History of Consciousness - Fall 1998

A 2-unit course to fulfill the "extra" course obligation of all UCSC faculty. To be offered Fall Quarter 1998. A survey of Near-Eastern archaeology through the 20th century. History and technology of excavation in Egypt, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia.


Instructor: Gary Lease
History of Consciousness
E-Mail: rehbock@ucsc.edu
Merrill 7b

The course will meet once a week for two hours over the ten-week quarter. Each class meeting will feature a full visual (slide) presentation of the week's topic accompanied by lecture and commentary. Outside readings each week will prepare students for each upcoming presentation.

week 1: introduction: concept and overall history of the "Near East"

week 2: introduction to material culture and technologies of excavation, particularly in the Near East

week 3: Egypt I: Pharonic case studies: Giza plateau, Delta, Amarna, Abydos, Luxor

week 4: Egypt II: Byzantine/Coptic case studies: Faw Qibli, Meidum

week 5: Anatolia: Hittite case studies: Bogazkoy

week 6: Mesopotamia: Case Studies: Ur, Sumer, Assyrians

week 7: Syria: Case Studies: Mari, Ebla, Ugarit, Dura-Europos, Assyrians

week 8: Palestine I: Israelite case studies: Dan, Taanach, Negev, Gezer, Jerusalem

week 9: Palestine II: Roman Case Studies: Qumran, Masada, Caesarea

week 10: Arabia: Case Studies: Petra

outside readings selected from the following texts:

• Silberman, Neil A.: Between Past and Present: Archaeology, Ideology, and Nationalism in the Modern Middle East (New York: Doubleday-Anchor, 1989)
• Trigger, Bruce G.: A History of Archaeological Thought (Cambridge: University Press, 1989)
• Shanks, Michael and Christopher Tilley: Social Theory and Archaeology (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico, 1988)
• Barker, Philip: Techniques of Archaeological Excavation (New York: Universe Books, 1983)
• Lloyd, Seton: The Archaeology of Mesopotamia (London: Thames and Hudson, 1984)
• Hopkins, Clark: The Discovery of Dura-Europos (New Haven: Yale University, 1979)
• Silberman, Neil A.: Digging for God and Country: exploration, archaeology, and the secret struggle for the Holy Land, 1799-1917 (New York: Knopf, 1982)
• Kenyon, Kathleen: Archaeology in the Holy Land (London: E. Benn, 1970)
• Kenyon, Kathleen: Digging up Jerusalem (London: E. Benn, 1974)

extensive slide collection from all the sites mentioned, many from actual excavation participation, others from archaeologists and archives.

Students will be evaluated on the basis of attendance and a final examination.

Revised 7/19/04.