This module addresses the palace of civilisation of Minion Crete and Mycenaean Greece (1600-1150) which were first revealed by the famous excavations of Schliemann and Evans and the decipherment of the linear B tablets. These civilisations continue to provoke critical assessment of the archaeological and documentary evidence to arrive at an understanding of the workings of the palace states and the causes of their downfall. In this module students assess the nature of the Minion and Mycenaean palace cultures in the Bronze Age. The formation of states and the emergence of 'civilisation' in the early and middle bronze age Aegean are key topics of the module. The module uses a detailed discussion of the relevant archaeological evidence as a case study of these general processes and the emergence of complex societies.

REQUISITES: Pre-requisite Modules: HS2101 or HS2102.

• Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the relevant material evidence from the Early, Middle and Late Bronze Age in

              Crete, the Cyclades, and the Mainland of Greece.

• Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the theories, questions and debates surrounding the formation and collapse of Aegean states and civilizations.
• Identify Bronze Age Aegean material culture by style and technique.

The main medium of teaching will be one-hour lectures, illustrated with slides or PowerPoint. Lectures will provide an overview of the period and sites covered by the syllabus, and introduce specific sites and case studies.

20           1 hour lectures

3              1 hour seminars

1 fieldtrip to the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (autumn semester, jointly with HS2350)

Intellectual Skills:

• Assess critically the relative importance of key factors relevant to state development, such as social stratification, metalworking, storage, ‘redistribution’ and external influence.
• Analyse the functions and nature of Bronze Age palace states (including their administration).
• Assess critically the relevant archaeological evidence in relation to the issues above.

Discipline Specific (including practical) Skills:

• Assess critically the significance of the documentary evidence from the Linear B tablets and the Homeric canon in relation to the archaeological evidence.
• Have a specific knowledge of key Bronze Age archaeological sites.
• Understand specific debates and research trends in the field.

Transferable Skills:

• Discuss and debate problems effectively.
• Develop effective strategies for research.
• Write clearly and purposefully about theoretical and practical issues.

ONE essay of no more than 2500 words (50%)

ONE examination, answering TWO questions (50%, or 25% per question)

Lectures:

1-3 Introduction

4-7 Early Bronze Age Aegean: Cycladic culture; external stimulus; identity in EBA Aegean.

8-10 Middle Bronze Age Aegean: Old Palace period; emergence of Mycenaean civilization.

11-14 New Palace Crete: function of Minoan palaces; art and power on Thera.

15 Bronze Age ritual behaviour.

16-18 Mycenaean Palatial civilization.

19 Late Bronze Age trade.

20-21 Collapse, Anatolia and the ‘Homeric legacy’.

Books to buy:

Preziosi, D. and L. Hitchcock. 1999. Aegean Art and Architecture. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

This has a good review of Aegean material culture, although some of the interpretations should not be relied upon. It is still a better ‘art book’ than Hood, being more up-to-date.

Key works of reference:

Cline, E.R. (ed.) 2010. The Oxford Handbook of the Aegean Bronze Age. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.

Contains many useful articles (but see review in Bryn Mawr Classical Review: http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2011/2011-05-04.html

Cullen, T. 2001. Aegean Prehistory: a review. Boston: Archaeological Institute of America.

An excellent and up-to-date guide to all aspects of Aegean prehistory. Needs some specialist knowledge to get the most out of it. If the multiple copies in the library are out, look through the last few years of the American Journal of Archaeology (AJA) where the review, in the form of shorter sections, was first published.

Dickinson, O.T.P.K. 1994a. The Aegean Bronze Age. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

This is arranged thematically, rather than chronologically, and contains good summaries of various topics. You should use its bibliography to read a wider range.

Shelmerdine, C.W. ed. 2008a. The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press.

Contains numerous useful and up-to-date articles, many of which are referred to below

Useful books and papers:

This is noteverything Aegean in the library, but the most useful texts. Please browse further and discover additional material!

Note: for articles, the following abbreviations have been used for some journals:-

AJA    The American Journal of Archaeology

AR     Archaeological Reports(Supplement to JHS)*

BSA    Annual of the British School at Athens

JHS    Journal of Hellenic Studies

JMA   Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology

OJA    The Oxford Journal of Archaeology

(Antiquity and Hesperia are too other useful journal series which students should sometimes consult).