Go to bottom of document
301-302-303. Elementary Akkadian I, II, III. This course sequence
fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement. A three-quarter
sequence covering the elements of Babylonian grammar and the cuneiform writing
system, with reading exercises in Old Babylonian texts (ca. 1900-1600 B.C.)
such as the Laws of Hammurabi. W. Farber. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
Arabic and Islam
201-202-203. Intensive Elementary Arabic I, II, III. PQ: Second-year
standing. This course fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement.
This course concentrates on the acquisition of reading and aural skills in
modern formal Arabic. The class meets for six and one-half hours a week. C.
Killean. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
220-221-222. Introduction to Islamic Civilization I, II, III (=SocSci
220-221-222). This course traces the rise and development
of Islamic civilization from the appearance of Islam in the seventh century to
the present. The interrelationships of cultural, religious, and institutional
aspects are emphasized, particularly in their changes over time. Thus, while
the course proceeds chronologically, the following topics recur: political
developments, literature, law, philosophy, mysticism, the visual arts, social
life, and material culture. Throughout, the focus remains on the diversity of
cultural phenomena in Islamic civilization, rather than on any one particular
group of Muslims or geographical area. W. Kadi, Autumn; J. Woods, Winter; R.
Khalidi, Spring.
304-305-306. Intermediate Arabic I, II, III. PQ: Arab/I 203 or
equivalent. F. Mustafa. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
310-311-312. Advanced Arabic I, II, III. PQ: Consent of instructor. J.
Stetkevych. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
313-314. Cairene Arabic I, II. PQ: Arab/I 203 or equivalent. F. Mustafa.
Winter, Spring.
Armenian Studies
A course or courses in Armenian Studies are offered each year. Although
specific courses change yearly, topics have included Armenian art and
architecture, history, and linguistics. This program is made possible through
the United Armenian Cultural Association/The Ara and Edna Dumanian Foundation
Endowment Fund.
203. Introduction to Armenian History. G. Areshian. Autumn.
320. Archaeology of the Caucasus and the Armenian Highland. G. Areshian.
Autumn.
Go to top of document
Egyptology
201-202. Introduction to Egyptian Hieroglyphs. PQ: Second-year standing.
This course sequence, together with Egypt 203, fulfills the Common Core foreign
language requirement. Hieroglyphic writing and the grammar of the language
of classical Egyptian literature. Staff. Autumn, Winter.
203, 211. Middle Egyptian Texts I, II. Egypt 203, together with Egypt
201-202, fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement. Reading in
a variety of genres including historical, literary, and scientific texts.
Staff. Autumn, Spring.
212. Hieratic. Staff. Winter.
213. Old Egyptian. Staff. Spring.
221. Introduction to Coptic. Staff. Autumn.
222. Coptic Texts. Staff. Winter.
223. Introduction to Late Egyptian. Staff. Spring.
280. Women in Ancient Egypt (=NeCiv 277). A woman in ancient Egypt has been
described as "a `person' with all the implications of that term: holder of
(legal) rights, possessor of property, object of respect, able to have
influence over her own affairs, but remaining feminine." This class looks at
Egyptian literary and documentary texts in translation, at statuary and
two-dimensional artistic representations, and at archaeological materials, from
small objects through site plans, in order to study the social, economic, and
legal status of women in ancient Egypt in their public and private roles. J.
Johnson. Autumn.
Hebrew
201-202-203. Introductory Modern Hebrew I, II, III (=LngLin 201-202-203).
This course sequence fulfills the Common Core foreign language
requirement. Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
204-205-206. Intermediate Modern Hebrew I, II, III (=LngLin 204-205-206).
Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
Go to top of document
250-251-252. Elementary Classical Hebrew I, II, III (=JewStd 220-221-222).
This course sequence fulfills the Common Core foreign language
requirement. D. Pardee. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
253-254-255. Intermediate Classical Hebrew I, II, III (=JewStd 223-224-225).
D. Pardee. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
Hittite
320-321-322. Elementary Hittite I, II, III. This course sequence
fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement. H. Hoffner. Autumn,
Winter, Spring.
323-324-325. Intermediate Hittite I, II, III. H. Hoffner. Autumn,
Winter, Spring.
326-327-328. Advanced Hittite I, II, III. H. Hoffner. Autumn, Winter,
Spring.
