Courses & Programs of Study

Deputy Chair and Counselor for Undergraduate Studies: David Schloen,

Or 226C, 702-1382, d-schloen@uchicago.edu

Departmental Secretary: Or 212, 702-9512, ne-lc@uchicago.edu

Web: humanities.uchicago.edu/depts/nelc/

Program of Study

The programs for the B.A. degree in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (NELC) are as varied as the wide subject matter they embrace. Available areas of specialization within NELC include:

Archaeology and Art of the Ancient Near East

Classical Hebrew Language and Civilization

Cuneiform Studies (including Assyriology, Hittitology, and Sumerology)

Egyptian Languages and Civilization

Islamic and Modern Middle Eastern Studies (including Arabic, Armenian, Modern Hebrew, Persian, Turkish, and Uzbek)

Near Eastern Judaica

The B.A. in NELC recognizes the acquisition of the primary native languages as access to the cultures, literature, and civilizations of the ancient Near East and modern Middle East. (Students planning to do advanced work in Near Eastern studies are also strongly encouraged to develop a reading knowledge of German and French.) In consultation with the counselor for undergraduate studies, each student will work out a program that provides a sound basis for graduate work in the field. The major also provides an appropriate background for careers in museology, business, government, and other disciplines.

Students in other fields of study may also complete a minor in NELC. Information follows the description of the major.

Program Requirements

Thirteen courses and a B.A. paper are required in the major.

(1) One of the two- or three-quarter NELC civilization sequences that introduce the specialization. These sequences include:

HUMA 20000-20100-20200. Judaic Civilization I, II, III

NEAA 20001-20002-20003. Art and Archaeology of the Near East I, II, III
(three quarters taken in an academic year)

NEHC 20001-20002-20003. History of the Ancient Near East I, II, III

NEHC 20011 through 20085. Perspectives on Near Eastern Civilizations I, II, III (three quarters taken in an academic year)

NEHC 20411-20412-20413. Medieval Jewish History I, II, III

NEHC 20601-20602. Introduction to Islamic Civilization I, II

NEHC 20621-20622-20623. History of the Islamic Middle East I, II, III

Please note that not all of the above sequences meet the general education requirement in civilization studies.

(2) Six courses in one of the Near Eastern languages (e.g., Akkadian, Arabic, Egyptian, Hebrew, Turkish); credit may not be granted by examination or placement.

(3) Three or four courses in the student's chosen area of specialization. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the counselor for undergraduate studies and may include additional language study or civilization sequences or courses in areas such as archaeology, art, literatures in translation, history, and religion.

(4) The B.A. Paper Seminar (NEHC 29800) is to be taken in the Autumn Quarter of the year in which the student expects to graduate. The seminar and B.A. paper are described below.

Summary of Requirements

6 courses in one Near Eastern language at any level*

2 or 3 courses in one approved NELC two- or three-

quarter civilization sequence**

4 or 3 approved electives relating to the Near East***

1 B.A. Paper Seminar (NEHC 29800)

* Credit may not be granted by examination or placement.

** If a Near Eastern civilization sequence is used to meet the College general education requirement, a second Near Eastern civilization sequence is required.

*** May include one B.A. Paper Preparation (NEHC 29999).

Grading. All courses taken to meet requirements in the major must be taken for quality grades, with the exception of the B.A. Paper Seminar (NEHC 29800) that is taken P/F.

Advising. NELC majors must consult with the counselor for undergraduate studies when planning their programs.

B.A. Paper Seminar. Candidates for the B.A. degree in NELC are required to write a substantial B.A. paper. The paper provides the student the opportunity to research a topic of interest and to improve writing and presentation skills.

It is the student's responsibility, in their third year, to choose a NELC faculty member who agrees to act as the faculty research adviser. Together, they agree on a topic for the student's B.A. paper. The topic must be registered in the NELC department office by Monday of tenth week in Spring Quarter of their third year. Forms to register the topic are available in the departmental office.

Students are required to register for the B.A. Paper Seminar (NEHC 29800) in Autumn Quarter of their fourth year. A passing grade (P) for the seminar depends on full attendance and participation throughout the quarter. The B.A. Paper Seminar is a workshop course designed to survey the fields represented by NELC and to assist students in researching and writing their B.A. papers. Students continue working on the B.A. papers during the following quarters, meeting at intervals with the faculty research advisers. They may register for NEHC 29999 during the Winter Quarter to devote the equivalent of a one-quarter course to the preparation of the paper; the paper grade, reported in the Spring Quarter, will be the grade for the course NEHC 29999. See the course description below.

