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Anthropology 307
World Prehistory: Foundations of Civilization
Spring, 2002
M-W 2:30-3:45 Sabin G28
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Additional Texts: |
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Christopher Scarre and Brian Fagan, Ancient Civilizations
Reading Packet: Available at the Copy
Center, UWM Student Union |
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Course Description:
About 10,000 years ago, human groups in several areas of the world began to
undergo a series of major transformations. Small groups of hunters and gatherers settled into the world's first farming villages.
From these villages arose larger settlements, and eventually complex urban civilizations like our own. How and why did these
changes take place? Why did ancient civilizations evolve in repeated cycles of expansion and collapse? What do the similarities
and differences in the development of early civilizations tell us about the nature of culture change, of civilization and
the state, and of human society itself?
This course will review the origins of agriculture, urban life and state level
societies. Origin theories and the archaeological evidence for changes in human economic and social organization will be discussed.
The essential relationship between economy, environment and society provides the subtext for the more detailed presentation
of the case studies. Readings will emphasize the Old World, but New World developments will be included for comparison. The
two geographic areas in which primary states developed and have been intensively studied archaeologically are the Near East
(Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley) and Mesoamerica. These regions will be the focus of the course, with some discussion
of the emergence of state level societies in other areas (such as East Asia, Africa and South America). Comparing Old and
New World cultural responses to different environmental and geographic contexts focuses attention on the way in which the
evolution of social complexity occurs, rather than on the memorization of facts and dates alone. The course provides a context
for understanding the process of cultural evolution in the past as well as in today's world by exploring why we are the way
we are, and how we got here.
Course Format:
The course will include a combination of lecture and discussion, with slides and films where
applicable. Questions during lectures are encouraged (if they are germane to the discussion!), and there will be occasional
handouts with questions/issues intended to provoke thought as well as discussion. Attendance is part of your final grade,
so be sure not to let your presence in class slip as the semester progresses!
Grading:
Undergraduates
Exams
will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions, as well as a choice of take-home essay questions based on readings,
lectures and films. The final exam will not be cumulative! There will be a map component on both the midterm and the final,
so be sure you are able to associate significant sites in space as well as time. Study guides will be provided before each
exam, but these will not be comprehensive. You will receive take-home essay questions several days before each exam and will
hand in two of the completed questions on the day of the exam.
Midterm: 45% (Essays 40 points out of 100)
Final Exam: 45% (Essays 40 points out of 100)
Attendance/Participation:
5%
Attendance at three public lectures: 5% Graduate Students
You will be expected to produce a 15-20
page final paper, typed, double-spaced with references in American Antiquity format, in addition to taking the midterm and
final exams. Please see me about choosing a topic before the Midterm Exam!
Midterm: 30%
Final Exam: 30%
Final Paper: 30%
Attendance/Participation: 5%
Attendance at three public
lectures: 5% |
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READING ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAM DATES
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Weeks 1, 2
History and Process
Ancient Civilizations Chapter 1
Reading Packet:
Units for Weeks 1 and 2 |
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Weeks 3, 4
Origins of Agriculture: Near East and Asia
Ancient Civilizations Ch.
3 pp. 49-51; Ch. 4 87-93; Ch. 5 pp. 118-123; Ch. 6 pp. 137-140
Reading Packet: Units for Weeks 3 and 4 |
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Week 5
Origins of Agriculture: Mesoamerica and South America
Ancient Civilizations
Ch. 15 pp. 350-355; Ch. 17 pp. 401-411
Reading Packet: Unit for Week 5
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Week 6
Theories of the Rise of the State
Ancient Civilizations Chapter 2
Reading
Packet: Unit for Week 6
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Weeks 7, 8
Evolution of Complex Societies: Near East [Mesopotamia]
Ancient Civilizations
Chapter 3
Reading Packet: Units for Weeks 7 and 8 |
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Mid-Term Exam, March 9!!
Week 9 March 17-24 SPRING BREAK NO CLASS!
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Weeks 10, 11
Evolution of Complex Societies: Near East [Egypt, Indus Valley]
Ancient
Civilizations Chapters 4 and 5
Reading Packet: Units for Weeks 10 and 11 |
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Weeks 12, 13
Increasing Social Complexity: Near East, Asia, Africa [Anatolia, China, SE Asia,
Kush, Meroe]
Ancient Civilizations Ch. 6. pp. 141-161; Ch. 7; Ch. 12; Ch. 13
Reading Packet: Units for Weeks
12 and 13 |
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Weeks 14, 15
Evolution of Complex Societies: Mesoamerica and South America [Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan,
Chavin]
Ancient Civilizations Ch. 15 pp. 355-376; Ch. 16 pp. 378-389
Reading Packet: Units for Weeks 14 and
15 |
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Weeks 16, 17
Increasing Social Complexity: Mesoamerica and South America [Aztecs, Moche, Inca]
Ancient
Civilizations Chapter 16 pp. 389-400; Chapter 17 pp. 412-418; Chapter 18
Reading Packet: Unit for Weeks 16 and 17 |
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Week 17 Final Exam! Monday, May 16, 12:30-2:30 pm (NOTE DIFFERENT TIME) |
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University and Departmental Policies
Please take the time to read through the attached sheet. If
you have any additional questions, please stop by my office or send me an e-mail message at barnold@uwm.edu.
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Argos
