ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EST
Code
66891
ACADEMIC YEAR
2019/2020
CREDITS
6 credits during the nd year of 8740 Modern languages and cultures (L-11) GENOVA
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR
L-OR/05
TEACHING LOCATION
GENOVA (Modern languages and cultures)
semester
1° Semester
Teaching materials
OVERVIEW
New developments on the preservation of the archaeological and artistic heritage in the Near East, with a special focus on Iraq and Syria. Archaeology, art history and languages of the ancient Near East, with a special emphasis on Mesopotamia. The module is accessible to everybody. Owing to peculiarity of the subject, the relevance of images, films and 3D object projection the module attendance is strongly recommended.
AIMS AND CONTENT
LEARNING OUTCOMES
To stimulate students to gain a better understanding on the dynamics of preservation and development of the artistic and archaeological heritage in the ancient Near East; to achieve a fundamental knowledge of the most important Near Eastern collections from the top museums in the world. To outline the main features of the historic, archaeological and linguistic development of the most relevant civilisations from the ancient Near East, with a special focus on Mesopotamia.
AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
To stimulate students to gain a better understanding on the dynamics of preservation and development of the artistic and archaeological heritage in the ancient Near East; to achieve a fundamental knowledge of the most important Near Eastern collections from the top museums in the world. To outline the main features of the historic, archaeological and linguistic development of the most relevant civilisations from the ancient Near East, with a special focus on Mesopotamia.
At the end of module, students must have achieved the following learning results: to focus and comprehend the dynamics of cultural heritage preservation in the Near East, the reasons and typology of destructions; to know the main museum collection of Near Eastern antiquities worldwide, as well as the main guidelines of historical, artistic and linguistic development of Mesopotamian civilization from Prehistory to the great empire of the I millennium BC.
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures supported by Powerpoint presentations, videos and 3D reproductions of architecture, artefacts and works of art. The didactic material will be published on a weekly base on the Aulaweb platform.
SYLLABUS/CONTENT
Issues of destruction and recostruction of Near Eastern cultural heritage in the aftermath of wars and Islamic terrorism. From Mosul to Nineveh and Nimrud, from Palmyra to Aleppo and Ebla: recent developments on the preservation of the archaeological and artistic heritage in the Near East, with a special focus on Iraq and Syria: I) (pre-Iconoclasm) looting and destructions caused by armed conflicts, II) (Iconoclasm) ethnic and cultural cleansing, and the intentional destruction of monuments and art by radical Islamic groups. Recent methodologies of intervention, heritage protection and restoration of monuments and sites affected by armed conflict in Mosul and Aleppo.
Archaeology, art history and languages (Sumerian and Akkadian) of the ancient Near East, with a special emphasis on Mesopotamia from the agricultural revolution to the Assyrian and Babylonian empires in the Second and First Millennium BC.
RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY
Program for attending students:
As a complement to the lectures’ notes and images:
-
A. Invernizzi, "Dal Tigri all'Eufrate - Volume I, Sumeri e Accadi". Le Lettere, Firenze,1992/2007: only images and topics dealt with in lectures;
2. A. Invernizzi, "Dal Tigri all'Eufrate - volume II, Babilonesi e Assiri", Le Lettere, Firenze,1992/2007: only images and topics dealt with in lectures;
3. Paolo Brusasco, "La Mesopotamia prima dell'Islam", Bruno Mondadori, 2008.
Further readings:
Two chapters of one of the following books:
- Paolo Brusasco, "Dentro la devastazione. L'ISIS contro l'arte di Siria e Iraq". La Nave di Teseo 2018.
-Paolo Brusasco, “Tesori rubati. Il saccheggio del patrimonio artistico nel Medio Oriente”, Bruno Mondadori 2013.
- Paolo Brusasco, “Babilonia. All'origine del mito”. Cortina, Milano, 2012.
-Paolo Brusasco, "Looting the past. Syria's cultural heritage under attack: another Iraq?", Libreria Universitaria 2012: only Section 1.
-Mario Liverani, “Assiria. La preistoria dell’imperialismo”. Laterza, Bari, 2017.
- Mario Liverani, “Paradiso e dintorni, Il paesaggio rurale dell'antico Oriente”. Laterza 2018.
Optional readings:
Akkadian language
Students interested in the Semitic languages of the ancient Near East can plan with the lecturer the reading of Richard Caplice, “Introduction to Akkadian”, Rome, Biblical Institute Press, 1988.
Overseas students can agree with the lecturer a bibliography in English or in another language.
Program for non-attending students:
A. Invernizzi, "Dal Tigri all'Eufrate - Volume I, Sumeri e Accadi". Le Lettere, Firenze, 1992/2007: the whole volume;
2. A. Invernizzi, "Dal Tigri all'Eufrate - volume II, Babilonesi e Assiri", Le Lettere, Firenze, 1992/2007: the whole volume;
3. Paolo Brusasco, "La Mesopotamia prima dell'Islam", Bruno Mondadori (2008).
Further readings:
Three chapters of one of the following books:
- Paolo Brusasco, "Dentro la devastazione. L'ISIS contro l'arte di Siria e Iraq". La Nave di Teseo 2018.
-Paolo Brusasco, “Tesori rubati. Il saccheggio del patrimonio artistico nel Medio Oriente”, Bruno Mondadori 2013.
- Paolo Brusasco, “Babilonia. All'origine del mito”. Cortina, Milano, 2012.
-Paolo Brusasco, "Looting the past. Syria's cultural heritage under attack: another Iraq?", Libreria Universitaria 2012: only Section 1.
-Mario Liverani, “Assiria. La preistoria dell’imperialismo”. Laterza, Bari, 2017.
- Mario Liverani, “Paradiso e dintorni, Il paesaggio rurale dell'antico Oriente”. Laterza 2018.
Optional readings:
Akkadian language
Students interested in the Semitic languages of the ancient Near East can plan with the lecturer the reading of Richard Caplice, “Introduction to Akkadian”, Rome, Biblical Institute Press, 1988.
Overseas students can agree with the lecturer a bibliography in English or in another language.
TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD
Ricevimento: Every Wednesday at 1.00 pm after lecture.
Exam Board
PAOLO BRUSASCO (President)
CHIARA BENATI
LESSONS
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures supported by Powerpoint presentations, videos and 3D reproductions of architecture, artefacts and works of art. The didactic material will be published on a weekly base on the Aulaweb platform.
LESSONS START
Wednesday, October 2, 2019, between 11.00 am and 13.00 pm.
EXAMS
Exam description
The exam consists of an oral assessment on the syllabus contents. Candidates will be asked at least one question for each of the topics dealt with in the module, with a special focus on cultural heritage preservation, museum collection of Near Eastern antiquities worldwide, as well as the development of the archaeology, history, art history and lanhuages of ancient Mesopotamia.
Assessment methods