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AHIX2211 – Minos and Mycenae: The Aegean Bronze Age

2022 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor, Lecturer
Susan Lupack
25B Wally’s Walk, B158
By appointment
Convenor, Lecturer
Kenneth Sheedy
25C Wally’s Walk, Room C114
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
AHIX1210
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, and all assessment tasks must be attempted. 

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

Late Assessment Submission Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.   

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc)Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

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
On-line quizzes 40% No Sundays 23:59, Weeks 2-6, 8-12
Artefact Presentation 20% No Monday, 26/9/22
Research Essay 40% No Monday, 7/11/22

On-line quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 7 hours
Due: Sundays 23:59, Weeks 2-6, 8-12
Weighting: 40%

 

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 Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Monday, 26/9/22
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will analyse and research an artefact of their choice from the Minoan or Mycenaean world. Students will discuss their work in a media presentation.

 


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.
  • 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: Monday, 7/11/22
Weighting: 40%

 

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

Required texts (available online through the Library):

Berg, I.  2019. The Cycladic and Aegean Islands in Prehistory, Taylor & Francis, London.

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 taking the quizzes and attending the tutorials.

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.

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
22/07/2022 The quizzes will be given in Weeks 2-6, 8-12, not, as was mistakenly written in the previous version, Weeks 2-7, 8-12. This version presents the correct information.

Unit information based on version 2022.03 of the Handbook