Undergraduate Course: The Archaeology and History of Egypt: the Early Dynastic until the end of the Middle Kingdom (c. 3100-1650 BC) (ARCA10088)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces students to the study of the archaeology and history of ancient Egypt from the start of the 1st Dynasty at c. 3000 BC, and through the two Pyramid Ages of the Old and Middle Kingdoms, ending at c. 1650 BC. The course will focus on providing a basic solid grounding on the chronology, geography, society and political organisation of Egypt during this period. It will furthermore look to aspects of religion, daily life, and provide some insights into art and literature, particularly pertinent for the Middle Kingdom, the classic period of Egyptian literature. |
| Course description |
The content of this course will reflect scholarly research into Egyptian religion from the earliest times right up until today, and discussion of changing scholarly opinion and interpretations will be flagged up during the weekly meetings. The course will also promote familiarity with archaeological sites, and the history of their excavation, as well as bringing students into contact with artefacts through images, publications and museum collections online.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Archaeology courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. Enrolments for this course are managed by the CAHSS Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department. All enquiries to enrol must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
80 %,
Practical Exam
20 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework:
1,000 word Portfolio of object and text in translation with Commentary (20%)
3,000 word Essay (60%)
Non-Written Skills:
PowerPoint presentation with citations included on slides and with voice over (recorded) (20%) |
| Feedback |
Students will receive written feedback on their coursework, and will have the opportunity to discuss that feedback further with the Course Organisers during their published office hours or by appointment.
Formative/forward feedback for assessment will be provided by feedback on a plan of one of the portfolio of short reviews, midway through the semester. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate a familiarity with key sites, periods, texts and assemblages;
- locate sources relating to Egyptological research, both in print and online;
- work and critically analyse the theories of others, with references back to the work of scholars over the past 150 years; and to appreciate the reasons why these changes have occurred and where our knowledge has advanced;
- engage in a balanced way when considering evidence and interpretations, and where appropriate, in reflecting on this through online or on campus group discussions.
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Reading List
Bourriau, J. 1988. Pharaohs and Mortals: Egyptian Art in the Middle Kingdom. Cambridge: Fitzwilliam Museum.
Butzer, K.W. 1976. Early hydraulic civilization in Egypt: a study in cultural ecology, 57-80. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Grajetzki, W. 2006. The Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt: history, archaeology and society. Duckworth Egyptology. London: Duckworth.
Hornung, E., Krauss, R. and Warburton, D. 2006. Ancient Egyptian Chronology. Leiden: Brill.
Kemp, B.J. 2006. Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization. London: Routledge.
Lehner, M. 1997. The Complete Pyramids. London: Thames and Hudson.
Lichtheim, M. 1976. Ancient Egyptian Literature. Vol I - The Old and Middle Kingdoms. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Lloyd, A.B. (ed.). 2010. A Companion to Ancient Egypt. Chichester/Malden: Wiley-Blackwell.
Miniaci, G. and Grajetzki, W. (eds). 2016. The World of Middle Kingdom Egypt (2000-1550 BC). Vols. I and II. London: Golden House.
Moeller, N. 2015. The Archaeology of Urbanism in Ancient Egypt: From the Predynastic Period to the End of the Middle Kingdom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Moreno Garcia, J. C. (ed.), Ancient Egyptian administration, 341-392. Leiden: E.J. Brill.
Oppenheim, A, Arnold, D., Arnold, D. and Yamamoto, K. (eds). 2015. Ancient Egypt Transformed: The Middle Kingdom. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Parkinson, R. 1991. Voices from Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Middle Kingdom Writings. London: British Museum Press.
Richards, J. E. 2005. Society and Death in Ancient Egypt: mortuary landscapes of the Middle Kingdom. Cambridge.
Szpakowska, K. 2008. Daily Life in Ancient Egypt. Oxford: Blackwell. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
- An understanding of methods and skills involved in academic research
- Developing the skills to examine and evaluate textual (in translation), pictorial and other archaeological sources
- Gaining a broad understanding of the important textual documents relating to these periods, and a general understanding of how the language works and was used
- Developing the ability to identify, define and analyse archaeological problems
- Gaining experience and enhanced ability to make a critical review of discussions, articles
- Being able to critique texts by scholars in light of the time and social circumstances of their writing
- Gaining the skills to extract key points from book chapters/articles
- Developing a knowledge of the subject area that takes in changes in its development over the past 150 years, and be aware of current themes
- Gaining a good understanding and appreciation of the importance of the ancient and environment within research
- Improving ability to conduct independent research using largely electronic sources, and investigate additional online sources |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Joanne Rowland
Tel: (0131 6)51 1925
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Claire Brown
Tel: (0131 6)50 3582
Email: |
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