The Greek Bronze Age and the World of Homer: GRS 361
Fall 2012: Monday and Thursday, 1-2:20, Clearihue A212
Professor Brendan Burke
Tel:
721-8522
Email:
bburke@uvic.ca
Office hours:
Monday 2:30-3:30, Tuesday 11:30-12:30, or by appointment
Office:
Clearihue B413, Department of Greek and Roman Studies
Course description: This course will cover material culture from the eastern Mediterranean,
beginning with the Neolithic period and continuing through the end of the Bronze Age. Much
attention will be given to the Minoans on Crete and the Mycenaean Greeks, but we will also cover
topics such as the Cyclades and the volcanic eruption of Thera, Troy and the Trojan War, and the
Hittite Kingdom in central Anatolia.
Required texts:
Oxford Handbook of the Aegean Bronze Age (OHABA) ed. E. Cline (2010)
Optional texts and resources:
J. Rutter, Aegean Bronze Age - http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/
S. Deger-Jalkotzy and I. Lemos Ancient Greece: From Mycenaean Palace:
http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/nlebk_165161_AN?sid=0e2ea83b-3af94bfd-b842-5a9131116262@sessionmgr4&vid=1
M. Wood, In Search of the Trojan War (UC Berkeley Press 1996)
J. Chadwick, The Mycenaean World (Cambridge 1976)
W. Taylour, The Mycenaeans (Thames and Hudson 1983)
E. Vermeule Greece in the Bronze Age (Chicago 1964)
Aegaeum series - McPherson call no. DF220 A34
**Many texts available on reserve in McPherson
Technology: Moodle site (moodle.uvic.ca): This course website will be updated frequently with lecture
outlines and images for review. Please contact me or the people at Moodle if you are having problems
viewing the course web page.
Evaluation: The course requires attendance at two illustrated slide lectures each week. We will
focus on specific monuments and objects, placing them in their temporal and cultural context.
Lectures will be based somewhat on the course text books, but there will be material covered in class
that is NOT included in the texts. For this reason, attendance at each class meeting is very
important for success in the course. You will be responsible for (i.e., examined on) some material not
included in the texts but presented in the weekly lectures.
Grading: You must complete all requirements for the course in order to receive a passing grade.
Percentage grades are assigned to the examinations and research paper. The following table shows the
equivalencies used when converting numerical scores to letter grades. Grade point values and a general
description of each grade are given. These grades correspond to the grading schema in the University of
Victoria calendar.
%
90-100
85-89
80-84
77-79
73-76
70-72
65-69
60-64
50-59
Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
D
Grade Pt Value
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
< 54
F
0
Description
Exceptional, outstanding, excellent performance, normally achieved by a minority of
the students. These grades indicate a student who is self-motivated, exceeds
expectations, and has an insightful grasp of general concepts and specific detail.
Very good, good performance, normally achieved by most students. These grades
indicate a good grasp of general concepts and specific detail or excellent grasp in one
area balanced with satisfactory grasp in the other area.
Satisfactory performance. These grades indicate a satisfactory performance and knowledge of
general concepts and specific detail.
Marginal performance. A student receives this grade when they demonstrate only a
superficial grasp of general concepts and specific details.
Unsatisfactory performance.
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Students will be evaluated on one map quiz (10%); one midterm (20%), one research paper (35%),
participation in formal class discussions (20%); and an in-class final exam December 3rd (15%). In
consultation with the students there will be SIX discussion groups of about 8 students each to
research a specific problem in Greek prehistory. You should work together for the discussion
presentation, but your paper will be based on independent research. Dates for exams and papers are
non-negotiable in fairness to all.
Let me know by September 20th which group you would like to join:
Discussion #1: ‘Minoan civilization’ or ‘Minoan fantasy’? (September 27, 2012)
Discussion #2: Life, death and religion in the Cyclades (October 11, 2012)
Discussion #3: Mycenaeans on Crete? (October 25, 2012)
Discussion #4: Gods of the Bronze Age: Cult continuity? (November 8, 2012)
Discussion #5: Trojan War - Fact or Fiction? (November 15, 2012)
Discussion #6: End of the Bronze Age - External or Internal Causes? (November 22, 2012)
Research paper/In Class Discussion Topics: The term paper (approx. 7-9 pages, excluding bibliography)
will focus on a topic related to your in class discussion. This may be modified somewhat in consultation
with me. The paper is due November 26, 2012.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Please review the UVic guidelines for plagiarism in the University
calendar. A more detailed information sheet on the paper will be given in class and put on the Blackboard page.
SYLLABUS:
Week 1: September 6
Thursday - History of Research and Chronology
Reading: OHABA Ch. 1, 2; http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=67
Week 2: September 10, 13
Monday - Greek Cavemen and Cretan Hippos
Reading: OHABA Ch. 3
Thursday - Renfrew and the Emergence of Civilisation:
Reading: OHABA Ch. 6
Week 3: September 17, 20
Monday - Pre-Palatial and Protopalatial Crete
Reading: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=569; OHABA Ch. 8, 37-44
Thursday - Minoan palace origins - local or foreign origins?
Reading: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=697
Week 4: September 24, 27
Monday - Minoan Art and Architecture
Reading: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=702; OHABA Ch. 8, 11, 14
Thursday - Discussion #1: Minoan Civilization or Fantasy?
Reading: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=715; OHABA Ch. 24, 30
**October 1 - MAP QUIZ**
Week 5: October 1, 4
Monday - What’s exciting about the Middle Helladic Period?
Reading: OHABA Ch. 7, 45-47, 49; http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=670
Thursday Crete and the Aegean islands – Akrotiri, Ayia Irini
Reading: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=775; OHABA Ch. 17, 34, 56
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Week 6: October 8, 11
**Monday October 8 - Thanksgiving**
October 11: Thursday – Discussion #2: Life, death and religion in the Cyclades
Reading: OHABA Ch. 55
Week 7: October 15, 18
The Middle Bronze Age and Early Mycenaeans
Aegina Kolonna
Reading: OHABA Ch. 10; http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=670
Week 8: October 22, 25
Monday – Shaft Grave Period
Reading: OHABA Ch. 21
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=788
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=754
Gla, Orchomenos, Thebes; Pylos; Athens
Reading: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=750
Discussion #3: Mycenaean Empire or separate Kingdoms?
Week 9: October 29, November 1
Mycenaean Death; Bronze Age Aegean Religion
Reading: OHABA Ch. 19-20
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=761
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=651
Discussion #4: Archaeology of Cult
Week 11: Reading Break, 15
Monday - READING BREAK
Thursday – Linear B
Reading: OHABA Ch. 27, http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=659
Week 11: November 19, 22
Reading: OHABA Ch. 22, 29, 59
Cape Gelidonya Shipwreck and the Ulu Burun Shipwreck
Reading: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=743
Week 12: November 26, 29
Historicity and Myth: Trojans, Hittites
Reading: OHABA Ch. 35, 63;http://www.dartmouth.edu/~prehistory/aegean/?page_id=630
Discussion #5: Trojan War - Fact or Fiction?
Week 13: December 3
Monday: In class exam
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