Archaeology of Aegean Protohistory

Teacher(s)

Langohr Charlotte;

Language

French
> English-friendly

Main themes

Based on the analysis of archaeological sources, the course addresses in-depth questions and topical issues relating to the organization of prehistoric and protohistoric Aegean societies.  The material culture and artistic productions of Minoan Crete (ca. 2600-1200 BCE) and Mycenaean Greece (ca. 1700-1200 BCE) are presented and placed in their political, socio-cultural and economic context.

Learning outcomes

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

1. Identify and contextualize material and artistic productions of prehistoric Aegean societies; 2. Provide a cross-disciplinary analysis on various themes related to the course (daily life, material and artistic productions, economic and social organization, cultural interactions) by combining historical, archaeological, stylistic, technical, cultural and anthropological considerations. 3. Conduct a personal research as an extension of the course.

Content

The course alternates between sessions that consider a diachronic and contextualized analysis of archaeological data relating to different regions of the Aegean for each period of the Bronze Age, and thematic sessions that deeper explore certain sites, or specific material or societal issues (e.g. human/environment relations; culinary traditions; gender division and age classes; archaeothanatalogy and traumatology, etc.).

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures supplemented by personal reading and oral presentations by students. The latter will open to discussions in which all the students will take an active part.
External experts from UCLouvain or other institutions will occasionally give talks on recent research topics.

Evaluation methods

Evaluation in two parts. 1. Personal oral presentation (in French or English) during the year on a specific research topic related to a previous lecture. The student will propose an in-depth analysis of a specific matter chosen in consultation with the teacher, while pointing out issues of debate in order to initiate a discussion with colleagues (40%). The presence and involvement of the students in discussions are taken into account in the evaluation. 2. Oral exam in session. This consists of a presentation of a personal and original research essay, followed by a discussion with the teacher of topics and questions addressed in the course (60%). This essay, the details of which are explained in class, may be presented in French or English. A plan of the essay and a first draft of the state of the art of the research topic must be submitted during the semester; these will be taken into account in the final evaluation.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) must be used responsibly and in accordance with the practices of academic and scientific integrity. As scientific integrity requires to cite sources, the use of AI must always be reported. The use of artificial intelligence for tasks where it is explicitly prohibited will be considered as cheating.

Bibliography

• C. W. Shelmerdine (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age (Cambridge 2008).
• J. Driessen, I. Schoep, R. Laffineur (eds), Monuments of Minos. Rethinking the Minoan Palaces (Aegaeum 23), Liège & Austin, 2002.
• B. E. Burns, Mycenaean Greece, Mediterranean Commerce, and the Formation of Identity, Cambridge University Press, 2010.
• T.F. Tartaron, Maritime Networks in the Mycenaean World, Cambridge University Press, 2013.
• R. Treuil, P. Darcque, J.-C. Poursat et G. Touchais, Les civilisations égéennes du néolithique et de l'âge du bronze, Paris, coll. « Nouvelle Clio », 2008
• J.-C. Poursat, L'art égéen : 1, Grèce, Cyclades, Crète jusqu'au milieu du IIe millénaire av. J.-C., Paris, Picard, 2008.
• J.-C. Poursat, L'art égéen : 2, Mycènes et le monde mycénien, Paris, Picard, 2014.

Faculty or entity

> EHAC