Courses
Course Descriptions 10000s-20000s
ANTH 10109
Introduction to Anthropology
FIRST YEAR STUDENTS ONLY
Elective
An introduction to one of the most exciting of the social sciences. Anthropology helps answer some of the most basic questions about ourselves and others—How and why did humans evolve? How did human culture develop, and why do there appear to be so many differences between cultures? How did human communication come about? Is language understood only in terms of words? How does human language work, and in what ways does it affect our ability to perceive the "real" world? Why are there so many different cultures? Are human behavior and human nature best explained by reference to genes, race, adaptation to environment, or to the symbolic nature of culture itself? Exploring the answers to these questions offers students a fascinating opportunity to learn more about their own as well as other cultures. Regardless of whether the student's major is science, engineering, business or the liberal arts, Anthropology 10109 is an elective of significance to a liberal education.
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ANTH 10195
Introduction to Anthropology Honors
FIRST YEAR HONOR STUDENTS ONLY
Elective
Human beings may be classified as one species among many in biological terms, although a strict physical determination marks only the starting point for a broad inquiry into what we mean by human nature. Anthropology moves forward from this beginning to explore, in theory and by empirical investigation, the particular forms of cultural expression that characterize the development of human societies and account for their richness and their remarkable variety. This course examines the fundamental elements of this fascinating social science. It addresses the sometimes controversial evidence related to such questions as evolution and genetics, as well as issues of ecological adaptation and the emergence of complex societies. It looks into language and other symbolic systems as central components of distinctively human behavior. It concentrates with special emphasis on the vast domain of social and cultural life, drawing upon many ethnographic examples from near and far, to illustrate how anthropologists seek to study all dimensions of human experience, from kinship to kingship and from cyborgs to shamans.
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ANTH 13181
Social Science—University Seminar
Exploring Anthropology
FIRST YEAR STUDENTS ONLY
Anthropology, the holistic study of humanity, is the focus of this seminar course. Through discussion and analysis of a variety of anthropological texts and topics this seminar course aims to develop writing skills among first year students while exposing them to some central problems and issues of being human in an amazingly complex world. This seminar will encourage students to explore topics though both academic and popular texts and media, and attempt to conceptualize the complex biocultural nature of humanity. We will engage in topics such as:
Anthropology as a way of seeking knowledge
Human diversity: facts, myths and misunderstandings
Human behavior and communication: language and symbol
Human strategies for subsistence and survival: meeting the challenges of the past and present
Human nature(s) and what they mean for understanding our world
(This course satisfies the University social science requirement.)
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ANTH 20000 Majors and minors only
Comparative Politics
Elective
Cross-listed from: POLS
In this course students learn to think more clearly about politics, especially about how and why political life takes place as it does around the world. We study why nation-states are the dominant form of political organization today and why nation-states differ, especially in their economic and political development. Why are some countries democracies? Why are others dictatorships? Why do political movements participate in elections, start civil wars, or engage in terrorism? We develop answers to these questions by focusing on the experiences of Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, China, Iran, India, Mexico, and South Africa.
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ANTH 20010
Cine de la Raza: Perspectives from Contemporary Latino Filmmakers
Elective
1-credit-hour course, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory credit
This mini-course will explore the Latino experience from the perspective of contemporary Latino filmmakers. Ranging from cross-border organizing, to economic globalization, transnational communities, American society, and the impact of gentrification, Latino filmmakers are giving voice to the complexity of La Raza in the United States. This course will examine these themes through documentary, independent film, and lectures and discussion with the filmmakers themselves.
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ANTH 20025 Majors and minors only
World Religions
Elective
Cross-listed from: THEO
A theological exploration of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Islam, and the relationship of Christianity to those religions. The goal of this exploration is specifically (1) to set forth the essential characteristics of the world's great religions, (2) to disengage the essential differences between Christianity and the other world religions, (3) to identify the distinctiveness of Catholicism within the family of Christian traditions, and (4) to examine historically and systematically the Christian theological appraisal of other world religions. Thus, the course will enable the students to gain a deeper understanding of Christianity by "passing over" into and experiencing as well as appraising the different major religious traditions of the world. To enhance the learning experience, the course will use the BBC film series titled THE LONG SEARCH. Each of these hour-long films focuses on perspectives of the world's major religions.
