A Thousand Worlds. At the Mediterranean Origins of Modern Europe. 2800-DWTYSIAC-OG

Modern Europe, largely united by the European Union, is a relatively new creation, if we consider the history of the presence of homo sapiens on the continent, dating back at least 50 000 years. In order to better understand the social, political or cultural reality of Europe, it is necessary to draw on the heritage of civilisations which developed over the past millennia in the Mediterranean basin. Together with the participants, the lecturer will present the basic stages in the development of these civilisations, using examples from archaeology, linguistics, art or life and earth sciences. In particular, it will discuss problems related to the geography and history of Europe linked to a Mediterranean past dominated by the Greeks, Phoenicians and then Romans, by the great monotheistic religions, and finally by the energy represented in late antiquity (4th to 7th centuries AD) by indigenous peoples, invaders from Asia or Arabs. This world was invariably divided into 'a thousand smaller worlds' distinguished by geography, language. All the above information is intended to give a better understanding of why Europe took the administrative, ethnic or religious shape that we know today.

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

The aim of the proposed classes is to develop the competence of their participants in the knowledge of the foundations of civilisation in the modern world. The classes are aimed at students interested in the material and spiritual culture of Mediterranean civilisations in the pre-modern period, from prehistory at least until the end of the 15th century AD. The class aims to provide a better understanding of the modern world in the perspective of the continent's millennial past.

Course coordinators

Tomasz Waliszewski

Learning outcomes

K_U01, K_U04, K_U10, K_U13, K_U20

Assessment criteria

The class, in the form of a seminar, will be based on lectures and joint work by the instructor and participants. Lectures are intended to inspire participants to discussion. Participants are expected to prepare an essay in Polish or English at the end of the semester. The topics of the essays will correspond to the individual interests of the participants consulted with the class instructor. Attendance and activity during weekly meetings will also be assessed.

Bibliography

Alcock, Susan E., and Osborne, Robin, Classical Archaeology (Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2007), BLACKWELL STUDIES IN GLOBAL ARCHAEOLOGY.
Bowersock, G. W., Brown, Peter Robert Lamont, and Grabar, Oleg, Interpreting Late Antiquity: Essays on the Postclassical World (Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2001).
Broodbank, C. 2013. The Making of the Middle Sea: A History of the Mediterranean from the Beginning to the Emergence of the Classical World. London and New York: Thames and Hudson andOxford University Press.
Heather, P. J., The Fall of the Roman Empire (London: Macmillan, 2005).
Kennedy, H., N. 2007, The Great Arab Conquests. How the Spread of Islam Changed the World we Live In, Phoenix, London.
Wickham, Chris, The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 (London: Allen Lane, 2009).

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2800-DWTYSIAC-OG in USOSweb