Production in Bronze Age Greece: Theory and Practice 2800-AKBAG
During the Bronze Age the material culture sphere of Greece flourished, as new technologies, ideas and communication networks stimulated creativity to an unprecedented degree. This course will provide an overview of the objects produced during this period that contributed to the formation of the unique Minoan and Mycenaean cultural identities, including metalwork, ivories, seals and textiles, examine the development of specialist techniques, such as fresco painting, and discuss the opportunities afforded by the widened range of available raw materials. These various industries will be used as case studies to connect the practical world of production to current archaeological theories regarding craft in past societies, with an emphasis on becoming familiar with key concepts and analytical frameworks such as specialisation, chaîne opératoire, taskscapes and cross-media interaction, as well the methods through which craft was exploited to meet economic and socio-political aims, and the demands these industries placed on local communities.
This course will be delivered through a mixture of short lectures and class-based discussions. Students will be expected to undertake reading tasks and give short presentations, which will entail a limited quantity of preparatory work. Together with the formal classes the total time required for this course is 30 hours
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
The student:
K_W02 ~ knows detailed concepts and terminology used in the archaeology of production
K_W03 ~ has extended knowledge of the description, analysis and interpretation of archaeological sources related to the Greek Bronze Age
K_W04 ~ has an ordered and theoretically based knowledge covering the key issues of craft production, including terminology, theories and methodology
K_W06 ~ has detailed, specialist knowledge of craft production in Minoan and Mycenaean communities, including terminology, theories and methodology in the field of archaeology
K_W12 ~ knows and understands advanced methods of analysis and interpretation of research problems in the field of craft production, appropriate for the traditions, theories and research schools related to the Greek Bronze Age
K_W13 ~ knows and understands advanced methods for the analysis and interpretation of information contained in scientific publications concerning craft production in Bronze Age Greece
The student can:
K_U01 ~ search, analyse, select and use information about archaeological sources pertaining to craft production in Bronze Age Greece and their context using literature and electronic media, and subject them to criticism and creative interpretation in English
K_U03 ~ creatively use existing methods and techniques, adapting them to the needs arising from the specific research issues related to craft production in Bronze Age Greece
K_U06 ~ independently analyse and interpret various types of artefacts to determine their significance and impact on socio-cultural processes in Bronze Age Greece
K_U 07 ~ detect complex relationships between artefacts and cultural processes in Bronze Age Greece
K_U12 ~ present research results in the form of oral presentations in English, using specialised scientific language and terminology appropriate for craft production in Bronze Age Greece, with the use of information and communication technologies
K_U13 ~ use a foreign language at the B2 + level of the European System for the Description of Language Education and specialized terminology in the field of craft production in Bronze Age Greece
The student is ready to:
K_K01 ~ use their knowledge and skills and is aware of the need to challenge themselves through the opinions of experts
K_K02 ~ recognise the significant importance of artefacts, eco-facts and written sources from Bronze Age Greece as elements of the cultural heritage of humanity
K_K03 ~assess the unique value of archaeological sources and their role in recreating the human past
K_K04 ~ critically evaluate the interpretation of archaeological sources with awareness of multi-faceted interpretation
K_K05 ~ use their knowledge of the complex nature of culture and analyse various categories of sources to recreate the human past
Assessment criteria
Students will be required to regularly attend and participate in the classes. The performance of the students will be monitored throughout the course, and the quality of their contributions via discussion and presentations will be assessed against the learning outcomes listed above. Of particular importance will be their ability to recognise the variety of objects and raw materials relevant to Bronze Age Greece, to become familiar with important terminology and concepts related to craft production in past societies, and to demonstrate an understanding of how the study of craft production contributes to a deeper appreciation of wider socio-cultural and economic trends.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: