This course explores a series of key issues related to the spatial production and negotiation of socio-political power in early complex societies in Western Asia and the East Mediterranean between ca. 3500 and 330 BC. The course draws primarily on archaeological survey evidence and historical and iconographic sources to examine the spatial constitution of political power in comparative cases of state-formation and imperial expansion and resistance.

8x1hr lectures; 12x1hr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in Archaeology and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

None

None

The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Essay (2500 words) (50%)

■ Exam (1500 word equivalent; 50%)

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the assessments, but flexible deadlines or extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.

[No exceptions]

This course aims to

■ provide an overview of the archaeology and major socio-political developments in Western Asia and the East Mediterranean between ca. 3500 - 330 BC

■ investigate key issues in the study of landscapes and settlement patterns with regard to political organisation

■ explore different theoretical and methodological frameworks for the analysis of landscapes and their socio-political significance through specific case studies

■ investigate and evaluate a range of different sources - archaeological, textual and iconographic, with a special emphasis on field survey techniques and methods for the analysis of political landscapes

■ provide opportunities for students to develop transferable skills of analysis, presentation and communication.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

■ identify the principal settlement types and characteristic settlement distributions in Western Asia and the East Mediterranean between ca. 3500 - 330 BC

■ critically evaluate field survey methods and results with respect to different Mediterranean and West Asian environments

■ explain the role of landscape and urban space in the production and negotiation of social and political power.

■ interpret, integrate and evaluate a variety of sources of evidence, including archaeological, textual and iconographic

■ apply a range of theoretical approaches to states, empires and their spatial dimensions

■ formulate and present arguments on prescribed topics.