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ANTH 20030 Majors and minors only
World Religions in Christian Perspective
Elective
Cross-listed from: THEO
The course examines the foundations of several world religious traditions (e.g., Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism). Focusing on key religious ideas and practices, it compares and contrasts them with one another and in relation to the Christian design for life worked out in Catholic experience and theological reflection.
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ANTH 20040 Majors only
Islamic Societies
Elective
Cross-listed from: MELC
This course is an introductory survey of the Islamic societies of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa from their origins to the present day. It will investigate the history and expansion of Islam, both as a world religion and civilization, from its birth in the Arabian Peninsula in the seventh century to its subsequent spread to practically all corners of the globe, including Europe and the Americas. We will use case studies to examine how issues of religious and social ethics, governance, economics, politics, gender, and social relations have been interpreted and applied in a number of Islamic societies, such as in Afghanistan, the Sudan, Egypt, and Iran. The course foregrounds the complexities and diversity present in what we call the Islamic world today.
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ANTH 20041
Music and cultures of the Non-West
Elective
Cross-listed from: MUS
This course introduces a wide variety of musical systems, emphasizing the integration of culture-specific concepts about musical sound with the particular historical, social, and political contexts that shape and are shaped by that sound. Select musical case studies from South Asia, Africa, and Latin America will be explored and juxtaposed to reveal relationships to relevant themes such as nationalism, migration/diaspora, spirituality, the social position of music/musicians, improvisation, and social protest. No background in music is required, only open ears and minds.
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ANTH 20045 Majors and minors only
Appreciating World Music
Elective
Cross-listed from: MUS
This course introduces students to the methods for conducting field research, reviewing live musical events and evaluating World Music recordings. Through discussions about music from South Africa, Mexico, the Philippines, Indonesia and China, students learn about the musical practices of these other cultures and understand their motivations for musical production. Challenges faced by musicians from colonialism, racism, nationalism, cultural imperialism and commercialism are also engaged. In addition, students are encouraged to 'discover' world music among the diasporic communities within their own societies, and get the opportunity to perform music of some of the cultures studied.
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ANTH 20046 Majors and minors only
Music and Globalization in Asia
Elective
Cross-listed from: MUS
This course explores musical production in India and China, the 'new cultural cores' that are gradually replacing the USA and Western Europe in cultural influence in Asia and the Asian diaspora. Taking into account these countries' colonial and semi-colonial histories, their political and economic development, and the increasing transnational movement of their citizens, this course charts the development of commercially successful music from these countries—bhangra; Bollywood; Chinese pop; and fusion music popularized by bands like Twelve Girl Band and composers like Tan Dun in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon—that have not only captured Asia but the West as well, and shaped the imagination of what Indian-ness and Chinese-ness are, both to the Chinese/Indians and non-Chinese/Indians. In addition, this course examines Filipino entertainers, a group of musicians who provide live entertainment of a transnational capacity throughout Asia. They represent important channels for the dissemination of Indian and Chinese popular music in that region. Globalization and cosmopolitanism theories will be discussed in this course.
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ANTH 20047 Majors and minors only
Music of Africa and the African Diaspora
Elective
Cross-listed from: MUS
Students explore music from West Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa, and the Carribean, South America, and the United States, paying close attention to how their reception and performance inform and influence each other historically and contextually. The seminar emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to the subject, drawing from ethnomusicology, African and African American studies, anthropology, colonial and post-colonial studies.
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ANTH 20048 Majors and minors only
Music and World Religions
Elective
Cross-listed from: MUS
Through this ethnomusicology course students will learn the roles music occupies in world religions. More than a world music course, we will examine the creative expression of the divine through the universal language of organized sound as music, as music plays a major role in the practice of most religions worldwide. This study involves all the major continents, highlighting new perspectives as to the confluence between religious culture and musical expression. Knowledge of music is beneficial but not required, just open ears and minds to the diverse ontological understandings comprising various worldviews.
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ANTH 20050 Majors and minors only
Introduction to Chinese Culture and Civilization
Elective
Cross-listed from: LLEA
This is a survey course on the major aspects of Chinese culture and civilization from the beginnings to the present time. Readings (in English translation) include traditional historical, philosophical, political, religious and literary texts as well as modern scholarship. Students are encouraged to bring in their experience, living or reading, of Western culture in order to form comparative and reflective perspectives.
