Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Javier Alvarez-Mon
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above or (20cp in AHIS or AHST units at 2000 level)
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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 offers and advanced study of cultural dialogue between ancient societies, by examining the material and literary records of the ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean worlds, including Egypt. Western cultural stereotypes and prejudices are investigated, as well as notions of cultural identity, assimilation, rejection, and superiority. Problems to be addressed may concern, among many, cultural borrowing, funerary traditions, gift-giving, tribute, plundering, arts and coinage, trade, and dress. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
PASSING MARK To pass AHIS2251, you must complete all of the assessments and achieve an overall mark of at least 50%. MARKING RUBRICS Written assessment tasks will be graded using a rubric that outlines the criteria and standards for each grade descriptor. Rubrics can be found on the unit's iLearn site under 'Assessments'.
PENALTIES 1. Late Assessment Submission Penalty
2. Word Limit Penalty
3. Citation and Referencing techniques Penalty
EXTENSION REQUESTS
RELEASE OF RESULTS
Feedback for written work and the final test will be supplied within 2-3 weeks of the due date. Results can be viewed via iLearn using the Gradebook tool.
FINAL MARKS Grading decisions for each assessment task will be moderated against the set criteria and standards before task results are released. Please note that with respect to the marks you receive for work during the session: that the marks given are indicative only. Final marks will be determined after moderation. See 'Results' in the Policies and Procedures section below.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Short Essay (Literature Review) | 20% | No | Friday, 3 May, 11:59pm (end of week 9) |
Online Quiz | 30% | No | Weeks 2-7 and 9-12 |
Long Research Essay | 50% | No | Sunday, 2 June 11:59pm (end week 13) |
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Friday, 3 May, 11:59pm (end of week 9)
Weighting: 20%
Essay requiring independent research; Length: 1,000 words;
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 11 hours
Due: Weeks 2-7 and 9-12
Weighting: 30%
Answer a series of questions on the Lectures and Required Weekly Readings. Complete the Quiz using the iLearn quiz tool
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 65 hours
Due: Sunday, 2 June 11:59pm (end week 13)
Weighting: 50%
Essay requiring independent research; Length: 3,500 words
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
This unit will be taught fallowing a flipped classroom model, in which students first gain exposure to new material outside of class via reading and watching recorded lectures, and then the tutorial time is used to do the harder work of assimilating that knowledge. The unit is comprised of two key elements: 1. Three hours of instruction: 1-2 hours of pre-recorded lectures and 1 hour tutorial delivered either on campus or asynchronously online (for Flexible-Online and OUA students); and 2. Individual study and preparation.
Note: • Students are expected to attend all tutorials (or complete all tutorial activities online each week), unless there are extenuating circumstances. • Pre-recorded lectures will be available on the iLearn site before the week they are due. Students are expected to have watched the videos and completed the required lecture and tutorial readings before attending their scheduled tutorial.