Students with a double major may, with the permission of the NELC counselor for undergraduate studies, write a single B.A. paper that is designed to meet the requirements of both majors provided the faculty research adviser is a member of the NELC faculty. Approval from both program chairs is required. A consent form, to be signed by the chairs, is available from the College adviser. It must be completed and returned to the College adviser by the end of Autumn Quarter of the student's year of graduation.

The completed B.A. paper, approved and graded by the faculty research adviser, must be submitted to the NELC counselor for undergraduate studies by Monday of fifth week in the Spring Quarter. Students who fail to meet the deadline will not be eligible for honors consideration and may not be able to graduate in that quarter.

The above information assumes a Spring Quarter graduation. Students who expect to graduate in other quarters should consult the NELC counselor for undergraduate studies.

Honors. Students who complete their course work and their B.A. papers with great distinction are considered for graduation with honors. To be eligible for honors in NELC, students must have an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher, have a NELC GPA of 3.5 or higher, and have earned a grade of A- or higher on the B.A. paper.

Minor Program in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations

The minor in Near Eastern Languages and Civilization requires a total of six courses. Students may choose one of two tracks: (1) a language track that includes three courses of one NELC language at any level, or (2) a culture/civilization track that replaces language with "content" courses (e.g., history, archaeology, or literature in translations). Both tracks require a two- or three-quarter NELC sequence in history/civilization.

Students who elect the minor program in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations must meet with the director of undergraduate studies before the end of Spring Quarter of their third year to declare their intention to complete the minor. Students choose courses in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. The director's approval for the minor program should be submitted to a student's College adviser by the deadline above on a form obtained from the adviser.

Courses in the minor (1) may not be double counted with the student's major(s) or with other minors and (2) may not be counted toward general education requirements. Courses in the minor must be taken for quality grades, and more than half of the requirements for the minor must be met by registering for courses bearing University of Chicago course numbers.

The following group of courses would comprise a minor in the areas indicated. Other programs may be designed in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. Minor program requirements are subject to revision.

Language Track Sample Minor

AKKD 10101-10102-10103. Elementary Akkadian*

NEHC 20001-20002-20003. History of the Ancient Near East

Language Track Sample Minor

ARAB 20101-20102-20103. Intermediate Arabic*

NEHC 20601-20602. Introduction to Islamic Civilization

NEAA 20501. Art and Archaeology of the Near East:

Introduction to Islamic Archaeology

Culture/Civilization Track Sample Minor

NEHC 20011 through 20085. Perspectives on

Near Eastern Civilizations (three quarters taken

in one academic year)

NEHC 20184. Mesopotamian Religions

NEHC 20183. Mesopotamian Literature in Translation

NEHC 20310. Hittite Literature in Translation

* Consult the director about the level of the language (introductory, intermediate, or advanced) required to meet the language track requirement. Credit may not be granted by examination to meet the language requirement for the minor program.

Faculty

K. Arik, M. Brinker, S. Creason, R. Dankoff, F. Donner, P. Dorman, W. Farber,
A. Finkelstein, C. Fleischer, N. Forster, S. Ghahremani, M. Gibson, N. Golb,
H. Haroutunian, S. Harvey, J. Johnson, W. Kadi, H. Moayyad, F. Mustafa, H. O?Nzoglu,
D. Pardee, J. Perry, T. Qutbuddin, M. Rabada?Ln-Carrascosa, S. Richardson, R. Ritner,
M. Roth, D. Schloen, H. Shissler, G. Stein, M. Stolper, Th. van den Hout, D. Whitcomb,
C. Woods, J. Woods, K. A. Yener

Courses

Akkadian (akkd)

10101-10102-10103. Elementary Akkadian I, II, III. PQ: Second-year standing. The first two quarters of this sequence cover the elements of Babylonian grammar and the cuneiform writing system, with reading exercises in Old Babylonian texts (ca. 1900 to 1600 B.C.), such as the Laws of Hammurabi. The third quarter introduces Standard Babylonian, the literary language of ca. 1200 to 600 B.C., with readings in royal inscriptions and literary texts. W. Farber, M. Roth, M. Stolper. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Ancient Anatolian Languages (aanl)

