CIVILIZATION OF ANCIENT EGYT: COMP LIT 330  SPRING 2007

Please check the online version of this syllabus for periodic updates at

http://classics.lss.wisc.edu/~bbpowell/web/homepage.htm

Barry B. Powell        bbpowell@wisc.edu

9:30 am - 10:45 am TR Woodward Lecture Hall 147

office hours: 11:00-12:00 TR

Graduate Assistant: Eugene Hamilton; office hours to be announced

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to give an overview of life in the Nile Valley from around 5000 B.C. to the first few centuries A.D.  The course is divided into two parts: in the first, we will study major themes in Egyptian civilization: geography, chronology, writing, and religion. In the second half, we will review the history of Egypt from predynastic times to the end of the New Kingdom around 1000 BC, examining developments in architecture, art, and literature as we go

Adviso. Junior standing required. More than other courses, this one depends on presentations in lecture. We will view around 2,000 slides. The material is difficult, abstract, unfamiliar, and even bizarre or shocking. The lectures present the information you need to know and show you the pictures you need to see; the reading gives you the facts in black and white. You will need both, but will not do well in the course if you cannot attend all the lectures.  

Examinations: There will be three exams: two midterms (30% each) and one cumulative final (40%).

Required Texts

(1) (2) Ancient Egyptian Literature,  (Volumes I, II, M. Lichtheim [ = AEL1, AEL2]

(3) The British Museum Book of Ancient Egypt, S. Quirk & J. Spencer [ = BM ]

(4) The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt [=OH[[

1. Jan. 16-18. Introduction. Geography I. BM 1-27; OH chp. 1

2. Jan. 23-25. Geography II. Chronology BM 192-220; BM 28-57

3. Jan 30.-Feb. 1. Writing I BM 118-147; AEL1 3-27; 58-80; 88-93;

169-192;

4. Feb 6-8. Writing II. Names of Pharaoh. AEL2 3-8; 167-178;

Introduction to Egyptian Literature BM 148-163

5. Feb. 13-15. Religion I: Cosmogonies, cosmologies BM 58-85. AEL1 51-57; AEL2 197-199

6. Feb. 20. Religion II: Solar cult, fertility cult  AEL2 86-89, 100-116, 214-223 

FIRST MIDTERM EXAM: Feb 22

7. Feb 27-March 1. Religion III. Osirian cult, AEL1 131-133,163-169, 193-210;

AEL2, 81-86; 119-132; BM 86-117 

8. March 6-8. Religion IV: Mummification BM 164-191; OH chp 2

SPRING BREAK

9. March 20-22. Predynastic Egypt; Archaic Period AEL1 28-50; OH chp. 3

10. March 27-29. Old Kingdom I: 3rd and 4th Dynasty pyramids OH chp 4, 5

11. April 3-5. Old Kingdom II: AEL 1 215-222; OH chp. 6 

5th and 6th Dynasty pyramids; First Intermediate Period

12. April 10. Old Kingdom III: mastaba tombs of the nobles

SECOND MIDTERM EXAM: April 12

13. April 17-19. Middle Kingdom, AEL 1 222-235;

Second Intermediate Period OH chps. 7, 8

14.April 24-26. New Kingdom I:

Major temples; tombs of the nobles AEL2 43-48; 57-77; 146-163; 181-193;

203-214; OH chp.9

15.May 1-3. New Kingdom II:

Amarna, tomb of Tutankhamen AEL 2 48-51, 89-100; 224-230; OH 10, 11

FINAL EXAM: TUESDAY, MAY 8, 7:30-9:30 A.M.