Take me to the Fall Time Schedule
100(GNE 100)/AAPTIS 100/HJCS
100/Hist 132. Peoples of the Middle East. (4). (HU).
See AAPTIS 100. (Babayan)
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101(ABS 201). Elementary
Biblical Hebrew I. (3). (LR).
The purpose of this and the complementary course, 102 Elementary
Biblical Hebrew II (Winter Term), is to equip the beginning student
with the tools necessary for reading the Hebrew Bible. The course
will introduce the student to the grammar of biblical Hebrew;
its phonology (the study of speech sounds), morphology (the study
of word formation), and syntax (the study of phrase and sentence
formation). In addition to mastering the grammar, the student
will need to acquire a sizable working vocabulary of the language, for competency in grammar and lexicon best facilitates the goal
of reading the biblical text. The grading will be based on corrected
daily assignments (i.e., the exercises), 13-14 announced
quizzes (one class day advance notice), a final comprehensive
exam, as well as attendance and participation. The daily assignments
will comprise 25% of the grade, the ten-best quizzes 25% the final
exam 25% and attendance and participation 25%.
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200(ABS 200)/Rel. 201/AAPTIS
200/HJCS 200. Introduction to World Religions: Near Eastern. (4).
(HU).
See Religion 201. (Williams, Jackson,
Schramm)
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201(ABS 401). Intermediate
Biblical Hebrew, I. ACABS 102. (3). (LR).
This course is an introduction to the literature of the Hebrew
Bible. Texts representing different literary genres and dating
from different periods will be read in the original. Students
will be introduced to the history of the text of the Hebrew Bible
and the problems of its translation and interpretation. Special
emphasis will be placed on refining the student's knowledge of
Biblical Hebrew through the study of Hebrew syntax. Required books
are (1) a copy of the Biblical Hebraica, and (2) a proper
dictionary of classical Hebrew. (Schmidt)
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221(ABS 280)/Rel. 280.
Jesus and the Gospels. (4). (HU).
The course will probe the Gospels, including some non-canonical
versions (e.g., the Gospel according to Thomas), as sources of the life and teachings of Jesus, the Jew. How reliable are the
portraits of Jesus in the Gospels, the oldest of which having
been written some forty years after his execution? Through an
acquirement of the various critical methods which are applied
to the Gospel texts by scholars, the students will be enabled
to form a defensible answer to this question. In addition to the
methodological instruction and exercises, there will be an impartion
of the necessary knowledge about ** historical, social, and religious
world of Jesus and the Gospels, so that a correct reading of Jesus
within Judaism might be given. The format of the course consists
of three lectures per week by the instructor and a weekly discussion
session conducted by a teaching assistant. The course grade will
be based upon daily assignments, and attendance (20%), two major
examinations-midterm written exam (30%) and a final oral exam
(30%), and an introductionary essay (8-10 pages) on a topic of
choice in consultation with the instructor (20%). Cost:2
WL:3
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266. Before the Bible:
Religion and Culture of Ancient Phoenicia and Palestine. (3).
(Excl).
Introduction to the religion, mythology and culture of the Phoenicians, the ancient inhabitants of the cities of Palestine, Lebanon, and the Transjordan in the pre-Biblical and biblical periods. The
religion of Israel, from which Judaism and Christianity descend, was historically a reformation of Phoenician religion. The students
will be introduced to the gods of the Phoenicians and the rich
mythology in which they figure. They will learn about the power
of faith, the institutions of Phoenician religion, including the
cult of infants sacrifice. The student will also learn about Phoenician
values, such as public service, about Phoenician maritime activity, such as the circumnavigation of Africa, and about the role of the Phoenicians in teaching the alphabet to the world. Examinations
will be a midterm and final. There will also be a 10-page paper.
(Krahmalkov)
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382. Introduction to
Egyptian Archaeology. (4). (HU).
This course focuses specifically on the material culture and disposition
of archaeological sites in ancient Egypt and Nubia from ca. 3200
bc. – 285 ac. The logic and nature of both sacred and secular
landscapes will be explored, and specific sites, some well-known
(such as the extensive temple precinct at Karnak and the Meroitic
pyramids), some less well-known (such as the town of Karanis and the city of Kerma), will be investigated as examples of different
kinds of interpretive problems in archaeology. The course will
also introduce a consideration of theoretical approaches to Nile
Valley archaeological data and the ways in which they articulate
with other sources of information. While it is complementary in
subject matter to ACABS 281, which concentrates on the history
of ancient Egypt of the Dynastic period through texts, this course
is designed to stand alone. Course grade is based on midterm, final and a term paper. (Richards)
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411(ABS 521). Introduction
to Akkadian. Permission of instructor. (3). (Excl).
