Students

AHIX2250 – Ancient Egypt: Culture and Society

2023 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor & Tutor
Dr Alexandra Woods
Contact via Contact via Dialogue tool on iLearn
Arts Precinct, 25 Wally's Walk, Level 1, Office B114
By appointment. See iLearn for booking times.
Unit Convenor & Tutor
Dr Julia Hamilton
Contact via Contact via Dialogue tool on iLearn
Arts Precinct, 25 Wally's Walk, Level 1, Office B149
By appointment.
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The unit examines socio-cultural diversity, complexity and transformation of the Ancient Egyptian material world drawing on case studies from the Predynastic to Late Antique periods (ca. 5000 B.C.E to 1000 C.E). The unit aims to contextualise the conditions within which disciplinary, historical and/or archaeological knowledge about ancient Egypt has been constructed and draws on Indigenous modes of learning and pedagogical principles to develop historical and cultural empathy.

Informed by theory and research paradigms developed in the social and cultural sciences, students in the unit will develop skills in critical and reflexive thinking through the examination of primary sources from diverse contexts and historiographical critique of secondary literature. The unit will pay special attention to the role played by imperialism, colonialism, orientalism and modern identity politics in the emergence and trajectory of the fields of Egyptology, archaeology and papyrology, as well as to new methods and approaches to understand Egypt's past.

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: Articulate acquired knowledge in skills relating to socio-cultural diversity, complexity and transformation of the ancient Egypt material world across time and geographical regions.
  • ULO2: Contextualise the conditions within which disciplinary, historical and/or archaeological knowledge about ancient Egypt has been constructed.
  • ULO3: Demonstrate critical thinking through the analysis and evaluation of historical and/or archaeological data and historiographical critique of modern scholarly approaches to writing about ancient Egypt's past
  • ULO4: Reflect the learning experience and how knowledge gained in the unit, can be applied to contemporary settings.

General Assessment Information

MARKING RUBRICS

All assessment tasks will be graded using a rubric, which outlines the criteria and standards for each grade descriptor. Rubrics for each task can be found on the unit's iLearn site. 

PENALTIES

1. 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. 

2. Word Limit Penalty

  • Written assessment tasks submitted that are under or over the word length by more than 10% will be penalised with a 10% penalty (of the total possible mark).

3. Citation and Referencing techniques Penalty

  • Turnitin is a 'text-matching' software which is designed to educate students regarding appropriate citation and referencing techniques. Turnitin is also used to provide MQ with confidence in the academic integrity of students work. 
  • All assessment tasks will be marked according to the MQ Academic Integrity Policy and the schedule of penalties.

EXTENSION REQUESTS

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online Quiz 10% No Sunday of Week 5 / 27 August 2023
Review 30% No Sunday of Week 7 / 10 September 2023
Research Report 40% No Sunday of Week 9 / 8 October 2023
Critical Reflection 20% No Sunday of Week 13 / 5 November 2023

Online Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 9 hours
Due: Sunday of Week 5 / 27 August 2023
Weighting: 10%

 

Answer a series of questions on the required learning materials. Task instructions are available on iLearn. Complete the task using the quiz tool on iLearn.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Contextualise the conditions within which disciplinary, historical and/or archaeological knowledge about ancient Egypt has been constructed.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking through the analysis and evaluation of historical and/or archaeological data and historiographical critique of modern scholarly approaches to writing about ancient Egypt's past

Review

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Sunday of Week 7 / 10 September 2023
Weighting: 30%

 

Critique and evaluate ONE (1) academic source and submit self-evaluation using the marking rubric provided on iLearn. Task instructions, word limit, guidelines, sample work and rubric are available on iLearn. Submit via Turnitin.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Contextualise the conditions within which disciplinary, historical and/or archaeological knowledge about ancient Egypt has been constructed.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking through the analysis and evaluation of historical and/or archaeological data and historiographical critique of modern scholarly approaches to writing about ancient Egypt's past

Research Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 39 hours
Due: Sunday of Week 9 / 8 October 2023
Weighting: 40%

 

Complete ONE (1) short research report and submit a self-evaluation using the marking rubric provided on iLearn. Task instructions, word limit, guidelines, sample work and rubric are available on iLearn. Submit via Turnitin.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Articulate acquired knowledge in skills relating to socio-cultural diversity, complexity and transformation of the ancient Egypt material world across time and geographical regions.
  • Contextualise the conditions within which disciplinary, historical and/or archaeological knowledge about ancient Egypt has been constructed.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking through the analysis and evaluation of historical and/or archaeological data and historiographical critique of modern scholarly approaches to writing about ancient Egypt's past

Critical Reflection

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 19 hours
Due: Sunday of Week 13 / 5 November 2023
Weighting: 20%

 

Complete a reflective writing task. Instructions, word limit, guidelines, sample work and rubric are available on iLearn. Submit via Turnitin

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Articulate acquired knowledge in skills relating to socio-cultural diversity, complexity and transformation of the ancient Egypt material world across time and geographical regions.
  • Contextualise the conditions within which disciplinary, historical and/or archaeological knowledge about ancient Egypt has been constructed.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking through the analysis and evaluation of historical and/or archaeological data and historiographical critique of modern scholarly approaches to writing about ancient Egypt's past
  • Reflect the learning experience and how knowledge gained in the unit, can be applied to contemporary settings.

