Ryckmans Chair: ancient Arabic history and culture

lglor2743  2019-2020  Louvain-la-Neuve

Ryckmans Chair: ancient Arabic history and culture
Note from June 29, 2020
Although we do not yet know how long the social distancing related to the Covid-19 pandemic will last, and regardless of the changes that had to be made in the evaluation of the June 2020 session in relation to what is provided for in this learning unit description, new learnig unit evaluation methods may still be adopted by the teachers; details of these methods have been - or will be - communicated to the students by the teachers, as soon as possible.
5 credits
22.5 h
Q1

This biannual learning unit is being organized in 2019-2020
Teacher(s)
den Heijer Johannes (coordinator);
Language
French
Prerequisites
None, but knowledge of either the basics of Near Eastern archaeology (arch. du Proche-Orient) or one or more Semitic languages will be helpful.
Main themes
An introduction to  the history and culture of the Arabian Peninsula in the pre-Islamic period (roughly, from the 8th  century B.C to the 7th century C.E.), with due attention to its contacts with the neighbouring regions (Syria, Mesopotamia, Iran, Ethiopia), and with a focus on the extant textual and material sources. The conceptual framework consists of the chronology, the religious practices, the historical geography and the main archaeological site of the Peninsula. In an optional philological module, one or more varieties of Ancient North or South Arabian (or possibly, into Classical Ethiopian) may be studied at an introductory level.
Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1 At the end of this course, students will have acquired basic knowledge of the main issues in research on Ancient Arabia. Those who have chosen the philological module will be familiar with the characteristics of one or more languages of Ancient North or South Arabia (Lihyanite, Safaitic, Thamudic; Sabaean, Minaeic, Qatabanic, Hadramitic) or, in specific cases, of Ethiopia. Other students will have acquired a more in-depth understanding of the historical developments, the religious practices, and the archeological sites of the region.
 

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.
Content
An introduction to the history and culture of the Arabian Peninsula in the pre-Islamic period (roughly, from the 8th century B.C to the 7th century C.E.), with due attention to its contacts with the neighbouring regions (Syria, Mesopotamia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia), and with a focus on the extant textual and material sources. The conceptual framework consists of the chronology, the religious practices, the historical geography and the main archaeological site of the Peninsula. In an optional philological module, one or more varieties of Ancient North or South Arabian (or possibly, into Classical Ethiopian) may be studied at an introductory level.
Teaching methods
This course comes in the format of occasional sessions sustained by the Moodle virtual teaching environment, and the own input of the students. Students are required to prepare an intervention based on the knowledge obtained in the introduction as well as on their own reading of published sources and studies.
Evaluation methods
Evaluation of an intervention, to be submitted in writing and to be presented orally and pertaining to a relevant subject, e.g., a corpus of texts or an archeological site in its historical context.
Other information
The themes will be determined more precisely in accordance with the availability of guest lecturers, and, when possible, with the interests and specialisations of the students.
Bibliography
  • Portefeuille de lectures/textes
  • Textes imprimés, textes en photocopies, documents présentés sous forme numérique, support sonore.
  • Inscription obligatoire sur Moodle.
Teaching materials
  • Portefeuille de lectures/textes
Faculty or entity
GLOR


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Master [60] in Ancient Languages and Literatures : Oriental Studies

Master [120] in Ancient Languages and Literatures: Oriental Studies