10101-10102-10103. Elementary Hittite I, II, III. PQ: Second-year standing. This three-quarter sequence covers the basic grammar and cuneiform writing system of the Hittite language. It also familiarizes the student with the field's tools (i.e., dictionaries, lexica, sign list). Readings come from all periods of Hittite history (1650 to 1180 B.C.). Th. van den Hout. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20301. Hieroglyphic Luwian I. PQ: Consent of instructor. This course introduces the student to the grammar and writing system of the Hieroglyphic Luwian language of the first millennium B.C. (1000 to 700). Once the grammar is discussed, older and younger texts of that period are read, including the Karatepe Bilingual. Th. van den Hout. Spring, 2005.

20302. Hieroglyphic Luwian II. PQ: AANL 20301 and consent of instructor. This course focuses on the Hieroglyphic Luwian inscriptions of the second millennium B.C. Because Hieroglyphic Luwian I (AANL 20301) is required, this course does not offer a grammatical overview but starts with the texts immediately. Th. van den Hout. Spring, 2006.

Arabic (arab)

10101-10102-10103. Elementary Arabic I, II, III. This sequence concentrates on the acquisition of speaking, reading, and aural skills in modern formal Arabic. The class meets for six hours a week. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20101-20102-20103. Intermediate Arabic I, II, III. PQ: ARAB 10103 or equivalent. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

30386. Introduction to Early Islamic Historical Tradition. PQ: At least two years of Arabic. F. Donner. Spring, 2006.

30680. Readings in Islamic Ritual Law. PQ: Third-year Arabic. Overview of ritual law from an Arabic law text, with supplementary readings in Western languages on theories of ritual. F. Donner. Winter, 2005.

Aramaic (aram)

10101. Biblical Aramaic. PQ: Second-year standing and knowledge of Classical Hebrew. S. Creason. Autumn, 2004.

10102. Old Aramaic Inscriptions. PQ: Second-year standing and ARAM 10101. S. Creason. Spring, 2005.

10103. Imperial Aramaic. PQ: Second-year standing and ARAM 10101. S. Creason. Winter, 2005.

10401-10402-10403. Elementary Syriac I, II, III. PQ: Second-year standing. The purpose of this three-quarter sequence is to enable the student to read Syriac literature with a high degree of comprehension. The course is divided into two segments. The first two quarters are devoted to acquiring the essentials of Syriac grammar and vocabulary. The third quarter is spent reading a variety of Syriac prose and poetic texts and includes a review of grammar. S. Creason. Autumn, Winter, Spring. Offered 2005-06; not offered 2004-05.

20301-20302-20303. Targum I, II, III. PQ: ARAM 10101. Reading and analysis of Targumic texts from the Babylonian and Palestinian traditions. D. Pardee. Autumn, Winter, Spring. Offered 2005-06; not offered 2004-05.

Armenian (arme)

10101-10102-10103. Elementary Modern Armenian I, II, III. (=EEUR 21100-21200-21300/31100-31200-31300) This three-quarter sequence utilizes the most advanced computer technology and audio-visual aids enabling the students to master a core vocabulary, the alphabet and basic grammatical structures and to achieve a reasonable level of proficiency in modern formal and spoken Armenian (one of the oldest Indo-European languages). A considerable amount of historical-political and social-cultural issues about Armenia are skillfully built into the course for students who have intention to conduct research in Armenian Studies or to pursue work in Armenia. H. Haroutunian. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

10501. Introduction to Classical Armenian. This course focuses on the basic structure and vocabulary of the Classical Armenian language of Grabar, which is one of the oldest Indo-European languages. Course work enables the students to acquire the alphabet, phonology and grammar, to achieve basic reading skills in the Classical Armenian language. Reading assignments include a selection of original Armenian literature. This course is recommended for students who have intention to conduct research in Armenian or Indo-European Studies, or General Linguistics. H. Haroutunian. Winter, 2006.

