt. The potter's shift, domestic animals, fabrics, wood. Copper and bronze, the writings. Cities: earthly life and eternal life.
3. River ships, Mediterranean ships (the first sailors). Syria, Egypt and the Red Sea; The Mediterranean Levant. The expansion of megaliths: from the Levant to the Atlantic.
4. Centuries of unity. The seas of the Levant from 1500 to 1200: The acceleration of exchanges. Crete. Accidents, evolutions and catastrophes: mountaineers and sailors (nomadism). The Hittites and the Semites.
5. The Peoples of the Sea. Everything changes from the 12th to the 8th century: The "balkanization" of the Middle East. The people of the steppes (the horse).
6. Indo-Europeans and Celtic invasions. Iron metallurgy and alphabetic writing.
7. Colonizations. 10th to 6th centuries. The Phoenicians and Carthage. The Etruscans.
8. Greek colonization. The "Greek miracle." The polis: hoplites and rowers; democracy and slavery.
9. The empire of Darius and the error of Alexander the Great.
10. The example of Pyrrhus. "Graecia Capta" (146 BC). Roman imperialism: Rome against Carthage.
11. The Near East: the coveted prey. From the city to the Empire (131-31 BC).
12. Beyond the Mediterranean. Cimbri and teutones.
13. Caesar conquers Gaul (59-50 BC). Trajan, the Dacians and the Euphrates.
14. Mediterranean civilization. Landscapes, cities and techniques. Cities and empire.
15. Roman originalities.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Practices and seminars | 10 | 0.4 | KM19, KM22, SM21, SM22, KM19 |
| Theoretical classes | 35 | 1.4 | KM19, KM22, SM21, KM19 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Preparation of practical activities | 15 | 0.6 | KM21, SM21, SM22, KM21 |
| Tutorials | 10 | 0.4 | KM22, SM21, KM22 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Lectura de bibliografia | 30 | 1.2 | KM19, KM22, SM21, KM19 |
| Preparation of activities and written tests | 45 | 1.8 | KM21, SM21, SM22, KM21 |
- Attendance at theoretical classes led by the teacher.
- Comprehensive reading of texts and interpretation of maps, graphs, tables and archaeological documents.
- Realization of reviews, works and analytical comments.
- Personal study.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam | 40 | 1.5 | 0.06 | KM19, KM21, KM22, SM21, SM22 |
| practical work | 60 | 3.5 | 0.14 | KM19, KM21, KM22, SM21, SM22 |
The evaluation of the subject will be carried out based on 3 notes:
1.- CONTINUOUS EVALUATION-A (30% of the final grade): individual practical activities related to the analysis of primary sources . The practices are mandatory, necessary to take the exam.
2.- CONTINUOUS EVALUATION-B (30% of the final grade): individual practical activities related to the analysis ofspecialized bibliography. The practices are mandatory, necessary to take the exam.
3.- EXAM (40% of the final grade): It will be carried out during class time and will consist of 2 activities: a) the development of a topic, to choose from several options; b) the commentary on a literary or archaeological document.
To be eligible for reevaluation of a suspended activity, it is necessary to have taken all the tests (exam and practical activities) and have passed at least one.
This subject offers the possibility of taking a "Single Assessment". This option assumes a single assessment date, but not a single assessment activity. Therefore, the Single Assessment of this subject will be carried out, like the Continuous Assessment, based on two grades:
- PRACTICES (50%): Two practical activities will be proposed (comments on primary sources) of which a short written comment must be submitted. The student must deliver these activities, equivalent to those contemplated in the Continuous Assessment, on the established assessment date.
- FINAL EXAM (50%): It will take place on the established evaluation date and will consist of: a) Test 30 short questions; b) Develop two theme questions, to choose from four options.
The Single Assessment exercises may coincide with dates reserved for the Continuous Assessment.
The same recovery system as for the Continuous Assessment will be applied.
At the time of carrying out each assessment activity, the teacher will inform the students (Moodle) of the procedure and the date of review of the qualifications.
Bibliography
- AUBET, M.E., Tiro y las colonias fenicias de Occidente, Ed. Bellaterra, Barcelona 2009.
- BRAUDEL, F., Memorias del Mediterráneo: Prehistoria y Antigüedad, Ed Cátedra, Madrid, 1998.
- DICKINSON, O., El Egeo, de la Edad del Bronce a la Edad del Hierro, Ed. Bellaterra, Barcelona 2010.
- GRACIA, F., MUNILLA, G., Protohistoria: pueblos y culturas en el Mediterráneo entre los siglos XIV y II a.C., Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 2004.
- GRIMAL, P., La formación del Imperio romano, Siglo XXI, Madrid 1990.
- GÓMEZ ESPELOSÍN, F.J., Historia de Grecia Antigua, Akal Textos, Madrid 1995.
- GRAS, M., El Mediterráneo arcaico, Alderabán, Madrid, 1999.
- KARAGEORGHIS, V., Chipre, encrucijada del Mediterráneo Oriental 1600-500 a.C., Bellaterra, Barcelona 2004.
- LOPEZ BARJA, P., Historia de Roma, Akal Textos, Madrid 2004.
- REDFORD,D.B., Egypt, Canaan and Israel in Ancient Times, Princeton University Press, Princeton 1992.
- PLÁCIDO, D., ALVAR, J., GONZÁLEZ WAGNER, C., La formación de los estados en el Mediterráneo occidental, Síntesis, Madrid 1991.
- POTER, D.S. (ed.). A companion to the Roman Empire, Blackwell, Oxford, 2006.
- OSBORNE, R. La formación de Grecia, 1200 - 479 a.C., Crítica, Barcelona, 1998.
Software
Virtual Campus, projected in the classroom with a projector cannon.
Language list
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |