REL 228: History and Culture of the Ancient Near East, Spring 2001. SYLLABUS      RJDKnauth
MWF 10:15-11:20. Office D-320, tel: 321-4298(GAYT), home: 326-3822, email: knauth@lycoming.edu

            The primary purpose of this course is to explore the history and culture of the ancient Near East, focusing on Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Syria-Palestine (the “fertile crescent”), with emphasis on its cultural legacy - both as the cultural context for the birth of the Judaeo-Christian religious tradition and as highly influential to modern society more generally.  Considerable attention will be given to primary sources (Kramer and Pritchard) and archaeological contributions (with slide illustrations).  Most weeks will include a student-led discussion session, beginning in Wk 3.  Weekly quizzes and reflection paragraphs will provide extra incentive to do the reading, so as to be prepared to participate actively in the discussion sessions.

Texts:   History Begins at Sumer: Thirty-nine Firsts in Recorded History, S.N. Kramer
            The Ancient Near East, Amelie Kuhrt (in 2 volumes)
            The Ancient Near East: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures (Vol. 1), ed. J.B. Pritchard
                                                                                                                                    (on reserve) 

           Course Requirements: 

1)      Attendance and informed participation (readings having been completed) at all class sessions will be expected (worth 10% of the final grade).  The attendance policy for this course is that there are no excused absences without a written note from a doctor or parent/guardian regarding a serious family or medical emergency (e.g. requiring hospitalization). Each set of 3 absences lowers your grade by 1%.   

2)      Weekly Quizzes on that week’s chapter of Kuhrt (worth 10% of the final grade) will take place at the beginning of class each Monday as listed in this syllabus, so be sure to read Kuhrt by Monday of each week.  Of 12 quizzes, the lowest 2 grades will be dropped from the average.

3)      Weekly Reflection Papers (1 page typed, worth 10% of the final grade) on the assigned sets of readings from Kramer will be collected each Friday in class, and will be the basis for class discussion on that day.  If participation is scanty, then the discussion leader is authorized to call on students at random. Of the 12 sets, students may opt to skip 2 of their choice, making 10 total.

4)      Students wishing to make up for absences or missed quizzes may submit Outline Summaries of the assigned chapter of Kuhrt for that week (1-2 pages, typed).

5)      There will be a Midterm (Fri-2/23, worth 20% of the grade) and Final (2 hours, 30% of grade).
          Review sheets will be handed out in advance.

6)      Students will team up to be responsible for Leading a Discussion Session on a set of cultural “firsts” from Kramer.  Students will sign up for their week on Monday, Jan. 15th.  Students may structure the class however they wish, and will also turn in a short Write-up (approx. 6 pgs) of the relevant issues, background, biblical and modern parallels. Presentation and write-up will be worth 20% of the grade.

Please note that reflection papers, write-ups and presentations should NOT be primarily a summary of what Kramer has already written.  I am looking for deeper reflection, biblical and modern parallels or application, or other relevant historical background.  I am looking to see your own thought and engagement with the material.  Discussion Sessions should seek to foster wider student participation and engagement with the ideas of the material.  This is what will make it both memorable and worthwhile.

Schedule of Readings:                                                                                         

 Week 1: Early Bronze Mesopotamia (3000-2000 BCE) 
M (Jan. 8)- Introduction.
                 Overview of History, Politics & Ecology of “the fertile crescent,” influence on Religion.
W (Jan. 10)- Kuhrt Introduction and ch. 1:  Mesopotamian Early Bronze (3000–2000). *Quiz 0. 
                  Early Dynastic, Sargon’s Akkadian Empire, the Ur III Dynasty (Ziggurat - cf Gen. 11). Slides.
F (Jan. 12)- Discuss Kramer Intro, Appendix B, ch. 1-3: Writing and Schools.

 Week 2: Middle Bronze Mesopotamia (2000-1600 BCE) 
M (Jan. 15)- Kuhrt ch. 2: Middle Bronze Mesopotamia, Old Babylonian Period (2000–1600). *Quiz 1.
                  *Sign up for Leading Discussion!* (sign-up sheet on door of office D-320)
W (Jan. 17)- Biblical origins, patriarchs, and ANE legal tradition (Hammurabi, Covenant Code).
                   Read Genesis 1-12, Exodus 20-23, Pritchard pp. 31-74, 80-85, 133-166, 260-262.  Slides.
F (Jan. 19)- Discuss Kramer ch. 4-6: Politics. *1st Reflection Paper (RP) due (typed!).

 Week 3: Early Bronze and Middle Bronze Egypt (3100-1550 BCE) 
M (Jan. 22)- Kuhrt ch. 3: Egyptian Early Dynastic, Old Kingdom, 1st Intermediate (3100–2000)
                   The Pyramid Age!  A bit of Egyptian religion. Read Pritchard pp. 1-5. *Quiz 2 (on Kuhrt ch. 3).
W (Jan. 24)- Kuhrt ch. 3: Egyptian Middle Kingdom and 2nd Intermediate (2000-1550)
          Israel in Egypt: Joseph & Hyksos. Read Genesis 37, 39-50; Pritchard pp. 5-27, 173-175, 252-257.
F (Jan. 26)- Discuss Kramer ch. 7-9: Law and Justice.  *2nd RP due.

 Week 4: Late Bronze to Iron I Egypt (1550-1069) 
M (Jan. 29)- Kuhrt ch. 4: Egyptian New Kingdom (1550–1069). *Quiz 3.
W (Jan. 31)- Israelite Exodus in New Kingdom context. Read Exodus 1-15, Pritchard pp. 85-86, 231.
F (Feb. 2)- Discuss Kramer ch. 10-12: Farming and Medicine.  *3rd RP due.