20101-20102-20103. Intermediate Modern Armenian I, II, III. PQ: ARME 10103. This three-quarter sequence enables the students to reach an advanced level of proficiency in the Armenian language. The course covers a rich vocabulary and complex grammatical structures in modern formal and colloquial Armenian. Reading assignments include a selection of original Armenian literature and excerpts from mass media. H. Haroutunian. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

30501. Readings in Classical Armenian. PQ: ARME 20103 or equivalent. This course further improves the students' skills in reading original Classical Armenian literature. This course is recommended for students who plan to conduct research in Armenian or Indo-European studies. H. Haroutunian. Spring, 2006.

Egyptian (egpt)

10101-10102. Introduction to Middle Egyptian Hieroglyphs I, II. (=ANCM 30500-30501) PQ: Second-year standing. This course examines hieroglyphic writing and the grammar of the language of classical Egyptian literature. R. Ritner. Autumn, Winter.

10103. Middle Egyptian Texts I. PQ: EGPT 10101-10102. This course features readings in a variety of genres, including historical, literary, and scientific texts. P. Dorman, J. Johnson. Spring.

10201. Introduction to Coptic. PQ: Second-year standing. Knowledge of earlier Egyptian language phases or of Classical or Koine Greek helpful but not required. This course provides an introduction to the last native language of Egypt, in common use during the Roman, Byzantine, and medieval Islamic periods (fourth to tenth centuries C.E.). Grammar and vocabulary of the standard Sahidic dialect are presented in preparation for reading biblical, monastic, and Gnostic literature, as well as a variety of historical and social documents. Autumn.

10202. Coptic Texts. PQ: EGPT 10201. This course builds on the basics of grammar learned in EGPT 10201 and provides readings in a variety of Coptic texts, including monastic texts, biblical excerpts, tales, and Gnostic literature. Winter.

20101. Middle Egyptian Texts II. PQ: EGPT 10101-10103. P. Dorman, J. Johnson. Autumn.

20102. Introduction to Hieratic. PQ: EGPT 10101-10103 required; EGPT 20101 recommended. This course is an introduction to the cursive literary and administrative script of Middle Egyptian (corresponding to the Middle Kingdom period in Egypt) and is intended to provide students with a familiarity with a variety of texts written in Hieratic, including literary tales, religious compositions, wisdom literature, letters, accounts, and graffiti. J. Johnson. Winter.

20110. Introduction to Old Egyptian. PQ: EGPT 10101-10103 required; EGPT 20101 recommended. This course examines the hieroglyphic writing and grammar of the Old Kingdom (Egypt's "Pyramid Age"), focusing on monumental readings from private tombs, royal and private stelae, administrative decrees, economic documents, and Pyramid texts. Some attention is given to Old Egyptian texts written in cursive Hieratic. Spring.

20210. Introduction to Late Egyptian. PQ: EGPT 10101-10103 required; EGPT 20101 recommended. This course is a comprehensive examination of the grammar, vocabulary, and orthographic styles of the nonliterary vernacular of New Kingdom Egypt (Dynasties XVII to XXIV), as exhibited by administrative and business documents, private letters, and official monuments. We also study the hybrid "literary Late Egyptian" used for tales and other compositions. Texts from the various genres are read and analyzed in EGPT 20211. P. Dorman, J. Johnson. Spring.

20211. Late Egyptian Texts. PQ: EGPT 20210. Building on the basics of grammar, vocabulary, and orthographic styles learned in EGPT 20210, this course focuses on the reading and analysis of Late Egyptian texts from the various genres. J. Johnson. Autumn.

30120. Introduction to Demotic. PQ: EGPT 10201 and/or 20210. R. Ritner. Winter.

30121. Demotic Texts. PQ: EGPT 30121. J. Johnson. Spring.

Hebrew (hebr)

10101-10102-10103. Elementary Classical Hebrew I, II, III. (=JWSC 22000-22100-22200, JWSG 30100-30200-30300) The purpose of this three-quarter sequence is to enable the student to read biblical Hebrew prose with a high degree of comprehension. The course is divided into two segments: (1) the first two quarters are devoted to acquiring the essentials of descriptive and historical grammar (including translation to and from Hebrew, oral exercises, and grammatical analysis); and (2) the third quarter is spent examining prose passages from the Hebrew Bible and includes a review of grammar. The class meets five times a week. S. Creason. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

