1/406 - Archaeology and Art History of the Ancient Near East

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objective of the course is to provide a theoretical and methodological background on the main cultures of the ancient Near East, with particular reference to the development of specific subsistence strategies that emerged in response to the different paleo-environmental contexts that characterize the ancient Near East. Therefore, in addition to a history of studies and general definition of ancient Near Eastern cultures, those "transitional" periods such as the transition between the Epipaleolithic and the Neolithic in the Levant (the "Neolithic revolution") and the era of the "urban revolution" will be examined; the emergence of nomadic/sedentary cultural dimorphism between the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula at the dawn of the Iron Age; the advent of the Neo-Assyrian empire and the development of interregional trade networks as vectors for the spread of goods, ideas and traditions in the 1st millennium BCE. For the purpose of a good understanding of the diversity of cultural phenomena in the ancient Near Eastern world and for students to be aware of the state of research, the results of the most recent archaeological campaigns of international missions will be covered.

The assessment of the actual overall acquisition of knowledge will take place in two stages: in the first stage, during lectures, with continuous discussion of the topics covered; in the second stage with institutional verification by oral examination.

ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

The student must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of issues related to the prehistoric and historical cultures of the ancient Near Eastern areas covered in the course. Furthermore, from the notions learned concerning the state of the art and the results of the most recent archaeological campaigns and the most modern methods of analysis applied in the contexts treated, the student must demonstrate the ability to elaborate even complex discussions concerning specific or interregional cultural phenomena.

ADDITIONAL EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Autonomy of judgment:

Students should have the ability to handle acquired skills with critical attitude and autonomy of judgment and make assessments even on the basis of limited or incomplete data.

Communication skills:

Students must be able to clearly communicate the result of the knowledge learned and effectively use the acquired methodological tools.

Learning skills:

Students should have developed the skills necessary to undertake further studies with a good degree of autonomy and critical sense.