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ANTH 20051 Majors and minors only
Globalization & Social Movements
Elective
Cross-listed from: SOC
In what ways does an increasingly global political, economic and cultural system impact our lives? Has globalization led to increased peace and justice, or to new types of conflict and inequality? How has globalization affected national and trans-national social movements? This course examines the ways in which changes in the global economic and political system affect politics within countries. First, we will briefly review the broader research literature on the sociology of social movements. Readings will cover a range of different movements, such as those working to protect the environment, advocating for economic justice, addressing social problems such as extreme poverty and public health, and fighting for the rights of women and working people. Then, we will look at how globalization has affected social movements. This course is particularly applicable to students majoring in business, political science, economics, peace studies, anthropology, sociology, and any foreign language. Students planning to study abroad may also be interested.
Majors and minors only
Islam: Religion and Culture
Elective
Cross-listed from: MELC
This course will discuss the rise of Islam in the Arabian peninsula in the seventh century and its subsequent consolidation as a major world religion and civilization. Lectures and readings will deal with the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the Qur'an and its interpretation, early Islamic history, community formation, law and ritual, theology, philosophy, mysticism, and literature. Emphasis will be on the core beliefs and institutions of Islam and on the religious and political thought of its practitioners from the Middle Ages through our own time. The latter part of the course will deal with Islamic resurgence, both in its reformist and extremist manifestations and with contemporary Muslim engagements with modernity. All readings are in English; no prerequisite.
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Majors and minors only
Environment and Development in Global Perspective
Elective
Cross-listed from: SOC
In this course, we will examine contemporary struggles over natural resources in the context of globalization. We will begin by analyzing the model of development that is dominant in the USA and seek to understand how it has emerged as a "favored" model in different parts of the world. Who benefits from this model of development? Who suffers? What forms of power are deployed to maintain this model? to challenge it? Next we will turn our attention to the global consequences of particular patterns of production and consumption. We will take a close look at two natural resources, petroleum and water, and examine the political and social contexts that have given rise to collective struggles over their control and distribution. Finally, we will step into the realm of futurist sociology and ask what the future might look like if current development patterns continue. Classes include lectures, discussion, and films. There are no exams in this course, but students should be prepared to participate in class discussions, to write several short papers, to submit bi-monthly evaluations of current news reports, and to lead one class discussion on the readings.
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ANTH 20070
Introduction to Islamic Civilization
Elective
Cross-listed from: CLAS
This course provides an introduction to Islamic civilization and Muslim culture and societies through scholarly works, literature, media clips, films, and other audio-video material (some were made by the instructor during recent trips to the Middle East). The background readings will provide a context for the films and audio-video material, giving a general overview of the history of the Islamic world from the advent of Islam to the present day. The ultimate goal of this course is for students to gain a better understanding of the Muslim peoples and their culture and societies within the broader context of Islamic civilization. Focal point: brief overview of the canons and basic tenets of Islam as a world religion, recognition and transcendence of stereotypes, awareness of Western culture and political influence on today’s Arab-Islamic world and vice versa, and exposure to Middle Eastern culture.
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Majors and minors only
Sociology of Terrorism
Elective
Cross-listed from: SOC
The purpose of this course is to provide a broad review of terrorism with a focus on sociological approaches such as social movements theory, network analysis, and ideology. The course will examine profiles of terrorists within a historical and social psychological perspective. Specifically, we will focus on the purpose and difference of terrorists and terrorist groups and frame our discussion around historical factors that continue to influence modern terrorism. Finally, we will discuss the consequences of terrorism in terms of social responses to terrorism, the economic and political costs of these responses, and the possibility of preventing terrorism in the future.
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ANTH 20080
Women in Islamic Societies
Elective
Cross-listed from: MELC
This course is a broad survey of women's and gender issues in various Islamic societies, with a focus on the Arab Middle East. The first half of the semester will concentrate on the historical position of women in Islamic societies, defined by the normative values of Islam and by cultural traditions and norms. We will discuss how the interpretations of these values in diverse circumstances and who gets to do the interpreting have had an important impact on women's societal roles. The second half of the course will privilege women's voices and agency in articulating their gendered identities and roles in a number of pre-modern and modern Islamic societies. Our sources for discovering these voices are women's memoirs, fiction, magazine articles, and public speeches. We will also focus on how historical phenomena such as Western colonialism, nationalist liberation movements, civil and other forms of war have given rise to women's organized movements and a feminist socio-political consciousness in many cases.
