Rise and Fall of Civilization – Rita Wright – Fall 2015
Beyond antiquarian and biblical texts in which the ancient past was referred to as
mysterious or “lost,” little was known about the earliest civilizations until the 20th century.
It was then that anthropological archaeologists began a series of intensive programs of
research on the Sumerians, the Maya, Inka, and other civilizations. The results of this
research are raising questions about the very meaning of the idea of what it constitutes to
be a civilization and for it to rise or fall? Does the new evidence show that the
development of powerful armies was the cause of the rise of civilizations or that climate
change was the reason for its fall? Are these general “rules” about the rise and fall of
civilizations, ones we should apply to modern societies? Is western civilization in
decline?
The class meets once a week on Friday mornings at 25 Waverly Place
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Class 1. – September 4th
About the Syllabus – class composition –
Computer science (1); Individualized Major (4), Film and Television (4)
Anthropology (3) [double major with environment, Asian studies]: Game Design
(1), Undecided (3), Environmental Studies (1), Global Health and Applied Psych
(1), Business (2), one with history
20 people – great diversity, this is good
Grade based on Four Requirements:
1. Attendance in class - 5%
2. Contribute to class discussions – 5%
2, Map Quiz – 15%
3. You will select one of the civilizations from the six choices: Egypt, Mesopotamia,
Indus, Teotihuacan, Maya, Inka. You will be designated a class expert on and be
responsible for Two in class presentations, labeled a and b, each 15%.OR Lead a
museum tour (15%). You must select from both a and b.
3. Final paper and Presentation: - This paper is a proposal as described below under
Final Paper. Presentation- 10%; Paper – 35%
Topics for Presentations – Power Point or Other Type >10 minutes < 15
minutes
a. Presentation of your museum visit or Lead a Museum visit
b. Presentations of ideas below::
Critique a documentary film
Show a short clip of a film and engage class in discussion
Discuss your civilization and issues of interest.
Rise and Fall – Fall 2015 – Rita Wright
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Provide 5 page written paper
Invent a game
Choose an alternative topic or venue.
Final Paper
With a focus on the civilization you studied, you will write a proposal to a
funding agency in YOUR field and propose a project that would be meaningful
for your field.
This is a two step process.
1. You will present a 10 minute “TED” talk (or an outline) explaining the
proposal you intend to write and present it to the class. 10%
2. You will write a serious paper; not a midnight story. Citations must
include articles in your field and on the civilization. The paper is due last
day of class, ten pages with a 250 words per page font. It must include a
bibliography with 10 references, no blogs, etc.; only peer reviewed papers or
books will be accepted. If you have any questions please send me an email,
so that I can share your concerns with the rest of the class. I will copy them
in to my answer. - 35%
All Power Point lectures will be posted on NYU classes. You will have to take notes
since there is no audio, just my in-class comments on the images shown.
Course Readings [select]:
Cowgill, George (2015 – Ancient Teotihuacan. Early Urbanism in Central
America.
Demarest, Arthur (2009) – Ancient Maya. The Rise and Fall of a Rainforest
Civilization.
Kolata, Alan. (2013) – Ancient Inca
Pollock, Susan (199) – Ancient Mesopotamia. The Eden that Never Was.
Wenke, Robert (2009) – Ancient Egypt. The Ancient Eyptian State.
Wright, Rita (2010) – Ancient Indus: Urbanism, Economy, and Society.
Outlines provided for individual classes.
Lecture topics .
Class 1:
Introduction of six civilizations, western scholarship and concepts.
Class 2. - September 11th – Field Trip: Metropolitan Museum of Art - Near Eastern
Collection or to Egypt if Near East gallery is closed
We will meet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 10 a.m. and visit the Near Eastern
Collection for the periods we are studying. As you enter the museum you should see a
sign that says Class Tours toward the back of the lobby.. Meet me there. We will pick
up our free entry stickers and go to the exhibit together [See Instructions for Classes 2
and 3.]
Rise and Fall – Fall 2015 – Rita Wright
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Class 3 – September 18th – Students visit a museum of their choice as follows,
depending on their interests. [See Instructions for Classes 2 and 3.]
1, Students go to a museum to find the sections on the civilization they selected or to
browse around and choose a civilization... Museums exhibit visual objects and label
them with information about them. Pay attention to the objects we view in the Near East
galleries on Sept. 11 and note what we discussed and their significance in understanding
Mesopotamian civilization. Use the visit as a model for your independent museum tour. .
I will not be at Class 3, since I am at a conference at Ohio State University. You visit
museums on your own
Class 4 - September 25 –
TODAY’S LECTURE TOPIC – Environment and Technology – What is
there to look for in the environment? How do technologies influence the rise
or collapse of a civilization? Or do they?
Class 5 - October 2
`
TODAY’S LECTURE TOPIC – – Economy – When a recent president was
asked what was the most important issue in the coming election. He said:
it’s the economy (er.) silly! How does the economy influence the rise and fall
of a civilization? Or does it? }]
Class 6 – October 9
Museum Visit – Around six hours.
University of Pennsylvania Museum – Free bus to Philadelphia and Museum
Visit museum
Have lunch there.
Class 7 - October 16th NO CLASS to make up for long visit to Penn. – The 9th and 16th
can be switched if it is more convenient but we all have to agree..
Class 8 – October 23 - TODAY’S LECTURE TOPIC – Social Organization. Does
the civilization have an exclusionary government (led by a king and related royalty)
or corporate (king’s power is mediated by councils and some non-elite are
autonomous..
Class 9 - October 30
2 students lead a tour at the AMNH or the Met .
CLASS 10 - November 6 –
Rise and Fall – Fall 2015 – Rita Wright
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TODAY’S LECTURE TOPIC – Ideology. Ideology usually refers to
religious beliefs, but it can also be used for other ideas (such as gender ideologies)
How does ideology influence the power structure and does it contribute to the
“collapse” of a civilization?
CLASS 11 -- November 13 –
TODAY’S LECTURE TOPIC – The Rise of Civilizations.
CLASS 12 – November 20 –
TODAY’S LECTURE TOPIC – The Fall of Civilizations.
CLASS 13 – November 27 – Thanksgiving
CLASS 14 – December 4 – 10 students discuss the purpose of their proposal in the form
of a formal presentation or something informal, perhaps a discussion, This could be like
a Ted Talk (i.e. a verbal outline)
CLASS 15 – December 11 – 10 students discuss the purpose of their proposal in the
form of a formal presentation or something informal, perhaps a discussion, This could
be like a Ted Talk (i.e. a verbal outline)
Last class.- Papers are due.
Important Dates to Remember:
September 11th – class meets on the Metropolitan Museum of Art
September 18th – Independent field trips to museums
[see Instructions for Class 3]
October 2 – 8 Students discusse independent Museum visits [Instructions
will follow.]
Map QUIZ.
October 9 or 16 – Museum Visit to University of Pennsylvania Museum.
[More Instructions Follow once Dates are arranged.]
October 23 - 4 Students discuss Independent Museum Visits
October 30 - 2 Students lead a tour at the AMNH or the Met .
November 6 – 8 Students discuss Independent Museum visits.
November 13 – 9 Students Present from 1b
November 20 - 9 Students Present from 1b
November 13 – Thanksgiving
December 4 and 15 – Student Presentations. See lecture topics below.
December 15 – Last Class – paper due.
Rise and Fall – Fall 2015 – Rita Wright
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