Detailed Course Information

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HIST 270 - BEGINNINGS OF CIVILIZATION
A survey of the early civilizations ofAsia from the origin of urbanism at the end oi‘ the 4“‘millennium BCE to economic dislocations at the end of the 15' millennium BCE. During the course of the semester we will examine archaeological evidence, the Written record, the glyptic of cylinder and stamp seals, and the evidence derived from sculpture, art and material culture to reconstruct, engage, compare and contrast the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia, Iran, India and China. The course will focus on cultural narrative with special concentration placed on religion, ritual. and myth. Social issues will be addressed through an examination of visual sources as well as ancient legal and economic texts. It will be argued that contrasting civilizations diverse in terms of religion, ethnicity and political organization, each attempt to solve the same template of enduring questions of cultural identity, spirituality, continuity, search for social order, and challenges of change and transformations. The theory that early societies, developed their theologies and rituals to directly contrast with those of neighboring peoples will be examined. It will be argued that this process reinforced ethnoccntric beliefs and resulted in ancient cultural biases which still prevail in the modern world. 0.000 TO 4.000 Credit hours 0.000 TO 4.000 Lecture hours Levels: Undergraduate Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Online Course History Department Course Attributes: Gen Ed 2018, Gen Ed 18-Global Awareness Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Undergraduate Prerequisites: FOR HIST 270 General Requirements: ( Course or Test: HIST 105 Minimum Grade of D May not be taken concurrently. ) or ( Course or Test: HIST 109 Minimum Grade of D May not be taken concurrently. )

HIST 270 - BEGINNINGS OF CIVILIZATION

A survey of the early civilizations ofAsia from the origin of urbanism at the end oi‘ the 4“‘millennium BCE to economic dislocations at the end of the 15' millennium BCE. During the course of the semester we will examine archaeological evidence, the Written record, the glyptic of cylinder and stamp seals, and the evidence derived from sculpture, art and material culture to reconstruct, engage, compare and contrast the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia, Iran, India and China. The course will focus on cultural narrative with special concentration placed on religion, ritual. and myth. Social issues will be addressed through an examination of visual sources as well as ancient legal and economic texts. It will be argued that contrasting civilizations diverse in terms of religion, ethnicity and political organization, each attempt to solve the same template of enduring questions of cultural identity, spirituality, continuity, search for social order, and challenges of change and transformations. The theory that early societies, developed their theologies and rituals to directly contrast with those of neighboring peoples will be examined. It will be argued that this process reinforced ethnoccntric beliefs and resulted in ancient cultural biases which still prevail in the modern world.
0.000 TO 4.000 Credit hours
0.000 TO 4.000 Lecture hours

Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Online Course

History Department

Course Attributes:
Gen Ed 2018, Gen Ed 18-Global Awareness

Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels:
Undergraduate

Prerequisites:
FOR HIST 270

General Requirements:
( Course or Test: HIST 105
Minimum Grade of D
May not be taken concurrently. )
or
( Course or Test: HIST 109
Minimum Grade of D
May not be taken concurrently. )

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Detailed Course Information

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