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ANTH 20100
Human Origins and Evolution
Elective
This is a course for non-majors/minors in anthropology on the current state of research on human origins. It is pitched at a general audience assuming no background other than capable critical thinking and writing skills. The course will be structured around key questions about human evolution. What is evolutionary theory and how does it contrast with other ways of explaining humanity's place in nature? How do we go about finding and identifying fossil human ancestors? How do we know their antiquity, and what clues are there about the behavior of our forbears? In particular, when and why did they start walking upright, making tools, building living shelters, populate different parts of the world, and master fire? What, if anything, does our evolutionary past imply about our modern lifestyles and the biological variation in current human populations? Finally, what is the future of human evolution?
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ANTH 20105
Introduction to Human Ethology
Elective
Human ethology studies various aspects of human development, not just within our own culture, but across diverse cultures. This science is most unique because it looks at both evolutionary processes and the behavior of monkeys and apes to more holistically understand contemporary human behavior. For example, using cross-cultural and cross-species data, this course conducts an exploration of the cultural and evolutionary origins of language, non-verbal communication, laughter, sleep, deception, morality, infant behavior, parenting, human aggression, sexual behavior, gender development, and human courtship rituals.
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ANTH 20111
Anthropology of Human Sexuality
Elective
Sexuality is a complex and multi-faceted suite of biological and cultural/behavioral components. It is an important part of the human existence, especially in modern day North American society. This course seeks to examine human sexuality in an anthropological context. We will review sexuality in an evolutionary perspective via a comparison of nonhuman primate sexual behavior and the theoretical constructs surrounding adaptive explanations for human sexuality. The physiology of sex and the development of the reproductive tract will also be covered. The remainder of the course will consist of the evaluation of data sets regarding aspects of human sexual practice, sexual preference, mate choice, gendered sexuality, and related issues of human sexuality.
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ANTH 20120
Current Topics in Bioanthropology
Elective
This course explores the latest developments in biological anthropology such as, but not limited to, aggression and cooperation in human and nonhuman primates, population genetics, human diversity, the concept of race, primate evolution and behavior, patterns of adaptation, and evolutionary medicine. Emphasis will be on the role of biological systems and evolutionary theory.
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ANTH 20140
Forensic Anthropology
Elective
Death has become a burgeoning business for television and cable networks, publishing houses and entrepreneurs. While some purport an increased scientific sophistication among the viewing public as a result, most recognize that unrealistic expectations for instant answers and seemingly omnipotent investigators often nullify any benefits. Therefore, students will be introduced to basic procedures employed by forensic anthropologists during the recovery and analysis of human remains. They will learn how biological anthropologists apply expertise in human osteology, skeletal variation and plasticity, pathology, archaeological recovery of evidence, and medicolegal issues of chain-of-custody, courtroom testimony, and human rights policy. While the course will focus on anthropological contributions to the forensic sciences, the importance of a multidisciplinary approach will be emphasized through a survey of allied fields.
Students will develop analytical skills through the application of anthropological theory and methods, understand the scientific method through research requirements and in-depth case studies, improve collaborative skills with group projects, increase cross-cultural awareness by studying how social problems and social movements affect minority groups, and explore the possibility that forensic science might indeed be shaped by “opinion.” Professional ethics will be discussed, students will engage in structured debates, and will be expected to complete a group research project.
ANTH 20220
Alcohol and Drugs: Anthropology of Substance Use and Abuse
Elective
This class will cover biological, cultural and applied aspects of how anthropology approaches the diversity of substance use practices around the world, as well as resultant social problems and social reactions. The course will draw on both historical and ethnographic analyses to situate alcohol and drug use in the realm of human behavior and experience. Addiction as a concept will be critically analyzed from both biological and cultural perspectives. Policy implications of an anthropological understanding of substance use and abuse will be developed in the later part of the course.
