Archaeology of Western Asia: Ancient Civilizations of Mesopotamia, the Levant and the Eastern Mediterranean

The course offers a comprehensive introduction to the study of the material world and artistic expression of the ancient civilizations of Western Asia (4th-1st millennium BC). The course is articulated in two parts: the first dealing with ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, from the down of urban cities to the great universal empires of Assyria and Babylonia; the second one dealing with the cultures of the Levant, Cyprus, and Anatolia, from the first urban societies to the hegemony and breakdown of state and empires, focusing on exchange and connectivity in a global Mediterranean perspective. Students will achieve a general understanding and will reach a critical evaluation of these cultures through the analysis of iconographic and archaeological sources. Moreover, specific thematic sessions are devoted to the meaning of cultural heritage in Western Asian countries, especially in relation with the destruction of monuments and lootings of archaeological sites in the very recent times.

1.Knowledge and understanding: Achievement of a general knowledge and understanding of the pre-classic cultures of the Levant, Mesopotamia, Anatolia and Cyprus in their synchronic and diachronic developments through the analysis of textual, iconographic, and archaeological sources. Knowledge of the geography of ancient Western Asia, the chronologies and key sites through a series of case studies. Knowledge of the theoretical background and methodology of the art history and archaeological investigation from the beginning of the Near Eastern studies to the current challenges, also in relation with the geo-political situation of the Middle East. Knowledge and use of basic digital tools for analysing the material and immaterial cultural heritage of Western Asian countries.
2.Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: Ability to develop a basic evaluation of the ancient Western Asia cultures and discuss issues related to cultural heritage, making use of appropriate technical terminology. Understanding of the various cultural aspects in relation to the chronological and geographical framework, recognizing the different paths of the historical development in each macro-region (Levant, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and Cyprus). Ability to recognise and examine ancient sites, settlement patterns, land use and landscape transformation. Ability to apply archaeological methods and interpretative frameworks and to critically use the main bibliographic sources and digital tools to evaluate the material cultural heritage of ancient civilizations of Western Asia.
3.Making judgments: Ability to form an autonomous thinking regarding the ancient civilizations of Western Asia. Ability to critically intervene in a debate on the role of the ancient civilizations of Western Asia for understanding the contemporary world. Express an aware knowledge of the meaning and value of cultural heritage also in relation with the development goals inspired by the UN 2030 agenda.
4.Communication skills: Ability to logically expose and explain in oral form (in English) the knowledge and skills learned during the course. Ability to interact in non-academic settings with the aim of disseminate knowledge of past societies of Western Asia. Demonstrate ability to interact with peers and professors, both face-to-face and in virtual classrooms, and to be engaged in a collaborative environment.
5.Learning skills: Ability to synthesise, evaluate and analyse data and interpretation derived from the scientific literature on ancient civilizations of Western Asia making use of iconographic and archaeological data. Making use of publications, online materials and digital resources to deepen and update basic knowledge. Autonomous ability to interpret the sources and develop questions in a clear and articulated way and through an interdisciplinary approach in order to deepen, complete and integrate the knowledge and skills learned in the course and other courses of the degree.