THE ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF ANCIENT EGYPT
(ARST 210; AAST 210; AH 210)
TR 9:30-10:45, SH 220
Fall 2011
Dr. Jennifer Tobin Office Hours: TR 11:00-12:00
(and by appointment)
UH 1814
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course you will study the art, architecture, history and religion of Ancient Egypt, from its origins in Predynastic times in the 4th millennium BCE through the end of the New Kingdom in 1000 BCE. You will learn what elementsunified the nation and made it the foremost society in antiquity, and what pressures ultimately destroyed it. In between you will study such topics as how the pyramids were built, why Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh, dressed like a man, and what really killed King Tut. The ultimate goal of this class is to train you to think like an archaeologist, to use assessment tools to understand how and why artifacts and architecture were created and what role they played in Egyptian society. Ideally you will leave this course with a deep appreciation of the achievements and challenges of the ancient Egyptians; in essence you will have learned to think like an Egyptian.
TEXTBOOKS: Available at the UIC Bookstore under Archaeological Studies 210 or Art History 210
Clayton, P., Chronicle of the Pharaohs. The Reign by Reign Record of the Rulers andDynasties of Ancient Egypt, Thames and Hudson, 1994
Robins, G., The Art of Ancient Egypt, Revised Edition, Harvard University Press, 2008
SUPPLEMENTARY READING: Found on Blackboard under Course Documents
Hobson, C., The World of the Pharaohs. A Complete Guide to Ancient Egypt, Thames and Hudson, 1991
COURSEWORK
1)Readings: readings are due on the day they are listed in the syllabus. Reading about the topic in advance will allow you a greater familiarity with the material before it is presented formally in class. Typically the readings consist of one chapter a week in each of our textbooks, or approximately 30 to 40 pages of text and illustrations.
2)Lectures/discussions: classes are taught in a slide lecture format. You are encouraged to generate discussions based on readings, lectures and observing material in class. This course has a Blackboard site, where you can find additional reading assignments, your grades and announcements ( You will also find the images for upcoming lectures posted on this site. You are encouraged to download these and bring them to class.
3)Class Participation: 10% of your grade is based on attendance and participation in class discussion.
4)Quizzes: approximately 10 quizzes will be given over the semester, out of which the lowest two will be dropped. The quizzes cannot be made up, thus if you are absent or late on the day of a quiz, that quiz can be counted as one of the two dropped.
5)Exams: Two 75-minute exams will be given, with a third 75-minute exam (non-cumulative) to take place during exam week. The format for these exams will be slide identification, short ID and essay. Make-up exams will be given only if an exam is missed due to an EMERGENCY, and documentation must be submitted to me within 24 hours of the exam. If no documentation is provided you will receive a zero for the exam. Questions about how to interpret midterm grades can be found at:
6)Papers: You will write two 2 to 3 – page papers based on a visit to the Egyptian collection of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. Details to follow. The first paper is due in class THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18 and the second is due in class THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29. A drop of one grade per day will penalize late papers. Students taking this course for Honors Credit are required to write an 8 to 10-page research paper. Students must clear their topic with me and present me with an outline of their papers at the latest on THURSDAY, November 15. The paper will be due in class on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29. No papers will be accepted after TUESDAY DECEMBER 4.
GRADING
10%Quizzes10%Class Participation
20%Papers20%Exam 1
20%Exam 220%Exam 3
Please note: Standard grading systems will be used and you will not be graded on a curve.
A: 100-89.5, B: 89.4-79.5, C: 79.4-69.5, D: 69.4-59.5, F: 59.4-0
INTEGRITY
As an academic community, UIC is committed to providing an environment in which research, learning, and scholarship can flourish and in which all endeavors are guided by academic and professional integrity. All members of the campus community–students, staff, faculty, and administrators–share the responsibility of insuring that these standards are upheld so that such an environment exists. Instances of academic misconduct by students will be handled pursuant to theStudent Disciplinary Policy:
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
UIC is committed to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity involving students and employees. Freedom from discrimination is a foundation for all decision making at UIC. You as students are encouraged to study the University's “Nondiscrimination Statement”. You are also urged to read the document “Public Formal Grievance Procedures”. Information on these policies and procedures is available on the University web pages of the Office of Access and Equity:
IMPORTANT DUE DATES
Exam 1: September 25Paper 1: October 18
Exam 2: November 1Paper 2: November 29
Exam 3: December 12
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
Please let me know as soon as possible if you will be missing class due to a religious holiday. Your absence will not be counted against you.
ACADEMIC DEADLINES
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY AND COURTESY
1)Attendance is required. Because I will show you approximately 50 slides in a day and cover material that is not always found in the textbooks, it is in your best interests to attend class regularly. I will take role at the beginning of each class. Missing a class due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances will receive no penalty as long as the absence is supported by documentation (i.e. a doctor’s note or other official record). I will penalize five or more unexcused absences by dropping your final grade by ten points (the equivalent of a full grade).
2)Please arrive in class on time so as not to disturb your classmates. Similarly, if on occasion you must leave class early, please inform me before the beginning of class, and, as a courtesy to your fellow students, try to sit near the aisle in the classroom so that you can slip out quietly.
3)Please turn off you cell phones before the beginning of class. No recording devises or computers are allowed during lecture without a letter from Disability Services.
DISABILITY SERVICES NOTIFICATION
Concerning disabled students, the University of Illinois at Chicago is committed to maintaining a barrier-free environment so that individuals with disabilities can fully access programs, courses, services, and activities at UIC. Students with disabilities who require accommodations for full access and participation in UIC Programs must be registered with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). Please contact DRC at (312) 413-2183 (voice) or (312) 413- 0123 (TDD).