Medieval Jewish Studies
380-381-382. Medieval Jewish History I, II, III. PQ: Consent of
instructor. This three-quarter sequence deals with the history of Jews over
a wide geographical and historical range. First-quarter work is concerned with
the rise of early rabbinic Judaism and development of the Jewish community in
Palestine and the eastern and western diasporas during the first several
centuries A.D. Topics include the legal status of the Jews in the Roman world,
the rise of rabbinic Judaism, the rabbinic literature of Palestine in that
context, the spread of rabbinic Judaism, the rise and decline of competing
centers of Jewish hegemony, the introduction of Hebrew language and culture
beyond the confines of their original home, and the impact of the birth of
Islam on the political and cultural status of the Jews. An attempt is made to
evaluate the main characteristics of Jewish belief and social concepts in the
formative periods of Judaism as it developed beyond its original geographical
boundaries. Topics include the legal status of the Jews in the Roman world.
Second-quarter work is concerned with the Jews under Islam, both in Eastern and
Western Caliphates. Third-quarter work is concerned with the Jews of Western
Europe until the time of the First Crusade. N. Golb. Autumn, Winter,
Spring.
Near Eastern Archaeology
Go to top of document
201. Archaeology of the Land of the Bible. An introduction to the
archaeology of ancient Palestine from the Neolithic period to the Roman era,
with emphasis on the culture of ancient Israel and its neighbors. Material
remains and relevant texts are examined in light of current interpretations of
social, political, and religious developments in the region. D. Schloen.
Winter.
335. Introduction to Islamic Archaeology. This course surveys the region of
the fertile crescent from the ninth to the nineteenth century. We aim for a
comparative stratigraphy for the archaeological periods of the last millennium.
Primary focus is on the consideration of the historical archaeology of the
Islamic lands, the interaction of history and archaeology, and the study of
patterns of cultural interaction over this region, which may also amplify
understanding of the ancient archeological periods of the Near East. D.
Whitcomb. Winter.
Go to top of document
348. Introduction to Anatolian Archaeology I: The Palaeolithic Period through
the Early Bronze Age. This lecture series focuses on the archaeological
heritage of Anatolia within the context of important technological,
territorial, and cultural changes that took place from the Palaeolithic period
through the third millenium B.C. Major theoretical issues in the rise of
agricultural production are surveyed. A critical evaluation of models of state
origins provides the basis for our understanding of the transformation of
Anatolia into complex state societies. Highlighted sites include Karain,
Çayönü, A[[currency]]ikli Höyük,
Çatal Hüyük, Hacilar, Alaca Höyük, Troy,
Kültepe, as well as recent finds from Kurban Höyük,
Degirmentepe, Ikiztepe, Göltepe/Kestel, and Arslantepe. A. Yener.
Autumn.
349. Introduction to Anatolian Archaeology II: The Assyrian Trading Colonies
through the Hittite Empire Periods. This lecture series focuses on the
archaeological heritage of Anatolia within the context of important
technological, territorial, and cultural changes that took place from the
Assyrian Trading Colony period through the Hittite period in the first half of
the second millenium B.C. The major theoretical issues in trade and exchange
systems form the theoretical backdrop for understanding the sophisticated
interregional exchange networks represented by the Assyrian trading colonies.
Sites discussed include Kültepe, Acemhöyük,
Ali[[currency]]ar and Bo(TM)azköy. A. Yener.
Autumn.
352. Problems in Anatolian Archaeology. This seminar focuses on the
archaeological heritage of the Amuq within the context of important
technological, territorial, and cultural changes that occurred in Anatolia,
Syria, and the Levant. This data is the basis for our understanding of the
major socioeconomic transformation, the change from early simple societies into
complex state societies in this unique environment bounded by resource-rich
mountain highlands. The Amuq collections at the Oriental Institute are
highlighted, with special emphasis on Ubaid/Uruk-related ceramics and the
Red-Black Burnished Ware (Khirbet-Kerak/Karaz-Pulur). A. Yener.
Autumn.
Go to top of document
353. Metal Technology and Social Organization in Anatolia. This seminar
focuses on the evolution of metal technology within the context of important
changes that emerged in complex societies in the Near East, with special
reference to Anatolia. A transformation from a basic trinket technology to
functional and technologically superior metal ornaments resulted in
manufacturing tools and weapons. Readings in theoretical issues of craft
specialization and wealth distribution establish a foundation for a critical
evaluation of excavated metal materials. Study collections from the Amuq at the
Oriental Institute are highlighted, along with finds from the Early Bronze Age
sites of Göltepe and Kestel. A. Yener. Winter.