UNIT SCHEDULE
Lecture - & TutorialS
Note. Required readings and Lecture Topics might change
Week |
Lecture Topics (posted on Mondays) |
Tutorial |
Required Weekly Readings |
Week 1
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INTRODUCTION TO THE UNIT AND ASSIGNMENTS |
No Tutorial |
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Week 2
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Welcome to “Civilization”! Discussion: To Farm or not to Farm, the Gobekli Tepe Enigma. |
Quiz Opens on Monday and closes on Sunday |
Forero (2006) Leaving the Wild, and Rather Liking the Change Diamond (1997) To Farm or not To Farm (or the worst mistake in History?). Watch: “First Contact” (in iLearn) |
Week 3
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Us and Them in the Sumerian World [I am from Uruk] Lecture case study: Uruk, the First World Empire: 3300 BC |
Quiz Opens on Monday and closes on Sunday |
On Ethnicity and Writing Bahrani (2006) Ethnicity in Antiquity Emberling and Yoffee (1999) Thinking Ethnicity Writing and Reading Watch: Cracking Ancient Codes: Cuneiform Writing - with Irving Finkel |
Week 4
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The Gilgamesh Epic [I am king, hero and demi-god…. and I have feelings too] Lecture case study: Most Famous Soap-opera of all times? The Gilgamesh Epic |
Quiz Opens on Monday and closes on Sunday |
Telling a Story Kline (2016) The Oldest Story Moran (1995) The Gilgamesh Epic: A Masterpiece. Watch: The Epic of Gilgamesh, Lecture by Andrew George |
Week 5
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Not for Everyone: To Be or Not to be Divine Lecture case study: from Egypt to Akkad: When Humans were Gods and Vice Versa. |
Quiz Opens on Monday and closes on Sunday |
Brisch (2008) Divinie kingship Watch: Legend of Sargon |
Week 6
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On Gender: Her, Him, and Neither of the Above Lecture case study: Gender in Art and Literature
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Quiz Opens on Monday and closes on Sunday |
Bahrani (2001) Women, sex and gender in Mesopotamia, pp. 1-27 Peled (2010) On Eunuchs Suter (2007) High Priestess Watch: Powerful Women of Ur |
Week 7
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On Trade and Family: I am a Merchant from Assur Lecture case study: The Assyrian Merchants 1900 BC |
Quiz Opens on Monday and closes on Sunday
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Veenhof (2007) Assur the city Watch: Curator’s Corner Video: On Trade and Contraband https://blog.britishmuseum.org/trade-and-contraband-in-ancient-assyria/ |
Week 8 |
On Group Identity: Grain and/or sheep? (I Live in a City/I Am Pastoralist) Lecture case study: Mari ca. 1775 BC |
Quiz Opens on Monday and closes on Sunday |
Szutchman (2009): Nomads, Tribes and the State Cohen (2007): Barley as Key Symbol Watch: Grass: a Nation's Battle for Life (1925) [Posted in iLearn] |
15-28 April |
Mid-Semester Recess |
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Week 9
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Assignment Litterature Review Due 11:59pm, Friday 3 May |
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Week 10
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I Social Class: The Non-Elites [I Am a Craftsman and a Tomb Robber; I am Egyptian] Lecture case study: Egyptian tomb robbers and the tale of Sinuhe the Egyptian
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Quiz Opens on Monday and closes on Sunday |
Da Silva (2016) Women and diplomacy Head (2011) Food and Protocol Singer (2017) The Messengers Watch “The Egyptian” (1954); available> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FQesPn9hvI |
Week 11 |
Imperial Identities, Luxury and Consumption: When Enough is not Enough Lecture case study: The Assyrian Empire. |
Quiz Opens on Monday and closes on Sunday |
Álvarez-Mon (2009) Assurbanipal’s Feast Parpola (2004) National and Ethnic Identity Watch: The Ulai River Battle Assyria vs Elam: The battle of Til Tuba (video) | Khan Academy |
Week 12
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Greece 1-Persia 0: Inventing the Clash of Civilizations? Lecture case study: The Ethnogenesis of Persia and Greece.
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Quiz Opens on Monday and closes on Sunday |
Basu et al. (2007) The 300 Briant (2002) Greeks and Persian Decadence Frediksen (2005) Beautiful People Watch: Misunderstood Moments in History - Why the Persians Failed to Conquer Greece https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlwIKh2Qk14 Memory and Identity Edward W. Said (2000) Invention, Memory and Place and answer the following questions: No required readings. |
Week 13
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What Have We Learned?
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No Quiz No Tutorial
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Assignment Due Research Paper 11:59 pm, Sunday 2 June |
Extra Content
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Whose Civilization? Big History |
Quiz Opens on Monday and closes on Sunday |
David Christian 2008 This Fleeting World 2017 What is Big History The History Manifesto 2014 Guldi & Armitage Watch |
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.
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 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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
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.
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
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 2024.02 of the Handbook