Students

AHIX2211 – Minos and Mycenae: The Aegean Bronze Age

2021 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Kenneth Sheedy
By appointment
Convenor
Susan Lupack
25 WW, B158
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit explores the era of the palace-based states in the Aegean during the Bronze Age (c.3000 BC – c.1100 BC). These are the dramatic years of Greek prehistory which the poet Hesiod famously described as the ‘Age of Heroes’, whose legends were recounted in Homer’s Iliad and the Odyssey. This unit critically examines the rich archaeological evidence, beginning with the emergence of complex societies in the Cyclades and Crete and the creation of the Minoan palace civilization with its most prestigious site of Knossos. Then follows a critical study of the rise of competing states on the Greek mainland including Mycenae, Tiryns, and Pylos. The Linear B script will also be explored for the information it provides concerning the Late Bronze Age Mycenaean society.

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:

  • ULO1: Recognise key artefacts and sites representing the Minoan and Mycenaean societies of the Greek Bronze Age.
  • ULO2: Explain the chronology and geography of the eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age world.
  • ULO3: Understand the cultural, social, and political evolution of the Greek Bronze Age in its broader Mediterranean context.
  • ULO4: Outline the history of Greek Bronze Age archaeology, identifying key approaches used by archaeologists in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
  • ULO5: Actively participate in discussions about the society, economy and religion of the Greek Bronze Age.
  • ULO6: Locate, analyse and synthesize a range of primary and secondary source materials related to the study of the Greek Bronze Age, including material evidence, ancient texts, and modern scholarship.

General Assessment Information

GENERAL INFORMATION: Rubrics and other guidance for the Assessments will be posted on our iLearn site and discussed in class.

To complete the unit successfully you need a minimum mark of 50% overall.

F / FA: 0-49% P: 50-64% CR: 65-74% D: 75-84% HD: 85-100%

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS: Please always let one of us know ahead of time if you are having difficulty completing an assessment or if you will not be able to attend class or complete a tutorial task. It's just good for us to know what is going on with you. Please note: Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – ten (10) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON MARKS:

Grading decisions for each assessment task will be moderated against the set criteria and standards before task results are released.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation in online tutorial activities 20% No Ongoing
On-line quizzes 30% No Wednesdays 23:59, Weeks 2-6, 8-12
Artefact Study 20% No 23:59 10/9/2021
Research Essay 30% No 23:59 5/11/2021

Participation in online tutorial activities

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will be asked to engage through on-line sessions in a variety of tutorial activities, including group work, discussions, and short presentations (oral and/or written)

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recognise key artefacts and sites representing the Minoan and Mycenaean societies of the Greek Bronze Age.
  • Explain the chronology and geography of the eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age world.
  • Understand the cultural, social, and political evolution of the Greek Bronze Age in its broader Mediterranean context.
  • Outline the history of Greek Bronze Age archaeology, identifying key approaches used by archaeologists in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
  • Actively participate in discussions about the society, economy and religion of the Greek Bronze Age.
  • Locate, analyse and synthesize a range of primary and secondary source materials related to the study of the Greek Bronze Age, including material evidence, ancient texts, and modern scholarship.

On-line quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 7 hours
Due: Wednesdays 23:59, Weeks 2-6, 8-12
Weighting: 30%

 

The quizzes will be focused on material taken from the lecture and readings.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recognise key artefacts and sites representing the Minoan and Mycenaean societies of the Greek Bronze Age.
  • Understand the cultural, social, and political evolution of the Greek Bronze Age in its broader Mediterranean context.
  • Outline the history of Greek Bronze Age archaeology, identifying key approaches used by archaeologists in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.

Artefact Study

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 23:59 10/9/2021
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will analyse and research an artefact of their choice from the Minoan or Mycenaean world.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recognise key artefacts and sites representing the Minoan and Mycenaean societies of the Greek Bronze Age.
  • Explain the chronology and geography of the eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age world.
  • Understand the cultural, social, and political evolution of the Greek Bronze Age in its broader Mediterranean context.
  • Outline the history of Greek Bronze Age archaeology, identifying key approaches used by archaeologists in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
  • Actively participate in discussions about the society, economy and religion of the Greek Bronze Age.
  • Locate, analyse and synthesize a range of primary and secondary source materials related to the study of the Greek Bronze Age, including material evidence, ancient texts, and modern scholarship.

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 23:59 5/11/2021
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will research a given topic dealing with key themes in the archaeology of the Greek Bronze Age.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recognise key artefacts and sites representing the Minoan and Mycenaean societies of the Greek Bronze Age.
  • Explain the chronology and geography of the eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age world.
  • Understand the cultural, social, and political evolution of the Greek Bronze Age in its broader Mediterranean context.
  • Outline the history of Greek Bronze Age archaeology, identifying key approaches used by archaeologists in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.
  • Actively participate in discussions about the society, economy and religion of the Greek Bronze Age.
  • Locate, analyse and synthesize a range of primary and secondary source materials related to the study of the Greek Bronze Age, including material evidence, ancient texts, and modern scholarship.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

DELIVERY

Lectures: Fully online. You will be able to access the lectures on the Echo360 platform via our iLearn site.

Tutorial Work for OUA/External Students:  Online Forums

Every week that an internal student tutorial is held, there will be a corresponding online forum that will focus on the same questions as those that are discussed in the internal tutorials. Responses will be expected by the evening of the Sunday following the Tuesday lecture.

REQUIRED TEXTS (available online through the MultiSearch function of our Library):

Berg, I. (2019), The Cycladic and Aegean Islands in Prehistory, Taylor&Francis, New York

Cline, E. H. (ed.). 2010. The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (ca. 3000-1000 BC). Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York

Shelmerdine, C. (ed.). 2008. The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York

Supplemental readings: We will also assign or recommend supplemental readings whenever we find an article or chapter that particularly supports what we are doing in the lecture and tutorial.

NB: All readings for class should be completed before the lecture, and must be completed before attempting the quizzes and posting your responses to the forums.

Good participation will depend on coming to the tutorials prepared to discuss the material from the lecture and the readings.

UNIT WEBPAGE AND TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

This unit will use the iLearn system (https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/) to communicate with the students, so you will need access to a computer and a good internet connection. Basic computer and word-processing skills are also required.

Unit Schedule

Please see our iLearn site for updates on our weekly schedule.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Grading decisions for each assessment task will be moderated against the set criteria and standards before task results are released.

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

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


Unit information based on version 2021.01 of the Handbook