Getting Started

Course Materials: CD-ROMs

Archaeology in the News

Class Discussions

Assessments and Grading

Module Overview

Each Module in this course acts as a distinct unit containing lectures, readings and other materials which you will study and then complete the Module Quiz.

Each quiz will be available for one week: Monday-Sunday. You make take the quiz anytime during the week that you feel ready.

Quiz dates are given on the Calendar.

Module 1

Our first module begins with prehistory: the evolution of homo sapiens, ancient cave paintings, the beginnings of agriculture, the first villages, and the beginnings of a unified Egypt.  There are three lectures in this module: Cro-Magnon, Early Villages, and Pre-dynastic Egypt. There are also several interesting readings.

We also begin the Whose Mummy Is It? adventure, completing the first two days.  Don’t forget to take the Quest!

Module 2

Next we delve into the early history of Egypt, studying the period known as the Old Kingdom.  This is the Egypt everyone knows: the Pyramids, the Sphinx, the great Pharaohs.  The two lectures are Early Old Kingdom and Late Old Kingdom.

We will explore hieroglyphs, read experts from ancient Egyptian moral and political texts, and view one film, “Pyramids and Cities of the Pharaohs.”

This module also continues with “Whose Mummy”, and you should finish days three-six.

Module 3

Often called the “Cradle of Civilization”, next we focus on Mesopotamia and its many empires and peoples: Sumer, Babylon, Akkadians, Assyrians and Persians. The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the foundation stones of world literature originated here.  Which brings us to the next topic of this module, the Origins of Writing.  We will look at the precursors to writing, pictographs, cuneiform, and areas where writing was first employed.

The two lectures are Mesopotamia and The Origins of Writing.  There is one film and several excellent readings in this module.  There is not a section from the “Whose Mummy” CD.

Module 4

This brings us back to Egypt.  Our three lectures are: Middle Kingdom, Egyptian Religion, and Egyptian Daily Life.  Readings include two articles on Egyptian beverages, beer and wine.  We will also read excerpts from Egyptian sacred texts and continue with Days seven and eight of the “Whose Mummy Is It?” CD.

Module 5

We continue with the history of Egypt, into the 18th Dynasty and the Amarna period, with a closer look at Egyptian Tombs.  We will view the second half of the film ‘Pyramids and Cities of the Pharaohs” and explore the National Geographic web site “At the Tomb of Tutankhamen.”  Readings include ancient Egyptian vernacular texts and a fascinating look at the famous Amarna ruler, "What Ailed Akhenaten & His Daughters?"

This module will also conclude the “Whose Mummy” adventure, as you will complete days nine through the end and solve the mystery!

Module 6

This is our last module focusing on Egypt.  The three lectures are: The Ramses, After the New Kingdom, and Christian/Muslim Egypt.  These give a glimpse of a very different Egypt, an Egypt ruled by foreigners, Lybians, Nubians and the Ptolomies and Rome.

Module 7

This module contains three lectures and three films, focusing on the ancient Greek and Roman worlds.  The lectures are: The Greek Temple, Roman Life, and Colonial Rome.  The films compliment the lectures and allow you an opportunity to step into this time period: “Athens and Ancient Rome”, “Rome and Pompeii”, and “Rome: the Ultimate Empire.”

Module 8

Here we look at two very different civilizations, Bronze Age China, and the Mayans.  Again, there are two lectures, each paired with an excellent film that expands upon the material covered in the lecture and readings.

We conclude with an article titled “Ghosts of Our Past,” which looks at the role of history in helping us understand the present, in particular reference to Egypt and the events of September 11, 2001.

Final Exam

See Assessment page of the Syllabus.