Postgraduate Course: Etruscan Italy, 1000 - 300 BC (PGHC11059)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course examines the development of Etruscan society in central Italy from a formative stage in the Early Iron Age, through the growth and consolidation of city states, interaction and trade with neighbouring peoples (e.g. Greeks, Phoenicians and Celts) and subsequent transformation and decline associated with the expansion of Rome. |
| Course description |
The course examines the development of Etruscan society, one of the first urban civilizations in western Europe, from a formative stage in the Early Iron Age through the growth and expansion of city states (7th-5th centuries BC), urban life, and the subsequent transformation associated with the expansion of Rome in the 4th-3rd centuries BC. A range of evidence is considered, primarily from archaeological sites, with an emphasis on funerary as well as residential contexts, inscriptions and 'art' (notably tomb paintings). Themes of particular interest include social organisation (using funerary data), state formation, urbanisation, social identities, trade and interaction (both within the Mediterranean and with central Europe).
The course is designed for those with a special interest in early civilizations, the ancient Mediterranean world, and ancient art. Major topics for discussion on a weekly basis are: Early Iron Age settlements; Burials and funerary rituals, 950-700 BC; The rise of the city state (8th-7th centuries BC) and the Orientalizing phenomenon; Etruscan settlements in the 7th-6th centuries BC; Urbanisation; The Etruscans and their neighbours (Greeks, Phoenicians, Celts): trade, interaction and mobility; Trade, harbours and sanctuaries; Towns and town planning in the 6th-5th centuries BC; Iconography and ideology: funerary traditions and tomb painting in the 6th-5th century BC; Etruria in the Hellenistic period (4th-2nd centuries BC).
The course is especially concerned with: how different types of evidence (archaeological, textual, numismatic, etc.) can be used to illuminate aspects of the period; controversies and hypotheses surrounding the processes of change during this period, with specific reference to the increasing complexity of funerary evidence, changes in settlement patterns and in the character of residential sites; the applicability of general theoretical models and methodologies in elucidating such questions as the formation of a state; the way in which different research traditions and approaches, past and present, may impact on reconstruction; the place and significance of Etruscan civilisation within the broader setting of the western European Iron Age and the transition from 'prehistory' to 'history'.
The course comprises eleven class meetings (22 contact hours) and is equivalent to 20 credits. Classes consist of single sessions, separated by a 5-minute interval, usually incorporating shortish lectures (20-40 minutes), discussion sessions (10-20 minutes) and some group-based collaborative work.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate by way of coursework a detailed and critical command of the body of knowledge concerning the subject matter of the course;
- Demonstrate by way of coursework an ability to analyse and reflect critically upon relevant scholarship concerning Etruscan Italy and its place in the wider context of Mediterranean archaeology
- Demonstrate by way of coursework and seminar participation, an ability to understand and apply research skills to the investigation of the material covered in the course;
- Demonstrate the ability to develop and sustain original scholarly arguments in oral and written form in seminar discussions, presentations, and coursework by independently formulating appropriate questions and utilising relevant evidence;
- Demonstrate, by way of seminar discussions, presentations, and written coursework, originality and independence of mind and initiative; intellectual integrity and maturity; an ability to evaluate the work of others, including peers.
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Reading List
Barker, G. & Rasmussen, T. 1998. The Etruscans. Oxford, Blackwell.
Cristofani, M. 1979. The Etruscans: a new investigation. London, Orbis.
Haynes, S. 2000. Etruscan civilization. A cultural history. London, British Museum Publications.
Heurgon, J. 1964. Daily life of the Etruscans. London, Weidenfeld & Nicholson.
Izzet, V. 2007. The Archaeology of Etruscan Society. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Leighton, R. 2004. Tarquinia. An Etruscan city. London, Duckworth.
Macnamara, E.F. 1990. The Etruscans. London, British Museum Publications.
Pallottino, M. 1974. The Etruscans. London, Allen Lane (2nd English ed).
Smith, C. 2014. The Etruscans. A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Torelli, M. (ed) 2001. The Etruscans. London, Thames and Hudson
Turfa, J.M. (ed.) 2013. The Etruscan World. Routledge.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Gather information on a topic and organize it coherently.
Compare differing sets of data and draw conclusions from them.
Critically evaluate different approaches and explanations.
Express ideas and arguments clearly orally and in writing.
Show independence, initiative, integrity and maturity in working with others, including peers, in group discussions or presentations.
Self-direct and organize learning, manage workload and work to a timetable.
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| Additional Class Delivery Information |
N.B. Timetable is arranged annually |
| Keywords | Etruscan,Italy,Iron Age,Classical World,Mediterranean archaeology,Romanisation,ancient art |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Robert Leighton
Tel: (0131 6)50 8197
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Cristina Roman
Tel: (0131 6)50 4577
Email: |
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