HS2120: Ancient Egypt
| School | School of History, Archaeology and Religion |
| Department Code | SHARE |
| Module Code | HS2120 |
| External Subject Code | F400 |
| Number of Credits | 10 |
| Level | L4 |
| Language of Delivery | English |
| Module Leader | PROFESSOR Paul Nicholson |
| Semester | Autumn Semester |
| Academic Year | 2013/4 |
Outline Description of Module
This free-standing module introduces students to ancient Egypt as its inhabitants saw it: as a landscape intimately bound up with the activities of the gods and over which a living god presided. The way in which writing was used to reinforce images of Egypt's position in the world is demonstrated, as is the position of the temple and tomb within the society and landscape of Egypt. The Egyptian view of the afterlife, as being a still more perfect version of Egypt is also examined along with the central concept of ma'at, a concept difficult to translate but which centres on living correctly. The module provides the background to other courses on ancient Egypt offered by the Archaeology Section of SHARE.
On completion of the module a student should be able to
Learning Outcomes
- A basic understanding of the geography of Egypt;
- A basic understanding of the major developments in Egyptian history;
- A broad understanding of the history of Egyptology;
How the module will be delivered
10 Lectures and 2 seminars
How the module will be assessed
1 1500 word essay 50% 1 hour exam
Assessment Breakdown
| Type | % | Title | Duration(hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam - Autumn Semester | 100 | Ancient Egypt | 1.5 |
Syllabus content
1. Study/Research Skills for Egyptian Archaeology
Introduction to the key literature for studies of Egyptian Archaeology - with particular reference to materials available at Cardiff. This session will form the essential groundwork for essays.
2. Background to Egyptology
The development of Egyptian Archaeology/Egyptology and its relation to the development of archaeology outside Egypt.
3. Chronological Overview
An introduction to the chronology of Ancient Egypt.
4. Geography (Physical and Symbolic) and Prehistory
Looks at the ‘Two Lands’ and their resources and examines how the earliest settlements came into being.
5. Religion
The Egyptian view of religion, and how it ordered their world.
6. Sacred Markings: Writing in Ancient Egypt
This lecture looks at why writing developed in ancient Egypt, how it was used and what it tells us, as well as what it ignores.
7. Pyramids: Their Religious and Social Function
Why and how were the pyramids built? What purpose did they serve? How should they be seen in relation to Egyptian society?
8. The “Amarna Heresy”
Akhenaten and his legacy. The ‘monotheism experiment’.
9. Tombs and the Afterlife
An introduction to the tomb and its purpose, concentrating especially on the New Kingdom.
Essential Reading and Resource List
Baines, J. and Malek, J. (1980) Atlas of Ancient Egypt. Oxford: Andromeda.
Bard, K. (2008) An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Oxford: Blackwell.
Shaw, I.M.E. and Nicholson, P.T. (2008) The British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt. London: British Museum.