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

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

This unit will be structured following a Flipped classroom model, which describes a reversal of traditional teaching where students gain first exposure to new material outside of class, usually via reading or lecture videos, and then class time is used to do the harder work of assimilating that knowledge through strategies such as problem-solving, discussion or debates. The unit will be taught via a blended delivery of content and instruction using a multi-media approach such as video lectures, 3D digital artefacts and visualisations. The learning materials will be a combination of pre-recorded lectures produced by Macquarie University academic staff as well as links to a variety of new media, such as audio recordings/podcasts, blogs, think pieces, and/or social media posts created by local and international scholars. Through such approaches you will develop transferrable skills and analytical capacities that can be applied across various professional and academic settings. 

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

iLearn will play a pivotal role throughout the session and will be your central hub for information and instructions. Each week will be structured as follows:

♦  BEFORE DISCUSSION | Building Knowledge, Values & Skills

Step 1 | Preparation 

  • Watch the pre-recorded lecture materials available via iLearn.
    Complete the weekly assigned activities, source analyses and/or readings in preparation for the weekly tutorial discussion (face-to-face or via the online discussion forum). 

♦  DURING DISCUSSION | Applying Knowledge, Values & Skills

Step 2 | Engage with your peers 

  • Lead/participate in group discussion and participate in the weekly activities in the class tutorial and/or via the online tutorial discussion forum.

♦  AFTER DISCUSSION | Consolidating and Reflecting on Learning

Step 3 | Consolidate your knowledge

  • At the end of the week, complete any outstanding tasks for the week and work on upcoming assessment tasks.
  • Engage with a series of optional exercises and extension tasks on iLearn such as writing a short reflection on the weekly learning (e.g.readings, lecture content and/or tutorial discussion) in your learning journal or adding an item to the unit Glossary.

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS

There are no required textbooks for this unit. All reading materials are provided through Leganto, MQ's reading list management system, and the MQ library.

CONSULTATION TIMES

Each week your convenor, Dr AAlexandra Woods, will offer consultation times via Zoom to allow you to ask questions about the weekly content, the assessments or advice on resources etc... Everyone is welcome to attend! The booking procedures are listed on iLearn.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITILES 

The subject matter you will encounter in this unit is designed to challenge your preconcieved notions and understandings of how archaeological knowledge is formed and it is crucial that you are aware of your resonsibilities as a student:

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

The guidelines for how to communicate using online communication tools are called Netiquette (or internet etiquette). Please refer to the complete Netiquette guidelines and always apply the following protocols in your online engagement.

In short, always use equitable and inclusive language; acknowledge everyone's contributions; respect other people's point of view and perspectives; be non-judgemental and supportive; be aware and mindful of cultural differences; and be careful with humour and sarcasm in case the format does not fully convey your intended meaning.

Unit Schedule

MODULE  

WEEK

TOPIC

TUTORIAL TOPIC

ASSESSMENT

MODULE 1 | Power

1

The (Complex) Histories of Studying Egypt's Past NO CLASS IN WEEK 1  

2

Society, Kinship & Culture 

Research skills 1  

 

3

Rituals & Performance of Rulership

Research skills 2  

 

4

Statehood & Configurations of Power

Research skills 3  

 

MODULE 2 | 

People

5

Community (&) Identity 

Research skills 4

Online Quiz due

(Sunday 27 August 2023)

6

Peoples in Contact

Research skills 5

 

7

Performance, Ritual & the Social Dimension of Death

Source Analysis

Review due

(Sunday 10 September 2023)

MID-SESSION BREAK

MODULE 3 |

Place

8

Spaces, Places & Landscapes

Source Analysis

 

9

NO CLASS / TUTORIAL DISCUSSION

Research Report due (Sunday 8 October 2023)

10

Landscape as Archive

Source Analysis

 

11

The Past as a Resource

Source Analysis

 

MODULE 4 |

Encounters

12

Ancient Egypt in the Memory of the World

Source Analysis

 

13

Ancient Egypt in Australia

Teaching & Learning Egypt's Past on Indigenous land

Critical Reflection due (Sunday 5 November 2023)

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.

Accessibility Statement

This unit is intended for all students, including those with mental or physical disabilities, illness, injuries, impairments, or any other condition that tends to negatively affect one’s equal access to education. If, at any point in the session, you find yourself not able to fully access the space, content, and experience of this course, you are welcome (but not required) to contact me. It is never too late to request accommodations -- our bodies and circumstances are diverse and continuously changing. 

For students with accessibility requirements, I encourage you to contact Accessibility Services to ensure that we, as an institution, are supporting your learning. By making a plan through Accessibility Services, you can ensure accommodation without disclosing any information to your course convenors.

There are also a range of resources on campus that serve to support and improve student learning and wellbeing, including the Learning Skills UnitPeer Support programs, resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studentsEnglish Language support, and Student Wellbeing support and resources. Please reach out to these programs or contact me directly for further information. 

Please know I am here to support you as best I can, in this unit and beyond, and your success in this unit is very important to me. I would like to see us all working together, supporting each other and ultimately recognise and acknowledge the (challenging) circumstances we all find ourselves in. 

Acknowledgement of Country

As convenors, we would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Country upon which Macquarie University is situated, the Wallumattagal people of the Dharug nation; the Country upon which we will teach this unit from, the Wangal people of the Eora Nation (Inner West, Sydney), the Cammeraygal people of the Eora Nation (North Sydney) & the Country where each of you are living, learning & working from this session. We recognise Traditional Custodians continuing connection to the land, waters, & culture, & thank them for protecting this coastline & its ecosystems since time immemorial. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. We respect all Elders past & present, & all First Nations peoples who are enrolled in this unit.

We would like to acknowledge and advise that the content of AHIS2250 and AHIX2250 may contain voices, images, and references to Indigenous People who have since passed over.


Unit information based on version 2023.03 of the Handbook