CLA 3160: Ancient Egypt

General Information

 

Course Number: 10571. Credits: 03. Room: CSE E21. Times: Times: T 7 (1:55 pm – 2:45 pm), R 7-8 (1:55 pm – 3:50 pm). CLA 3160 is a course offered in the Department of Classical Studies at the University of Florida. Department contact: Terence Stevens (terencej.stevens@ufl.edu).

Instructors:

Course Description

 

An overview of ancient Egyptian civilization through lectures on Egyptian history, society, and material culture. Topics include a six-session introduction to Egyptian hieroglyphs. Prereq: ENC 1101 or sophomore standing or higher..

Objectives and Learning Outcomes

 

  • Objectives. Content: Students will become conversant with the main aspects of the ancient Egyptian civilization and the scholarly methodologies commonly used in Egyptological research. They will also be introduced to the rudiments of the hieroglyphic writing system and will learn how to read and write basic sentences in ancient Egyptian. Assessments: end of module quizzes and discussion boards. ▷ Communication: Students will be able to write clearly and effectively about ancient Egyptian civilization and its relevance in the general context of world history. They will also be able to work with visual materials in order to design Powerpoint presentations on selected topics of Egyptian civilization. Assessments: end of module discussion boards; end of class Powerpoint presentation. ▷ Critical Thinking: Students will acquire an understanding of the complexities inherent to the the study of past societies and how this knowledge can be used to put current events in perspective. Assessment: end of module discussion boards.
  • Learning Outcomes. In CLA 3160 students will ▷ become acquainted with the main aspects of ancient Egyptian geography, history, language, and material culture. ▷ acquire an understanding of Egyptian civilization in the wider context of ancient Mediterranean history ▷ learn how Egyptologists interpret the extant documentary and archaeological evidence on ancient Egypt and the limitations associated with scholarly interpretation. Students who complete CLA 3160 will be able to ▷ identify the main personalities, events, places, and monuments of ancient Egypt, and discuss their relevance to the development of Egyptian civilization. ▷ construct a clearly articulated argument on an ancient Egyptian topic using primary and secondary sources ▷ understand the reception of Egypt in our culture and the biases implicit in past and current perceptions of the ‘Orient’. 

Study Materials

 

Textbooks:

  • David, Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt (Revised edition: Oxford 1998). Available online from Internet Archive.
  • T. Zauzich, Hieroglyphs Without Mystery (English Translation: Austin 1992. Also published in the UK as: Discovering Egyptian Hieroglyphs). Available online from UF Library West.

Practice Materials:

The following study aids are accessible from the QUIZZES tab in Canvas

  • Practice Quiz 1.  Practice Quiz 2. Practice Quiz 3. Practice Quiz 4. Practice Quiz 5. Practice Quiz 6.
  • Key to practice Quiz 1. Key to practice Quiz 2. Key to practice Quiz 3. Key to practice quiz 4. Key to Practice Quiz 5. Key to Practice Quiz 6.
  • Hieroglyph vocabulary list

Graded Work

 

  • Five end-of-module quizzes + one quiz on Egyptian writing and language  (20% of final grade). Format: 20 questions (10 MC, 10 TF). Points per question: 5. Total points per quiz: 100
  • Five end-of-module discussion posts (30% of final grade). Format: 250 words, single spaced. Points: see Rubric.
  • One end-of-course Powerpoint presentation (10% of final grade): Format: 8 slides, featuring images, maps, and text as needed. Points: see Rubric.
  • Midterm Examination (15% of final grade) Format: 50 questions (25 MC, 25 T/F). Points per question: 2.
  • Final Examination (25% of final grade). Format: 100 questions (50 MC, 50 T/F). Points per question: 1. Total points per exam: 100.

Exams are cumulative (midterm examination: modules 1-3; final examination: modules 1-7.) Grading scale: UF scale . For additional information on current UF policies for assigning grade points see  UF Grades and Grading Policies).