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ANTH 20305
Political Anthropology
Elective
This course explores how anthropologists approach the study of political phenomena. What exactly constitutes “the political” will be one of our initial concerns. First, we will review the intellectual history of political anthropology in order to contextualize current paradigms. Second, we will read key texts that have influenced how anthropologists think about the state, nation, and political struggles. Finally, we will explore how anthropological analyses can help us reframe contemporary political debates by scrutinizing the assumptions that political actors make about socio-political orders. Throughout the course, we will read various ethnographies that illustrate current trends and future possibilities in the field of political anthropology.
ANTH 20330
Societies and Cultures of South Asia
Elective
This course provides a broad introduction to societies and cultures of South Asia (including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives). Emphasis will be on the Indian subcontinent. Central themes and topics of the course include: religious pluralism and communalism; linguistic pluralism and ethnonationalism; the ideologies and practices of caste, class, and gender; colonialism and postcolonial development projects; aesthetic traditions (film, dance, music, art); and experiences of the South Asian Diaspora (particularly in North America). The course with combine lecture, discussion, and films. There will be a mid-term and final exam, a final paper, and a map quiz.
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ANTH 20335
Peoples of Southeast Asia
Elective
An Islamic matriarchy; the world’s busiest waterway and second busiest port both today and five hundred years ago; old Hindu and Buddhist temples which surprised their western re-discoverers with their grandness and opulence; modern states which are home to both high tech centers and slash-and-burn agriculturalists; the site of the oldest recorded use of the zero; a complicated and efficient wet-rice irrigation system operated by priests using a calendar which does not in the first instance measure the passage of time; former colonies of Britain, France, the United States, Spain and Portugal as well as never subjugated peoples who call themselves free.
All these can be found in Southeast Asia. Yet for most westerners Southeast Asia is probably the least known and least often thought about of all of Asia’s major cultural regions. Some have even suggested that whatever unity this large, various and sometimes extremely densely populated region possesses is more apparent, the result of geo-political convenience, than real. This course will introduce Southeast Asia through close readings of important accounts of some of its peoples, some of them long civilized and highly cosmopolitan while others are apparently more back woodsy. It will examine the regions history, religions and social organizations tracing out themes and variations which give this region its unity and, for all its diversity and its many waves of immigration, make Southeast Asia a field of related cultures.
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ANTH 20340
Japanese Society
Elective
This course presents a survey of the varied social structures and forms of expressions that make up the complex society of contemporary Japan. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including anthropological writings, history, reporting, film, and fiction, the course will explore the basic institutions that underlie Japanese life, including family life, work settings, religious traditions, urban and rural dynamics, political and economic order, gender relations, youth and popular culture, as well as an inquiry into recent prominent controversies reflecting changing attitudes toward Japan's national identity. The course will also seek to understand the place of modern Japan in the context of its prominence within the wider Pacific Rim where it stands as a global hub and a major crossroads for markets, peoples, and ideas.
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ANTH 20350
Chinese Society and Culture
Elective
From headlines we often have the impression that China is becoming “capitalist” and will soon be just like us. It is true that China is rapidly changing, yet it will not soon resemble the United States. It is also wrong to regard everything about it as radically new. This course introduces students to the complexities of contemporary Chinese society in the context of the past. Topics covered include food, family and gender, political activity, ethnicity and identity, urban and rural life, work and unemployment, economic complexity, multilingualism, arts, religion, medicine and the body, and literature. We will look at film, fiction, the Internet, ethnographies, standard historical accounts, and other sources to ensure a multifaceted understanding of China beyond its usual superficial portrayal as a vast potential market of consumers (though that’s not entirely wrong!). Students will be encouraged to investigate a topic of their choosing in greater depth.
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ANTH 20360
Societies and Cultures of Latin America
Elective
Using specific country and regional cases from Mesoamerica, Central America, the Caribbean and South America this course surveys key aspects of Latin American history and contemporary organization. Its principle objectives are 1) to examine the region's pre-Colombian, colonial and post-colonial heritage; 2) analyze its economic, political, and social spheres, including economic dependency, underdevelopment and development, political institutions, the churches, the military, social movements, religious expressions and ethnic and class relations; 3) survey common North American conceptions and misconceptions about Latin America; 4) explore Latin American identities; and 5) discuss a number of current events in the context of the above.