Near Eastern History
201-202-203. History of the Ancient Near East I, II, III. This course
sequence fulfills the Common Core requirement in civilizational studies.
This sequence surveys the history of the ancient Near East from the earliest
periods to the death of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.). Areas covered include
Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Syria-Palestine, Iran, and Egypt. J. Brinkman, Staff.
Autumn, Winter, Spring.
Go to top of document
211-212-213. Near Eastern Civilization I, II, III. This course sequence
fulfills the Common Core requirement in civilizational studies. This
sequence deals with the ancient, Hellenistic, and Islamic Near East as a
connected whole. The first quarter focuses on key social, cultural, and
religious developments in Egypt, from the beginning of writing until Cyrus the
Great. Readings are taken from important literary, religious, and legal texts
(together with some parallel texts from the Hebrew Bible). The second quarter
follows certain sociocultural and intellectual developments in Mesopotamia,
Egypt, and Syria-Palestine between Cyrus and Muhammad, as seen in Hellenistic,
Persian, Romano-Byzantine, Jewish, and Christian sources--ending with an
overview of the situation in Arabia on the verge of Islam. The third quarter
begins with the fundamental texts of Islam and follows the working out of some
of their themes in the development of Islamic civilization in the following
centuries. Staff, Autumn; G. Gragg, Winter; J. Perry, Spring. Not offered
1995-96; will be offered 1996-97.
219/319. History of the Modern Middle East I (=Hist 325). PQ: SocSci
220-221-222 helpful. This course provides an introduction to the modern
history of the Middle East until 1914. It focuses on the paradigm of decline of
the Middle Eastern state, the concomitant rise of Western influence, and
indigenous reactions to these processes, beginning in the eighteenth century.
Readings include Gerber's Social Origins of the Modern Middle East and
Hourani's Arabic Thought in the Liberal Age. R. Khalidi. Winter.
220/320. History of the Modern Middle East II (=Hist 326). PQ: SocSci
220-221-222 helpful. This course examines the history of the Middle East
after World War I. The focus is on the relations between external powers and
the region, and on internal developments, notably the rise of modern national
movements. Among the topics examined are revolutionary change in the Arab world
starting in the 1950s and the growing legitimacy of the territorial
nation-state and of radical Islamic ideologies. R. Khalidi. Spring.
Go to top of document
290. Honors Program. PQ: Consent of instructor. In consultation with
a faculty member, students devote the equivalent of one- or two-quarter courses
to the preparation of a senior honors paper. For more information on the honors
program, see the general description in the front of this catalog section.
Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
301-302. Introduction to Early Islamic History I, II. PQ: SocSci
220-221-222 or consent of instructor. Must be taken in sequence.
This course offers an overview of the main political and socioeconomic
developments in the Near East and North Africa from the rise of Islam (ca. 600
C.E.) until ca. 1100 C.E., surveys the modern scholarly literature on this
period, and reviews the basic categories of sources and historiographical
issues arising from them. F. Donner. Autumn, Winter. Not offered 1995-96;
will be offered 1996-97.
383. Topics in Medieval Islamic Social History. PQ: SocSci
220-221-222. This course surveys topics such as patterns of social
organization (tribal affiliations, kinship systems, and class identities);
slavery and clientage; nomads in Near Eastern society; non-Muslims in Muslim
society; conversion to Islam; historical demography; technology and social
change; women in Islamic society; and Islamic urbanism. F. Donner. Winter.
Persian
201-202-203. Elementary Persian, I, II, III. This course sequence
fulfills the Common Core foreign language requirement. The sequence
concentrates on modern written Persian, with some introduction to classical
literature and modern colloquial usage. Upon completion of the grammar (by the
end of winter quarter), stories, articles, and verse are read. The class
meets three hours a week with the instructor and two hours with a native
informant who conducts grammatical drills and Persian conversation. J.
Perry. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
Go to top of document
204-205-206. Intermediate Persian I, II, III. PQ: Persian 203 and
consent of department chairman. J. Perry. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
Sumerian
Go to middle of document
Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations Courses
Akkadian
Go to bottom of document
Go to bottom of document
Go to bottom of document
Go to bottom of document
Go to bottom of document
Go to bottom of document
Go to bottom of document
Go to bottom of document