Short courses

Summary

This course (which can be taken online) introduces students to the wider Near Eastern world through three sets of case study texts comparing Mesopotamian literature and its themes with more familiar Egyptian material. Students will use these primary sources as evidence for reconstructing life in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, and as a basis for exploring cultural differences. Texts include The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Laws of Hammurabi, The Dispute of a Man with his Soul and The Tale of Sinuhe. 

This course aims to introduce students to the wider Near Eastern world with three case studies of texts that can be compared with more familiar Egyptian material.  Students will learn to: 

• Use primary sources as evidence for reconstructing life in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, while also considering their potential biases 

• Compare and contrast similar primary sources as a basis for exploring cultural differences 

• React to primary source material in translation, and to critically assess the differences across available translations 

• Analyse and respond to the arguments presented in secondary sources. 

By the completion of the course, students will be able to: 

• Explain how cultural attitudes can be reconstructed from ancient texts, with an awareness of the agendas of individual texts 

• Define and interpret key cultural attitudes and practices in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia  

• Critique the merits of various translations of the texts they have studied 

• Compare and contrast dominant themes found within the ancient material studied and reflect upon their relevance and importance in today's society.