This course is an introduction to the literary language of the
Babylonians and Assyrians. In the first term (this course) the
basics of Akkadian grammar will be presented There will be weekly
homework exercises and in-class recitation. Individual tutoring
maybe organized as needed. There will also be an introduction
to cuneiform signs, the script of the ancient texts. The course
grade is based on in-class recitations and a number of exams, including a final exam. (The second term of this course progresses
to reading of ancient myths from Mesopotamia in the original language
and signs.) Cost:2
WL:3
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413(ABS 440)/Anthro.
442/Hist. 440. Ancient Mesopotamia: History and Culture. Junior
standing. (3). (HU).
This course will survey Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian civilization
from the first cuneiform documents (ca.3100BC) to the fall off the Neo-Babylonian empire (539 BC). Special attention will be
paid to the following topics of social and political organization: the rise and nature of early Mesopotamian states; economy in Mesopotamia
(redistribution and markets); rural and urban inter-relations;
Mesopotamian Law; Babylonian and Assyrian relations; Mesopotamia
and its neighbors (Israel and Persia); the collapse of the Mesopotamian
civilization. One textbook and course pack of readings will be the course's texts. Course grade is based on hourly exams and a term paper. Cost:2
WL:3 (Yoffee)
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Times, Location, and Availability
511(ABS 527). Introduction
to Sumerian. (3). (Excl).
This course will provide an introduction to Sumerian, the earliest
written language in the world. The main focus will be on the grammar, primarily morphology, and on the structure of the cuneiform writing
system. Simple texts will be read in class and analyzed. In addition, the course will provide basis information on the history and cultural
of early Mesopotamia. A basic knowledge of the cuneiform script
is required, but interested beginners should contact the instructor.
The one book that students will need is Marie-Louise Thomsen, The Sumerian Language. (Michalowski)
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Times, Location, and Availability
521(ABS 723). Coptic, I. (3). (Excl).
In this course, students will learn to read Coptic, the latest
form of the ancient Egyptian language. Coptic was the main indigenous
language for early Christianity in Egypt, and is the language
in which many important texts relating to Christianity, Gnosticism, and Manichaeism are known. This course will concentrate on mastering the grammar of Sahidic Coptic, the standard literary dialect of the language. The textbook will be Thomas O. Lambdin's Introduction
to Sahidic Coptic. No prerequisites. (Wilfong)
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Times, Location, and Availability
543(Hebrew 548)/HJCS
543. The Bible in Jewish Tradition. Permission of
instructor. (3). (Excl).
See HJCS 543. (Schramm)
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Times, Location, and Availability
581(ABS 511). Ugaritic, I. ACABS 102. (3). (Excl).
Ugaritic was the Northwest Semitic language, closely related to
Hebrew and Phoenician, spoken in the city of Ugarit on the coast
of Syria. The language and its literature were discovered in 1929.
Classical Ugaritic literature consists of the ancient myths and legends of the Canaanite peoples in versions written down in the
Late Bronze Age (ca. 1350). The texts are important for an understanding
of common Canaanite culture, religion, language and poetic composition.
In the first term, the student will acquire the elements of the
language and familiarity with a small corpus of mythological texts
from the Baal Cycle. A knowledge of Classical Hebrew or another
classical Semitic language (Arabic, Akkadian) is required. There
is no textbook: the student will learn the grammar in class and compile his/own own manual. There are two examinations, a midterm
and final, weighted 40% and 60% respectively. Regular class attendance
is required. (Krahmalkov)
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585. Advanced Middle
Egyptian. ACABS 485, 486. (3). (Excl).
Intended as a continuation to the introduction sequence of ACABS
485-486, students in this course further their knowledge of Middle
Egyptian beyond the first year through study of a variety of texts
in this language. Students will read a selection of biographical, literary, religious magical, medical and documentary texts in
Middle Egyptian, from modern transcriptions and facsimiles of the ancient originals. Students will also read and translate Middle
Egyptian texts from artifacts in the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology.
(Wilfong)
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592. Seminar in Ancient
Civilizations and Biblical Studies. (3). (Excl).
Section 001 – Mesopotamian Myth and Ritual Mesopotamian religion
is often described in static terms, as if it were a discreet, unchanging, well defined object of study. In this seminar we will
concentrate on the myriad elements that constituted a constantly
changing series of concentric circles of ideas that we bring together
under one label. After a general overview of the main elements
of the religion we will discuss selected topics. These topics
will be defined in a variety of terms and will touch on a number
of larger issues such as the role of religion and myth in state
formation, the representation of order, gender, and violence, as well as the relationship between official and private worship
and devotion. Students who have no familiarity with with ancient
languages will utilize English translations of Mesopotamian compositions, but graduate students in NELC will be expected to work with the
original texts. (Michalowski)
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