U03997 ANCIENT HISTORY I: THE WORLD OF ANCIENT EGYPT –
PHARAOHS OF THE NEW KINGDOM
A Rationale
The course aims to be an introductory overview to this important period of ancient
history. It offers an introduction to the Egyptian empire of the New Kingdom, from the
expulsion of the Hyksos from Egypt by Ahmose to the defeat of the Sea Peoples by
Ramesses III, thus covering one of the most dynamic periods of the ancient world: the
New Kingdom.
The course will investigate how Egypt developed from an inward-looking isolated NileValley society to an imperial power that was to rule most of the Near Eastern world. The
course analyses how this remarkable and rapid success was accomplished. The course
also examines aspects of Egyptian society and how Egyptian society was affected by
contact with other peoples and civilizations of the Mediterranean and Near East.
Particular attention will be paid to the concept of divine rule, palaces and temples,
religion and funerary customs, art and architecture, gender and sexuality, medicine and
superstition, music and poetry, fashion and taste.
The course will be a standard part of the sub-honours curriculum in Classics.
B Course Aims and Objectives
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate, in written
coursework, a degree examination, oral and written contribution to tutorials,
knowledge and understanding of
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the main events and developments of and in this period
the major bodies of source material for this period of ancient history
the diversity of these materials
the strength and weaknesses of the various source materials for ancient history
the various methodologies used by historians to examine these source materials
Successful students will also demonstrate that they can
 collect and synthesise evidence from primary and secondary sources
 compare different sets of evidence to reach conclusions, using ancient and modern
comparators
 evaluate and criticise the work of others, both contemporary and in earlier
periods, and in distinguishing strengths and weaknesses of argument
 formulate questions which illuminate the topic and the source material studied,
and structure an argument to express their own conclusions clearly
 organise their own learning, manage their workload and work to a timetable
 work efficiently and productively with others - fellow students, tutors and
supervisors
There is no overlap with any other course.
C. Student intake
The course is intended for first year undergraduates. There is a significant degree of
flexibility as to the minimum number of students to make the course viable or the
maximum that can be accommodated. It is expected that the course may recruit on
average 180 students. (A range of different tutorial times will be offered so as to allow
for a reasonable small teaching group experience.)
D. Contents of the course
The course will introduce students to this exciting ancient geography and period. It
examines the role of the Pharaoh as a military and religious leader and documents the
internal and external history of Egypt during the 18th and 19th Dynasties. Particular
attention will be paid to the reigns of Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amemhotep III,
Akhenaten (the Amarna Age), Seti I, Ramesses II, and Ramesses III. The political and
military events of the reigns will be set alongside the cultural and intellectual
achievements of the period.
The course will use examples of evidence of a diverse pedigree, e.g. papyri from tombs,
official hieroglyphic inscriptions from temples, ostraca from rubbish heaps, cuneiform
texts from royal archives, laundry lists from tombs, jewelry and textiles from graves. The
material used to teach the course may change over time so as to allow for the
incorporation of new finds and interpretations.
E. Organization of Teaching
The course organizer is Dr Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones. There will be three weekly sessions.
Students will be required to partake in small-group tutorials in addition to the lectures;
there will be four different thematic tutorials in total over the semester. In weeks when
tutorials take place, there will only be two lectures, otherwise three lectures. Thus,
students will always have three contact hours of teaching per week. There will be
scope for group work within the tutorials so as to encourage fruitful teamwork. Students
will be required to prepare clearly assigned course work/reading for each tutorial. Some
tutorials may take place in the museum in Chambers Street or the Museum’s store and
work rooms in Queen Street.
F. Student Assessment and Guidance
Assessment will be based on a degree examination worth 50% of the total mark; a course
essay worth 25% of the total mark; a tutorial assignment worth 25% of the total mark.
There will be a course web site with all necessary documentation and set work.
G. Feedback and Evaluation
The usual procedures in Classics concerning student feedback and evaluation will be
followed.
