Culture and Civilization of the Near East and Ancient Egypt

lglor1513  2023-2024  Louvain-la-Neuve

Culture and Civilization of the Near East and Ancient Egypt
5.00 credits
30.0 h
Q1

This biannual learning unit is being organized in 2023-2024
Teacher(s)
Parys Laura; Tavernier Jan;
Language
French
Prerequisites
None.
Main themes
An introduction to the cultures and beliefs of the Ancient Near East and Pharaonic Egypt.
This course deals with the following themes:
  1. The natural surroundings and the symbolism connected to them;
  2. The founding literary works of the civilisations envisaged;
  3. The beliefs of the Ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian peoples.
Learning outcomes

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

of a better understanding of the ways of thinking of these antique civilisations.
In order to achieve this goal, he will have been initiated into the great literary works of the Ancient Near East, and to the fundamental principles of the Egyptian religion.
 
Content
This course has two successive parts.
1. For the Ancient Near East, it focuses on:
  • to give a general overview of the literatures of Mesopotamia, Anatolia and Ugarit;
  • to discuss the different genres of this literature, including an analysis of the main works (Gilgamesh, Enuma Elish, Kumarbi, the myths of Ugarit).
2. For pharaonic Egypt, it focuses on:
  • the natural surroundings of the Two Lands and its symbolism;
  • Egyptian man (human nature, his conception of the afterlife, the tombs);
  • the gods (mythological stories, the temples, rituals and feasts).
Teaching methods
The course is given by means of ppt that are well illustrated, including maps, texts and pictures.
Evaluation methods
An oral exam based on written preparation. The student will be questioned successively by the two teachers.
Online resources
The Moodle server allows one to obtain:
  1. the syllabus on the history of the Ancient Near East, as well as the ppt of the course.
  2. the ppt of the part of the course on Egypt, as well as a bibliography.
Bibliography
  1. Proche-Orient ancien : le syllabus contient une bibliographie.
  2. Égypte: Cl. Traunecker, Les dieux de l'Égypte (Que sais-je ?, 1194), Paris, 1992.
Teaching materials
  • Syllabus partie "Proche-Orient ancien"
  • Présentation ppt partie "Proche-Orient ancien"
Faculty or entity
EHAC


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

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Bachelor in Ancient Languages and Literatures: Oriental Studies

Minor in Literary Studies

Minor in Antiquity: Egypt, Eastern World, Greece, Rome

Minor "Decentering History: Subalternities and postcolonial Studies"