Students

AHIS280 – Ancient Egyptian Culture and Society

2014 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer
Yann Tristant
Contact via yann.tristant@mq.edu.au
W6A 525
Thursday 2-3pm or by appointment
Unit Convenor
Alex Woods
Contact via alex.woods@mq.edu.au
W6A 532
Wednesday 2-3pm or by appointment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
AHIS170 or AHST100
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit covers Ancient Egyptian civilisation during the Predynastic and Pharaonic Periods. It provides a broad introduction to the major historical periods of social and cultural development. It also discusses a number of historical problems and variety of topics, such as social organisation, art, architecture, archaeology, administration, literature and interregional trade.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form;

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Tutorial Paper: Book review 15% Week 4
Discussion in tutorials 15% Every week
Research Essay 30% Week 11
Weekly online quiz 30% Every week
Preparation and participation 10% Every week

Tutorial Paper: Book review

Due: Week 4
Weighting: 15%

 

Prepare a short critique of the unit's textbook, Shaw, I. (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (Oxford, 2003), according to a set of guided questions. Word limit: 1000 words.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.

Discussion in tutorials

Due: Every week
Weighting: 15%

Each student will lead the discussion time for 1 tutorial, which will be based on the readings and the lecture content. Using peer evaluation responses, each student will prepare and submit on iLearn their planning notes and self-evaluation reflection of the discussion within 1 week of the discussion.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form;

Research Essay

Due: Week 11
Weighting: 30%

A research essay. Word limit: 2000 words. Students will submit a self-evaluation using the marking rubric provided on iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.

Weekly online quiz

Due: Every week
Weighting: 30%

 

Weekly online quiz – Answer a series of questions (e.g. multiple choice, true/false) on the lecture content, weekly readings, and material covered in the tutorials.



On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.

Preparation and participation

Due: Every week
Weighting: 10%

Students are required to prepare the set of readings and participate in the tutorial discussions.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form;

Delivery and Resources

 

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

 

This unit is comprised of 2 key elements:

  1. face-to-face teaching, which will take place in a 3 hour block (1-2 hour of lectures and 1 hour of student led discussion in tutorials);
  2. and individual study and participation.

A student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or above to complete the unit satisfactorily.

Assignments must be submitted through the iLearn website. Information about how to submit work online can be accessed through the iLearn unit.

Assignments will be returned via the ‘Assignments’ tool on the iLearn Unit site, and will contain feedback from the marker within them. The convenor will aim to return your assignments within two weeks.

There is no formal examination in this unit.

EXTENSIONS AND PENALTIES

Extensions for assignments can only be granted for medical reasons or on compassionate grounds. Without documentation (medical or counselling certificates) or prior staff approval, a penalty of 2% a day, including weekends, will be applied. If required, applications for extensions should be made to the convenor before the assignment's due date.

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS

Required texts:

  • Wendrich, W., (ed.) Egyptian Archaeology (Chichester, Malden, 2010).
  • Kemp, B.J., Ancient Egypt. Anatomy of a Civilisation (London, New York, 2nd ed. 2006).
  • Shaw, I. (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (Oxford, 2003).

Recommended texts:

  • Baines J. and Malek, J., Cultural Atlas of Ancient Egypt (New York, 2000, rev. edition).
  • Wilkinson, R.H. (ed.), Egyptology Today (Cambridge, New York, 2008).

These texts are available for purchase at the Co-Op bookstore. To arrange for texts to be sent to you please contact the Co-Op online at the following address http://www.coop-bookshop.com.au.

UNIT WEBPAGE AND TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

This unit will use iLearn: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/

PC and fast Internet access are required. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement. Please consult teaching staff for any further, more specific requirements.

 

Unit Schedule

 

Week

Lecture

Tutorial

Assessment

1

5 March 2014

Introduction to the unit

A. Woods

NO TUTORIAL

Online quiz

2

12 March 2014

Birth, childhood and education

A. Woods

Research

methods 1

Online quiz

3

19 March 2014

Cities and houses

Y. Tristant

Research

methods 2

Online quiz

4

26 March 2014

Egyptian Administration

Y. Tristant

Research

methods 3

Tutorial paper due

28 March 2014

5

2 April 2014

Institution of Egyptian kingship

Y. Tristant

Tutorial discussion

Online quiz

6

9 April 2014

Sex and gender in ancient Egypt

A. Woods

Tutorial discussion

Online quiz

   

MID SESSION BREAK

 

7

30 April 2014

Egyptian economy

Y. Tristant

Tutorial discussion

Online quiz

8

7 May 2014

Visual culture VS ‘art’

Y. Tristant

Tutorial discussion

Online quiz

9

14 May 2014

Death and the Afterlife

Y. Tristant

Tutorial discussion

Online quiz

10

21 May 2014

Cultic and Mortuary landscapes: Use and re-use

A. Woods & M. Choat

Tutorial discussion

Online quiz

11

28 May 2014

Foreign Interactions – Immigrants and warfare

A. Woods

NO TUTORIAL

Research Essay due

30 May 2014

12

4 June 2014

Tradition and Innovation

A. Woods

Tutorial discussion

Online quiz

13

11 June 2014

Egypt in the memory of the world

A. Woods

Tutorial discussion

Online quiz

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form;

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper: Book review
  • Discussion in tutorials
  • Research Essay
  • Weekly online quiz
  • Preparation and participation

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper: Book review
  • Discussion in tutorials
  • Research Essay
  • Weekly online quiz
  • Preparation and participation

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper: Book review
  • Discussion in tutorials
  • Research Essay
  • Weekly online quiz
  • Preparation and participation

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form;

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper: Book review
  • Discussion in tutorials
  • Research Essay
  • Weekly online quiz
  • Preparation and participation

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Interpret historical and archaeological information with appreciation and understanding and identify the social processes by which the Egyptian civilisation transformed and yet maintained its cultural identity throughout its long history.

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper: Book review
  • Discussion in tutorials
  • Research Essay
  • Weekly online quiz
  • Preparation and participation

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse and express your judgment about ancient Egyptian political, social, economic and cultural history in an oral and written form;
  • Actively participate in online discussion; work with and respond to the views of Ancient History staff and other students in the unit in an oral form;

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper: Book review
  • Discussion in tutorials
  • Research Essay
  • Weekly online quiz
  • Preparation and participation

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper: Book review
  • Discussion in tutorials
  • Research Essay
  • Weekly online quiz
  • Preparation and participation

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper: Book review
  • Discussion in tutorials
  • Research Essay
  • Weekly online quiz
  • Preparation and participation

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Find, analyse and critique primary and secondary sources for ancient Egyptian history and present the information in a written format;

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Paper: Book review
  • Discussion in tutorials
  • Research Essay
  • Weekly online quiz
  • Preparation and participation