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ANTH 20390
Societies and Cultures of Africa
Elective
Sub-Saharan Africa is a geographically massive territory distinguished by a tremendous diversity of cultures, customs, languages, histories, identities, and experiences. In this course, we explore this wealth of diversity, alongside a survey of some of the broad historical and contemporary trends and movements that have characterized the subcontinent. A brief introduction to African geography is followed by an overview of African history in the pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial eras. The remainder of the course is devoted to the study of present-day Africa, including readings on social organization, religion, music, art, popular culture, politics, economics, as well as on the contemporary crises and challenges of warfare, poverty, and HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Readings will include historical, ethnographic, literary, and autobiographical texts, and will be supplemented by a number of African-directed films.
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ANTH 20501
Archaeology: Myths and Facts
Elective
2-credit-hour course
The general public views archaeologists in a highly stereotyped manner. This course explores the public’s perception of what archaeologists do and why they do it, and seeks to better understand the broader goals and contributions of the study of archaeology. We will explore this question through a range of media, including how the public and media stereotype archaeological research through films and novels, such as Indiana Jones. We will also examine the development of alternative / pseudoscientific explanations for ancient phenomena (for instance, the construction of the Egyptian pyramids, the destruction of Atlantis, and the use of the Nasca lines by Aliens). Finally, students will investigate the modern social context of conducting archaeology today: how can archaeology help us to understand the world in which we live? We will draw on case studies from throughout the world, including examples from North America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East.
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ANTH 20502
Ancient Technology: Rocks to Silicon Chips
Elective
2-credit-hour course
This class explores the social, cultural and intellectual contexts of ancient technologies. In this class students will learn when and how humans developed critical technologies in the past, and discuss how they have impacted the world we live in today. Lecture and discussion topics include how ancient people initially used the earth’s elements to improve daily lives (the invention of pottery, the extraction of minerals by mining, and the development of different forms of metallurgy), how they built upon this foundation to expand their lives (the invention of optical systems, the development of concrete for building, fermentation of fruits and vegetables, the development of ancient medical technologies for mummification and brain surgery), expanded their awareness of the world they lived in (development of time keeping, calendrics, and astronomy), and eventually the manipulation of ancient technologies for conflict (siege engines, wooden warships). In each of these cases, attention is directed to the development and social context of these inventions, challenging students to understand the ancient past as a complex and rich foundation of the world today.
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ANTH 20503
Archaeology: Myths and Facts
Elective
This course explores the public's perception of what archaeologists do and why they do it, and seeks to better understand the broader goals and contributions of the study of archaeology. We will draw on case studies from throughout the world, including examples from North America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East.
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ANTH 20510
Origins of Human Civilization
Elective
This course is an introduction to archaeology and to world prehistory. It will provide students with a basic understanding of what archaeology is, how it is done, and what it has produced. Fundamental principles of archaeological theory and practice will be illustrated by examples from throughout the world in order to introduce important themes such as the origins of food production, the rise of cultural complexity, the peopling of the world, and the development of technology. The course covers cultural evolution from the invention of the first stone tools through the rise of ancient civilizations such as those of the Maya, Incas, Egyptians, and Near East.
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ANTH 20520
Archaeology of Egypt
Elective
This course introduces students to ancient Egypt, one of the most fascinating societies of the ancient world. Through lectures, films, readings, and small group projects, students will explore the origins and fluorescence of the rich cultures of Egypt, ranging from the earliest farming societies to the splendors of Roman Egypt under the rule of Cleopatra. The course structure focuses students’ attentions on key anthropological concepts, such as kinship, ritual, political economy, mortuary practices, cultural contact, and the future of Egyptian archaeology, by exploring case studies that highlight the extraordinary archaeological heritage of the country.
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ANTH 20540
Ancient Cities and States
Elective
Ancient civilizations are interesting not only for their often spectacular remains, but also for what they can tell us about our own urban society. This course explores the archaeology of ancient cities and states by focusing on several case studies, including ancient societies of Mesoamerica and the ancient Near East.
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ANTH 20550
Archaeology of Ancient Palestine
Elective
This course introduces students to the rich prehistoric and early historic archaeology of the southern Levant, the region encompassing modern Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. The course will explore the archaeology of the region chronologically, and topics will include the origins of agriculture, the emergence of towns and cities, international seafaring and exchange, the Philistines and Sea Peoples, and the influence of neighboring empires.