CLA 3160: Ancient Egypt

General Information

Course Number: 10760. Credits: 03. Room: LEI 0207. 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: Samantha Jones (samantha.jones@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. No former experience is required to attend.

General Education Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Primary General Education Designation: H (link to area objectives). Secondary General Education Designation: N (link to area objectives). Note: A minimum grade of C is required for general education.

  • 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. (H, N). ▷ 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. (H). ▷ 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. (H, N).
  • Learning Outcomes. In CLA 3160 students will ▷ become acquainted with the main aspects of ancient Egyptian geography, history, language, and material culture. (H) ▷ acquire an understanding of Egyptian civilization in the wider context of ancient Mediterranean history (H, N) ▷ learn how Egyptologists interpret the extant documentary and archaeological evidence on ancient Egypt and the limitations associated with scholarly interpretation. (H) 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. (H) ▷ construct a clearly articulated argument on an ancient Egyptian topic using primary and secondary sources (H) ▷ understand the reception of Egypt in our culture and the biases implicit in past and current perceptions of the ‘Orient’. (N)

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. 5 by 11:59 pm.
  • Module 2 The Land of Ancient Egypt: David chapter 3: pp.111-132. Due: Sep. 26 by 11:59 pm.
  • Module 3 Elements of Ancient Egyptian History: David chapter 2: pp. 57–109. Due: Oct.17 by 11:59 pm.
  • Module 4 Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture: David chapter 7: pp.209-232. Due: Nov. 7 by 11:59 pm.
  • Module 5 Ancient Egyptian Religion and Funerary Practice: David chapter 5: pp.149-183; chapter 6: pp.185-207. Due: Nov. 21 by 11:59 pm.
  • Egyptian Writing and Language: Zauzich pp.1-34. David chapter 8: pp.235-253. Due: Oct. 15 by 11:59 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 22 Orientation: Welcome to CLA 3160.
2 AUG 27 Module I: Sources and Methods 1. Discussion Board 1 opens at the end of class.
3 AUG 29 Module I: Sources and Methods 2.
4 SEP 03 Module I: Egyptian Writing and Language.
5 SEP 05 Module I: Sources and Methods 3. Readings for Module I due by 11.59 pm.
6 SEP 10 Quiz 1. Discussion Board 1 closes at 11:59 pm.
7 SEP 12 Module II: The Land of Egypt 1. Discussion Board 2 opens at the end of class.
8 SEP 17 Module II: Egyptian Writing and Language.
9 SEP 19 Module II: The Land of Egypt 2.
10 SEP 24 Module II: Egyptian Writing and Language.
11 SEP 26 Module II: The Land of Egypt 3. Readings for Module II due by 11.59 pm.
12 OCT 01 Quiz 2. Module III: Elements of Egyptian History 1. Discussion Board 2 closes at 11:59 pm.
13 OCT 03 Module III: Elements of Egyptian History 1. Discussion Board 3 opens at the end of class.
14 OCT 08 Module III: Egyptian Writing and Language.
15 OCT 10 Module III: Elements of Egyptian History 2.
16 OCT 1 Module III: Egyptian Writing and Language. Readings for Egyptian Writing and Language due by 11.59 pm.
17 OCT 17 Module III: Elements of Egyptian History 3. Readings for Module III due by 11.59 pm.
18 OCT 22 Quiz 3. Discussion Board 3 closes at 11:59 pm.
19 OCT 23 Midterm Examination
20 OCT2 9 Quiz on Egyptian Writing and Language
21 OCT 31 Module IV: Egyptian Art and Architecture 1. Discussion Board 4 opens at the end of class.
22 NOV 05 Module IV: Egyptian Art and Architecture 2.
23 NOV 07 Module IV: Egyptian Art and Architecture 3. Readings for Module IV due by 11.59 pm.
24 NOV 12 Quiz 4. Discussion Board 4 closes at 11:59 pm.
25 NOV 14 Module V: Egyptian Religion and Funerary Practice 1. Discussion Board 5 opens at the end of class.
26 NOV 19 Module V: Egyptian Religion and Funerary Practice 2.
27 NOV 21 Module V: Egyptian Religion and Funerary Practice 3. Readings for Module V due by 11.59 pm.
28 DEC 03 Quiz 5. Discussion Board 5 closes at 11:59 pm. Powerpoint Presentations due by 11:59 pm
00 DEC 05 Reading Day
29 DEC 11 Final Examination (07:30 am-9:30 pm LEI 0207).

Attendance and General Course Policy

  • Attendance. Requirements for class attendance and make-up exams, assignments, and other work in this course are consistent with university policies that can be found in the online Undergraduate Catalog.
  • 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.
  • Makeup Examinations. Makeup exams are given only in extraordinary circumstances. Students who are unable to take exams at the appointed dates should notify the instructor’s assistants in advance.
  • Academic Integrity. Students in CLA 3160 are expected to comply with the Academic Honor Code. of the University of Florida and must sign the CLA 2521 Honor Pledge no later than the first week of class. Please note: students who do not sign the pledge will not be given access to graded quizzes and exams.
  • 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.

Accomodations

Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. For information about services available to students with special needs, contact the Disability Resource Center.

Course Evaluations

Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course based on 10 criteria. These evaluations are conducted online at https://evaluations.ufl.edu. Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three weeks of the semester, but students will be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students at https://evaluations.ufl.edu/results.”