UANT 311
Rise of
Civilizations
Associate Dean,
Robt. Cudd Hall
Tel. 865-5720
Fax 862-8740
e-mail:
Christopher Scarre and Brian Fagan. Ancient Civilizations, 2nd ed. Prentice-Hall.
This course traces
the evolution of human culture from the origins of farming and domestication to
the development of complex societies.
General processes of urbanization and social stratification will be
investigated, and examples will be drawn from throughout the Old and New
Worlds, including the classical civilizations of the Near East,
The course has two
primary objectives: (1) to help you
become familiar with the factors and processes that give rise to complex
societies; and (2) to help you understand the nature of evidence and inference
that are involved in the study of ancient societies.
PLEASE NOTE: Class lectures parallel, but do not attempt
to duplicate, material already covered in the required readings.
In addition to
attendance and participation in class discussions, your required work for this
course will include two exams and the creation of two maps. Course work is weighted as follows: class attendance and participation 15%; maps
10%; mid-term 35%; final exam 40%. The exams will consist of a mixture of
multiple choice, other short-answer, and essay questions.
All assigned readings are in Scarre and Fagan.
May 18 Introduction. Organization of the course. Sources of information about ancient
societies. The importance of
geography.
May 20 Paleolithic
Foundations: The broad course of
human development during the Pleistocene.
World environments and environmental change at the end of the
Pleistocene.
Ecology,
Food, and Power: The interrelationships of ecology, modes of
food production, and social/political organization. READ Chapters 1 and 2.
May 25 Origins
of Food Production in the
The Emergence of Mesopotamian
Civilization. READ Chapter 3. First map due.
May 27 From
Village to State in
Cultural Complexity in Sub-Saharan
June 1 The Indus Valley and Beyond: Early complex societies in the Indian
subcontinent and eastern
June 3 Mid-term Exam
June 8 Early
Aegean Civilizations. READ Chapters
9 and 10.
June 10 The
Spread of Agriculture and Long Distance Trade in
June 15 Ancient
Civilizations of the Mesoamerican
June 17 Ancient
Civilizations of the Mesoamerican Highlands.
June 22 TBA
[class will meet]
June 24 Early
Civilizations in Peru: The Mochica
and Chimu civilizations; a brief look at the emergence of the Inca. READ Chapters 17 and 18.
June 29 FINAL
EXAM