10501-10502-10503. Introductory Modern Hebrew I, II, III. (=JWSC 25000-25100-25200, JWSG 35000-35100-35200, LGLN 20100-20200-20300/30100-30200-30300) This course introduces students to reading, writing, and speaking modern Hebrew. All four language skills are emphasized: comprehension of written and oral materials; reading of nondiacritical text; writing of directed sentences, paragraphs, and compositions; and speaking. Students learn the Hebrew root pattern system and the seven basic verb conjugations in both the past and present tenses, as well as simple future. At the end of the year, students can conduct short conversations in Hebrew, read materials designed to their level, and write short essays. A. Finkelstein. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20001. Hebrew Letters and Inscriptions. PQ: One year of classical Hebrew. This course involves reading and analysis of the inscriptional material from Palestine written during the first millennium B.C. (including texts from Transjordan). D. Pardee. Autumn, 2005.

20002. Phoenician Inscriptions. PQ: HEBR 20001. This course involves reading and analysis of the inscriptions, primarily on stone and primarily from the Phoenician homeland, that belong to the early and middle first millennium B.C. D. Pardee. Winter, 2006.

20003. Punic Inscriptions. PQ: HEBR 20002. This course is a continuation of HEBR 20002 in which we study the texts resulting from the Phoenician expansion into the Western Mediterranean (primarily North Africa). D. Pardee. Spring, 2006.

20104-20105-20106. Intermediate Classical Hebrew I, II, III. (=JWSC 22300-22400-22500, JWSG 30400-30500-30600) PQ: HEBR 10103 or equivalent. This course is a continuation of HEBR 10103. The first quarter consists of reviewing grammar, and of reading and analyzing further prose texts. The last two quarters are devoted to an introduction to Hebrew poetry with readings from Psalms, Proverbs, and the prophets. D. Pardee. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20301-20302. Tannaitic Hebrew Texts I, II. PQ: Some basic knowledge of biblical and/or modern Hebrew, and consent of instructor. This course consists of readings in the Mishnah and Tosefta, the main corpus of legal and juridical texts assembled by the Palestinian academic masters during the second and early third centuries. Goals are to introduce: (1) views and opinions of early rabbinic scholars who flourished in the period immediately following that of the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls; (2) aspects of the material culture of the Palestinian Jews during that same period; and (3) grammar and vocabulary of what is generally called "early rabbinic Hebrew" and thereby to facilitate the ability to read and understand unvocalized Hebrew texts. N. Golb. Autumn, Winter.

20501-20502-20503. Intermediate Modern Hebrew I, II, III. (=JWSC 25300-25400-25500, JWSG 35300-35400-35500, LGLN 20400-20500-20600/30400-30500-30600) PQ: HEBR 10503 or equivalent. The course is devised for students who have previously taken either modern or biblical Hebrew courses. The main objective is to provide students with the skills necessary to approach modern Hebrew prose, both fiction and nonfiction. In order to achieve this task, students are provided with a systematic examination of the complete verb structure. Many syntactic structures are introduced, including simple clauses, and coordinate and compound sentences. At this level, students not only write and speak extensively, but are also required to analyze grammatically and contextually all of the material assigned. A. Finkelstein. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

30501-30502-30503. Advanced Modern Hebrew I, II, III. (=JWSC 25600-25700-25800, JWSG 35600-35700-35800, LGLN 22900-23000-23100/32900-33000-33100) PQ: HEBR 20503 or equivalent. This course assumes that students have full mastery of the grammatical and lexical content at the intermediate level. However, there is a shift from a reliance on the cognitive approach to an emphasis on the expansion of various grammatical and vocabulary-related subjects. Students are introduced to sophisticated and more complex syntactic constructions, and instructed how to transform simple sentences into more complicated ones. The exercises address the creative effort on the part of the student, and the reading segments are longer and more challenging in both style and content. The language of the texts reflects the literary written medium rather than the more informal spoken style, which often dominates the introductory and intermediate texts. A. Finkelstein. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Persian (pers)

