COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course explores the rise and fall of the ancient Assyrian Empire through cuneiform texts, archaeological sites, and artifacts. Starting with the emergence of a distinctive Assyrian culture in the 2nd millennium BC, this course covers 1,500 years of expansion and conquest by the Assyrians culminating in one of the world’s earliest empires. Topics include: the European re-discovery of Assyria, the cuneiform record, Assyrian daily life, economic and political history, and the role of archaeology in interpreting the past. Students will gain a general familiarity with the nature of archaeological evidence and with the specific material culture of the Assyrians.

This course satisfies a departmental Archaeology Elective for Anthropology majors -- 1 credit.