H. Resource requirement
The course will normally be taught by Dr Llewellyn-Jones. Other members of Classics
(Dr Roth, Dr Grig, Dr Bingham, Prof Erskine) will assist with (tutorial) teaching. Tutorial
help will be required from a limited number of postgraduates. It is estimated that there
will be around 15 tutorial groups needed.
A course web site will be created.
The final course bibliography will take due account of availability of books in the
University Library, but a small amount of purchases may be necessary for the 2008/9
session. The acquisition by each student of a small range of publications (two to three)
that are central to the subject will be a requirement though.
I. Documentation
The following is a sample bibliography. Please note that the course will be designed in a
flexible manner to enable students to focus on a wide range of different subjects in their
essays, thus minimizing the risk that access to books and journal articles will constitute a
problem. The bibliography in the course booklet will thus be much longer.
Sample bibliography:
Bryce, T. (2003) Letters of the Great Kings of the Ancient Near East. London.
Cameron, A. & A. Kuhrt (1983) Images of Women in Antiquity. London
Coleman Darnell, J. & Manassa, C. (2007) Tutankhamun’s Armies. Battle and Conquest
during Ancient Egypt’s Late 18th Dynasty. Hobolken
Cumming, B. (1984a) Egyptian Historical Records of the later Eighteenth Dynasty.
Fascicle III (Amenhotep II-Thutmose III). Warminster.
Cumming, B. (1984b) Egyptian Historical Records of the later Eighteenth Dynasty.
Fascicle II (Amenhotep II-Thutmose IV). Warminster.
Dasen, V. (1993) Dwarfs in ancient Egypt and Greece. Oxford
Desroches-Noblecourt, C. (1965) Life and death of a pharaoh: Tutankhamen. London
Dodson, A. & Hilton, D. (2005) The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. London
Donadoni, S. ed. (1990) The Egyptians. Chicago.
Frankfort, H. (1954; rep. 1970) The Art and Architecture of the Ancient Orient. New
Haven & London.
Hesker, O. & Fowler, R. eds. (2005) Imaginary Kings. Royal images in the Ancient Near
East, Greece and Rome. Munich
Kemp, B.J. (1989) Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization. London
Kitchen, K (1983) Pharaoh Triumphant: the life and times of Ramesses II, King of Egypt.
Warminster
Kuhrt, A. (1995) The Ancient Near East c. 3000-330 BC. II Vols. London.
Manniche, L. (1987) Sexual Life in Ancient Egypt. London
(1991) Music in Ancient Egypt. London
Marsman, H.J. (2003) Women in Ugarit and Israel. Their Social and Religious Positions
in the Context of the Ancient Near East. Leiden.
Matthews, R. & Roemer, C, eds. (2003) Ancient Perspectives on Egypt. Oxford
Meyerowitz, E. (1960) The divine kingship in Ghana and ancient Egypt. London
Mikasa, T. (1984) Monarchies and socio-religious traditions in the ancient Near East:
papers read at the 31st International Congress of Human Sciences in Asia and North
Africa. Wiesbaden
Nelso, S.M. (2003) Ancient Queens. Oxford/New York
Oakley, F. (2006) Kingship. Oxford
Pritchard, J.B. (1950) Ancient Near Eastern texts relating to the Old Testament. Princeton
Quirke, S. (1992) Ancient Egyptian Religion. London
Redford, D.B. (1984) Akhenaten : the heretic king. Cairo
Redford, D.B. (1992) Egypt, Israel and Canaan in Ancient Times. Princeton
Robins, G. (1993) Women in Ancient Egypt. London
Roehrig, C.H. ed (2005) Hatshepsut: from Queen to Pharaoh. New York
Solvang, E.K. (2003) A Woman’s Place is in the House. Royal Women of Judah and their
Involvement in the House of David. Sheffield
Strudwick, N. (1999) Thebes in Egypt. London
Stevenson Smith, W (1958; 1998) The art and architecture of ancient Egypt. London.
Vernus, P. (2001) Affairs and scandals in ancient Egypt. Cornell.
Ziegler, C. (2002) The Pharaohs. Oxford