Students
AHIX3251 – State Formation: Egypt and the Near East
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
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor & lecturer
Dr Karin Sowada
Contact via email
Room 167, Level 1, 25B Wally's Walk, Arts Precinct
By appointment
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines the origin and development of the "state" in Egypt and the ancient Near East through investigation of the archaeological, historical, textual, and artistic evidence. Particular attention is given to the processes involved in the formation of the first states in Egypt and Mesopotamia, as well as secondary states elsewhere in the Near East, in particular Israel. Theoretical models for understanding what a state is and does will form the foundation upon which the actual ancient evidence is overlaid. |
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: Understand theories on the rise and fall of cultural complexity.
- ULO2: Know the various factors that led to state formation in a selection of Ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Egypt.
- ULO3: Convey an understand of how theory meets reality in a discussion of state formation in Egypt and the Near East.
- ULO4: Articulate the benefits and drawbacks of various theoretical frameworks based on Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern archaeological and textual data.
General Assessment Information
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE UNIT
To complete the unit successfully you need a minimum mark of 50% overall.
N.B. You must attempt every piece of assessment to pass this unit. In accordance with Clause 129 of the University Assessment Policy, non-submission of an Assessment Task will result in a FA grade - Fail Absent.
GRADES:
F / FA: 0-49% P: 50-64% CR: 65-74% D: 75-84% HD: 85-100%
LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS - PENALTY
Unless a formal online Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven 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 FINAL MARKS
Please note with respect to the marks you receive for work during the session: grading decisions for each assessment task will be moderated against the set criteria and standards before task results are released. See further the note on Results in the Policies and Procedures section below.
It is highly recommended that you come to all seminars. Further, you should complete the readings and any other work for any given week before that week's meeting.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly Research Question | 10% | No | 09:00 hrs 20/08/2021 & 09:00 hrs 29/10/2021 |
| Oral Presentation | 40% | No | 1700 hrs 05/11/2021 |
| Annotated Bibliography | 50% | No | 1700 hrs 01/10/2021 |
Weekly Research Question
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 09:00 hrs 20/08/2021 & 09:00 hrs 29/10/2021
Weighting: 10%
Students must complete the assigned weekly readings and answer a weekly research question. Students will be prepared to discuss their answers to these questions in class.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand theories on the rise and fall of cultural complexity.
- Know the various factors that led to state formation in a selection of Ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Egypt.
- Convey an understand of how theory meets reality in a discussion of state formation in Egypt and the Near East.
- Articulate the benefits and drawbacks of various theoretical frameworks based on Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern archaeological and textual data.
Oral Presentation
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 1700 hrs 05/11/2021
Weighting: 40%
Short oral presentation (30 min.) on a topic from a list of topic choices.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand theories on the rise and fall of cultural complexity.
- Know the various factors that led to state formation in a selection of Ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Egypt.
- Convey an understand of how theory meets reality in a discussion of state formation in Egypt and the Near East.
Annotated Bibliography
Assessment Type 1: Annotated bibliography
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 1700 hrs 01/10/2021
Weighting: 50%
Produce an annotated bibliography (min. 20 references) from a list of topic choices.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand theories on the rise and fall of cultural complexity.
- Know the various factors that led to state formation in a selection of Ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Egypt.
- Convey an understand of how theory meets reality in a discussion of state formation in Egypt and the Near East.
- Articulate the benefits and drawbacks of various theoretical frameworks based on Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern archaeological and textual data.
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
Access to the internet, MQ library, and various online databases will be necessary for successful completion of this unit. Ability to work with word processing programs and powerpoint (or comparable programs) will also be necessary to complete unit assessments.
There is no textbook for this unit; readings will be drawn from a number of sources, all of which will be available via the unit's Leganto page.
Unit Schedule
Consult the Unit's iLearn site for the Unit Schedule and weekly updates.
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:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
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
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