 Week 5: Hittites - Middle Bronze and Late Bronze Anatolia (1800-1200)
M (Feb. 5)- Kuhrt ch. 5: The Hittites (1800–1200 in Anatolia). *Quiz 4.
W (Feb. 7)- Slides.  Filmstrips on Egypt.     
F (Feb. 9)- Discuss Kramer ch. 13-15: Philosophy. *4th RP due.

 Week 6: Late Bronze Syria-Palestine (1550-1200) 
M (Feb. 12)- Kuhrt ch. 6: Syria, Levant. Egypt in Canaan. *Quiz 5.  [Rec. Pritchard pp. 92-132, 262-277].
W (Feb. 14)- Hittite-Egyptian burnout, Troy falls, Sea Peoples, Israelites: end of LB civilization.
F (Feb. 16)- Discuss Kramer ch. 16-18: Wisdom.  *5th RP due.

 Week 7: Late Bronze to Iron I and IIa Mesopotamia (1600-900)
M (Feb. 19)- Kuhrt ch. 7: Mesopotamia (1600-900). *Quiz 6.
W (Feb. 21)-  Review for Midterm.
F (Feb. 23)-  Midterm Exam (worth 20% of final grade).

Spring Break!!!  Feb. 24 – March 4. Enjoy your week!              

 Week 8: Iron Age Syria-Palestine (1200-720) 
M (Mar. 5)- Kuhrt ch. 8: Iron Age Syria/Palestine - A bit of Biblical history (1200-720). *Quiz 7.
W (Mar. 7)-  Biblical Exodus and Conquest, Philistines, Tribal League and Early Monarchy.  Slides.
                 Read Pritchard 185-187, 209-214, Judges, 2Samuel 5; skim 1Kings 1 – 2Kings 14.
F (Mar. 9)- Discuss Kramer ch. 19-21 Biblical Parallels: Paradise, Flood, Resurrection. *6th RP.

 Week 9:  Iron IIb-c Mesopotamia: the Neo-Assyrian Empire
M (Mar. 12)- Kuhrt ch. 9: The Neo-Assyrian Empire (934-610).  Skim 2nd Kings. *Quiz 8.
W (Mar. 14)- Israel in the Assyrian Crisis. Read 2Kings 15-21, Pritchard pp. 188-202.
F (Mar. 16)- Discuss Kramer ch. 22-24: Heroic Age.  *7th RP due.

 Week 10: Iron Age Anatolia
M (Mar. 19)- Kuhrt ch. 10: Anatolia (900–550). *Quiz 9.
W (Mar. 21)-  **Special – on Archaeology, touring and digging in Israel and Egypt, modern politics.
F (Mar. 23)- Discuss Kramer ch. 25-27: Golden Age.  *8th RP due.

 Week 11:  Iron IIb-c Mesopotamia: the Neo-Babylonian Empire
M (Mar. 26)- Kuhrt ch. 11: Babylonia (900–539). *Quiz 10.
W (Mar. 28)-  Israel’s fall and exile.  Read Pritchard pp. 203-206, 2Kings 22-25, Daniel 1-6.  Slides.
F (Mar. 30)- Discuss Kramer ch. 28-30: Societal Ideals and Failings.  *9th RP due.

 Week 12: Iron II Egypt (1000-525)
M (Apr. 2)- Kuhrt ch. 12: Egyptian 3rd Intermediate period (1000–664). *Quiz 11 (on Kuhrt ch. 12).
                   Piye, “Tirhaqa,” Necho, and the Sudanese Pyramids.
W (Apr. 4)- Kuhrt ch. 12 (cont’d): Egyptian Saite Period (664-525).  
F (Apr. 6)-  Discuss Kramer ch. 31-33: Literary Imagery and Sex Symbolism.  *10th RP due.

 Week 13:  The Persian Empire (539-330)
M (Apr. 9)-  Kuhrt ch. 13: Persian period (539-330). *Quiz 12.
                   Read Ezra 1-7, Esther, Pritchard pp. 206-208.  Slides.
W (Apr. 11)- Discuss Kramer ch. 34-36: Mothers.  **11th RP due (note due Wed!).  
F (Apr. 13)- Good Friday – No Class.  Happy Easter!

  Week 14: Kramer wrap-up and review
M (Apr. 16)- Discuss Kramer ch. 37-39: Elegies and Fish.  *12th RP due (note due Mon!).
W (Apr. 18)- Discuss Kramer Appendix A: Mapping.  *Hand out review sheets.*
F (Apr. 20)- Review for final exam.

A two-hour Final Exam, covering the entire course, will follow during Exam Period (30% of final grade).

A Note on Workload:  College courses require preparation – on average three hours of preparation for every one hour in class.  At Lycoming College the standard is 10 hours of preparation time per week per course, not including class time.  This is more than a full-time job!  However, given the high amount you pay for your education, you will not get out of it what you deserve unless you put in the time and do the preparation.

A Note on Academic Dishonesty:  Academic Dishonesty is a serious offense at Lycoming College and in this class.  Academic Dishonesty includes failing to give credit to sources used (otherwise known as Plagiarism).  This would include copying material from books, articles, web sites or another student’s work without citing your source, whether on a formal paper or a short assignment.  You are allowed to discuss assignments together, but when it comes to writing out your answers, you must do your own work and use your own words.  If I receive two reflection papers, outline summaries or write-ups containing substantially identical wording, BOTH will receive an “F.” If I receive assignments containing substantial amounts of material copied from any source (other students’ papers, books, articles, web sites, etc.) without proper citation and credit being given, that student will receive an “F” on the project and will be reported to the Dean.  According to school policy, a second infraction of this type in any course at Lycoming College may result in expulsion from the school.  If you do not clearly understand what this means or what plagiarism is, please come and talk to me about it and I will be glad to explain. 

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