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Course Description

This course offers an in-depth interpretative exploration within a broadly chronological framework of the Late Bronze Age Aegean in its broader Mediterranean context,Ìýand follows on from ARCL 3074 on the emergence of Aegean complex societies.ÌýIt focuses primarily on the formation (during the Shaft Grave period) and nature of Mycenaean palace-centred polities. Social and political structures, economic organisation, and ritual and religious dimensions are analysed through material culture, art and deciphered Linear B texts. It will also consider interaction between the Aegean and societies in the east and central Mediterranean, with a specific emphasis on Cyprus, the Levant, Anatolia and Italy. The final part of this course covers the collapse of these palatial societies and the generation of Homeric epic.

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Aims

• to provide an overview of the main issues, themes and theories in the archaeology of the Late Bronze Age Aegean.

• to ensure a familiarity with the material culture, imagery and texts of the period and alternative ways of interpreting them.

• to encourage a comparative approach to Aegean societies in relation to neighbouring societies in the Mediterranean with which they interacted.

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Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course students should be able to demonstrate an enhanced ability to:

• have gained an overview of the major developments and interpretative issues in later Aegean prehistory, as well as the data that underpin them.

• be able to recognise, and know the significance of, a range of Late Bronze Age Aegean material culture.

• be aware of, and be able to engage in, critically informed discussion concerning central problems in this field.

• be familiar with thematic issues involving the interpretation of the Aegean record, such as analysis of settlement patterns, economic organisation, cult, ideology, and imagery

• understand the models of change proposed.

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