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Using Egyptian texts and archaeology as a basis, this course introduces basic daily life issues in ancient Egypt from its historical origins ca. 5000 BC to the Persian conquest of 525 BC. The goal of this course is for students to understand how a study of historical texts and material culture (objects) can be combined to reveal aspects of life and society. Topics include: anthropological origins and ethnicities, historical development, language, writing and education, social institutions, status and roles of women, love and marriage, sex and sexuality, medicine and medical practice, warfare, religion and magic, games, athletics and sports. The class will also consider Egypt's social legacy to Africa, as well as connections with the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations of the Aegean.
A focal point of the course is a final group project (in place of a term paper) consisting of a student-organized virtual museum exhibition on the daily life of the ancient Egyptians. This exhibit will bring together a virtual collection of Egyptian objects from museums around the word, complete with detailed descriptive labels, explanatory essays, and final project reports. Its purpose is to demonstrate and analyze the historical and archaeological issues discussed in the class through the medium of Egyptian material culture. History 270 can also be applied to credit in African Studies and Archaeology with the permission of the directors of those programs. |