RESOURCES
If you find yourself having difficulty with the course material or any other difficulties in your student life, don’t hesitate to ask for help! Come to me, or if it is about an issue beyond this class, please contact your college advisors, or get help from any number of other support services on campus. You can get a referral to the right place, or help on the spot, from a concerned advisor in the Undergraduate Success Center (USC) at . See also the following resources:
The Writing Center, located in Grant Hall 105, offers one-on-one consultation with student writers who need help developing ideas, or need advice, guidance or additional instruction on any aspects of writing in any class. Tutors are prepared to spend fifty minutes per appointment, and there is no limit to the number of tutoring sessions you can have each semester. Make an appointment and be on time! Bring the paper on which you're working, as well as any related drafts or notes, and information about the assignment. For an appointment, call the Writing Center at (312) 413-2206, or stop by room 105 of Grant Hall. Visit the Writing Center website at for more information.
Public Computer Labs are available throughout campus where you may write and/or print out your work. For a list of labs and the hours they’re open, go to < NOTE: Do not wait until the last minute to print out papers. Sometimes labs have long lines of students waiting for access.
The Academic Center for Excellence can help if you feel you need more individualized instruction in reading and/or writing; study skills, time management, etc. phone (312) 413-0031.
Counseling Services are available for all UIC students. You may seek free and confidential services from the Counseling Center < The Counseling Center is located in the Student Services Building; you may contact them at (312) 996-3490. In addition to offering counseling services, the Counseling Center also operates the InTouch Crisis Hotline from 6:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m. They offer support and referrals to callers, as well as telephone crisis interventions; please call (312) 996-5535.
CAMPUS SECURITY
At UIC, we are strongly committed to our public safety programs, and we encourage students to be proactive in learning what programs and services are available in case of an emergency. You are DISCOURAGED from staying in university buildings alone, including lab rooms, after hours and are ENCOURAGED to use the POLICE/STUDENT patrol escort if you are uncomfortable traveling anywhere on campus. You may request an escort to accompany you to your campus destination on foot by calling 312-996-2830, and between 11:00 pm and 7:00 am you can dial the Red Car service (312-996-6800) if you are alone and need to leave the building. Through Red Car, the university has established a safe evening transportation service for university employees, students, visitors, and other authorized individuals. The car travels between university facilities within the following general boundaries: Clinton Street on the east; Western Avenue on the west; Jackson Boulevard on the north, and 16th on the south. This service is available only to individuals possessing a valid UIC i-card. The i-card is required to ensure the safety of the driver and other passengers. Consult the following for more information:
Also you can subscribe your cell phone to receive text message alerts. An immediate SMS text alert will be sent in case of a serious crime in progress, a weather emergency, or other urgent situation. ( Finally, by dialing 5-5555 from a campus phone, you can summon Police or Fire for any on-campus emergency. You may also set up the complete number, 1-312-355-5555, on speed-dial on your cell phone. For more information contact:
LECTURE TOPICS AND READINGS
WEEK 1Aug 28Introduction to the class, Geography of Egypt, Chronology
Aug 30Predynastic Egypt
Readings: Robins 12-36, Clayton 6-13
______
WEEK 2Sept 4-6Dynasties 1 and 2
Readings: Robins 36-39, Clayton 14-29
______
WEEK 3Sept 11-13The Old Kingdom – 3rd Dynasty
Readings: Robins 40-45, Clayton 30-41
______
WEEK 4Sept 18-20The Old Kingdom – 4th Dynasty
Readings: Robins 45-57, Clayton 42-59
______
WEEK 5Sept 25EXAM 1
Sept 27The Old Kingdom – 5th and 6th Dynasties
Readings: Robins 58-79, Clayton 60-67
______
WEEK 6Oct 2-4The Old Kingdom – 5th and 6th Dynasties Continued
Readings: as above
______
WEEK 7Oct 9-11The First Intermediate Period and The Middle Kingdom
Readings: Robins 80-121, Clayton 68-89
______
WEEK 8Oct 16The Middle Kingdom and the Second Intermediate Period
Readings: as above and Clayton 90-97
Oct 18Egyptian Writing
Reading: Hobson 156-165
PAPER 1 DUE IN CLASS
______
WEEK 9Oct 23-25The New Kingdom - Early 18th Dynasty Readings: Robins 122-147, Clayton 98-119
______
WEEK 10Oct 30Religion and Temples
Reading: Hobson 128-139
Nov 1EXAM 2
______
WEEK 11Nov 6-8The New Kingdom – Akhenaten
Readings: Robins 148-157, Clayton 120-127
______
WEEK 12Nov 13-15The New Kingdom – Tutankhamun, Aye and Horemheb
Readings: Robins 158-165, Clayton 128-139
______
WEEK 13Nov 20 The New Kingdom – 19th Dynasty
Readings: Robins 166-193, Clayton 140-159
Nov 22THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY – NO CLASS
______
WEEK 14Nov 27The New Kingdom – 20th Dynasty
Readings: Robins as above, Clayton 160-171
Nov 29Mummification
Reading: Hobson 152-155
PAPER 2 DUE IN CLASS
HONORS PAPER DUE IN CLASS
______
WEEK 15Dec 4The Third Intermediate Period
Robins 194-209, Clayton 172-189
Dec 6The Late Period
Robins 209-255, Clayton 190-217
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FINAL EXAM: WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12, 10:30-12:30