Reading Assignments

 

  • Module 1 Sources and Methods: David chapter 1: pp.1-52. Due: Sep. 9 by 1:55 pm.
  • Module 2 The Land of Ancient Egypt: David chapter 3: pp.111-132. Due: Sep. 30 by 1:55 pm..
  • Module 3 Elements of Ancient Egyptian History: David chapter 2: pp. 57–109. Due: Oct. 21 by 11:55 pm.
  • Module 4 Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture: David chapter 7: pp.209-232. Due: Nov. 13 by 1:55 pm..
  • Module 5 Ancient Egyptian Religion and Funerary Practice: David chapter 5: pp.149-183; chapter 6: pp.185-207. Due: Dec. 2 by 1:55 pm.
  • Egyptian Writing and Language: Zauzich pp.1-34. David chapter 8: pp.235-253. Due: Oct. 28 by 1:55 pm..

Students can go through the readings for each module at their own pace, as long as readings are completed by the assigned deadlines

Class Schedule

 
1 AUG 21 Orientation: Welcome to CLA 3160.
2 AUG 26 Module I: Sources and Methods 1. Discussion Board 1 opens at the end of class.
3 AUG 28 Module I: Sources and Methods 2.
4 SEP 02 Module I: Egyptian Writing and Language 1.
5 SEP 04 Module I: Sources and Methods 3.
6 SEP 09 Quiz 1. Readings for Module I due by 1:55 pm. Discussion Board 1 closes at 11:59 pm.
7 SEP 11 Module II: The Land of Egypt 1. Discussion Board 2 opens at the end of class.
8 SEP 16 Module II: Egyptian Writing and Language 2.
9 SEP 18 Module II: The Land of Egypt 2.
10 SEP 23 Module II: Egyptian Writing and Language 3.
11 SEP 25 Module II: The Land of Egypt 3.
12 SEP 30 Quiz 2. Readings for Module II due by 1:55 pm. Discussion Board 2 closes at 11:59 pm.
13 OCT 02 Module III: Elements of Egyptian History 1. Discussion Board 3 opens at the end of class.
14 OCT 07 Module III: Egyptian Writing and Language 4.
15 OCT 09 Module III: Elements of Egyptian History 2.
16 OCT 14 Module III: Egyptian Writing and Language 5.
17 OCT 16 Module III: Elements of Egyptian History 3.
18 OCT 21 Quiz 3. Readings for Module III due by 1:55 pm. Discussion Board 3 closes at 11:59 pm.
19 OCT 23 Midterm Examination
20 OCT 28 Quiz on Egyptian Writing and Language. Readings for Egyptian Writing and Language due by 1:55 pm
21 OCT 30 Module IV: Egyptian Art and Architecture 1. Discussion Board 4 opens at the end of class.
22 NOV 04 Module IV: Egyptian Art and Architecture 2.
23 NOV 06 Module IV: Egyptian Art and Architecture 3.
24 NOV 13 Quiz 4 (takehome) Readings for Module IV due by 1:55 pm. Discussion Board 4 closes at 11:59 pm. Module V: Egyptian Religion and Funerary Practice 1. Discussion Board 5 opens at the end of class
25 NOV 18 Module V: Egyptian Religion and Funerary Practice 2.
26 NOV 20 Module V: Egyptian Religion and Funerary Practice 3.
27 DEC 02 Quiz 5. Readings for Module V due by 1.55 pm. Discussion Board 5 closes at 11:59 pm. Powerpoint Presentations due by 11:59 pm.
00 DEC 04 Reading Day
28 DEC 11 Final Examination (3:00 pm-5:00 pm CSE E21)

University and Course Policies

 

  • Laptop policy. On-campus students are required to bring to class a laptop, handheld, or other web-enabled device that would allow them to connect to e-learning.
  • Class Etiquette. Students are strongly discouraged from leaving the class in the middle of a lecture. Those who need to do so must obtain the instructor’s permission at the beginning of class.
  • Disclaimer on Sexual and Religious Content. As ancient attitudes towards sexuality and religion differ considerably from ours, some of the material examined in this course may result offensive to modern sensibility. Students who have a problem in dealing with such topics should consult with the instructor.
  • Questions. All questions on administrative matters (grading, etc.) can be addressed to the instructor’s assistant(s); for questions pertaining to the content of the lectures, students should consult directly with the instructor.

This course complies with all UF policies. For information on those policies and for a list of campus resources, please see this webpage