Short courses

Summary

This course (which can be taken online) explores in detail key issues of historical and cultural importance in ancient Egypt covered only briefly at level one. We move from developments in kingship to an overview of the mechanics of administrating Egypt, meeting some of Egypt’s most powerful officials and covering topics like diplomatic relations with the outside world and the internal legal system. We continue by delving into the personal and religious lives and experiences of the working populace, and will make use of local Egyptological collections to explore the topics we’re covering. This course can be taken online; students will be expected to attend class on the date of the class test.     

Requirements of entry 

Students should have completed Introduction to Ancient Egypt 1 and 2, and Ancient Egyptian Art.  Ancient Egyptian Archaeology 1 and 2 is an acceptable alternative to Introduction to Ancient Egypt 1 and 2.  

This courses aims to: 

With its greater emphasis on student participation (through class discussion, regular group work to identify and illuminate weekly topics, and individual presentations either orally or in poster-format) and 'hands-on' learning (through regular museum visits and a concentration on object-centred study), this course aims to 

• Build upon and develop students' understanding of Egyptian history through cultural case studies that are best explored diachronically 

• Encourage students to use their pre-existing skills in interpreting Egyptian art and/or texts as primary source material for exploring social and cultural topics, especially through object biographies based on material in Glasgow museums 

• Guide students through challenging issues in Egyptology and encourage them to develop their own strategies for responding to those issues 

• Develop students' ability to critically analyse and reflect upon secondary sources 

• Encourage students to communicate their ideas not only in writing but also verbally and/or visually through class discussion and individual presentations. The latter might take the form of a short PowerPoint-centred talk in front of peers, or a 'poster' produced either physically or online on Moodle.  

By the end of the course, students should be able to: 

• Define and evaluate the key social and cultural themes that underlie and inform the course of Egyptian history 

• Formulate and explain their ideas about wider themes and issues raised by the primary and secondary material studied 

• Discuss their ideas confidently with their peers and present their opinions to the class as a whole.