10101-10102-10103. Elementary Persian I, II, III. This sequence concentrates on modern written Persian as well as modern colloquial usage. Towards the end of the sequence the students are able to read, write, and speak Persian at an elementary level. Introducing the Iranian culture is also a goal. The class meets three hours a week with the instructor and two hours with a native informant who conducts grammatical drills and Persian conversation. S. Ghahremani. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20101-20102-20103. Intermediate Persian I, II, III. PQ: PERS 10103 or the instructor's approval. This sequence deepens and expands the students' knowledge of modern Persian at all levels of reading, writing and speaking. Grammar is taught at a higher level and a wider vocabulary enables the students to read stories, articles, and poetry and be introduced to examples of classical literature towards the end of the sequence. Introducing the Iranian culture is continued. Class meets three hours a week with the instructor; and, with enough students, class meets two hours a week with a native informant who conducts grammatical drills and Persian conversation. S. Ghahremani. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Sumerian (sumr)

10101-10102-10103. Elementary Sumerian I, II, III. PQ: AKKD 10101. Sequence typically begins in Winter Quarter. This sequence covers the elements of Sumerian grammar, with reading exercises in Ur III, pre-Sargonic, and elementary literary texts. C. Woods. Spring, 2005.

Turkish (turk)

10101-10102-10103. Elementary Turkish I, II, III. This sequence features proficiency-based instruction emphasizing grammar in modern Turkish. The course consists of reading and listening comprehension, as well as grammar exercises and basic writing in Turkish. Modern stories and contemporary articles are read at the end of the courses. The class meets for five hours a week. H. O?Nzoglu. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20101-20102-20103. Intermediate Turkish I, II, III. PQ: TURK 10103 or equivalent. H. O?Nzoglu. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Ugaritic (ugar)

20101-20102-20103. Ugaritic I, II, III. PQ: Second-year standing and one year of Classical Hebrew. D. Pardee. Autumn, Winter, Spring. Offered 2004-05; not offered 2005-06.

30107. Ugaritic: The Baal Cycle. PQ: One year of Ugaritic. This course is devoted to the reading of specific Ugaritic texts. D. Pardee. Autumn, 2005.

30108. Ugaritic: The Aqht Cycle. PQ: One year of Ugaritic. D. Pardee. Winter, 2006.

30109. Readings in New Ugaritic Texts. PQ: One year of Ugaritic. D. Pardee. Spring, 2006.

Uzbek (uzbk)

10101-10102-10103. Elementary Modern Literary Uzbek I, II, III. This sequence enables students to reach an intermediate level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing modern literary Uzbek, the most widely spoken Turkic language after Turkish. Students learn both the recently implemented Latin script and the older Cyrillic script versions of the written language, and view audio-video materials in Uzbek on a weekly basis. This course meets five days a week. K. Arik. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20101-20102-20103. Intermediate Modern Literary Uzbek I, II, III. PQ: UZBK 10103 or proficiency examination. This sequence enables students to reach an advanced level of proficiency in modern literary Uzbek. The curriculum includes a selection of Uzbek literature and excerpts from the written media, as well as audiovisual materials from Uzbekistan. K. Arik. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

30101-30102-30103. Advanced Modern Literary Uzbek I, II, III. PQ: UZBK 20103 or proficiency examination. This sequence further develops the reading, writing, and speaking proficiency skills of intermediate to advanced students of Uzbek. The curriculum draws on modern Uzbek literature, as well as on written and audio-visual media from Uzbekistan. Second- and third-year classes meet together. K. Arik. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Near Eastern Art and Archaeology (neaa)

20001-20002-20003/30001-30002-30003. Art and Archaeology of the Near East I, II, III. (=ANST 21510-21520-21530) NELC majors must take in sequence. This sequence surveys the art and archaeology of the Near East from prehistoric times into the Islamic periods. Areas covered include Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, Iran, and the Levant (Syria-Palestine). Autumn, Winter, Spring. Offered 2004?|05; not offered 2005?|06.

20030/30030. The Rise of the State in the Near East. This course provides an introduction to the archaeology of the Near East, focusing mainly on the origins of food production and complex societies in the period from 9000 to 2200 B.C. In the first half of the course, we examine the archaeological evidence for the first domestication of plants and animals and the earliest village communities in the Levant, Anatolia, and Mesopotamia. The second half of the course focuses on the economic and social transformations that took place during the development from village-based communities through the emergence of the urbanized state societies in the fourth and third millennia B.C. in Mesopotamia. G. Stein. Spring, 2005.

20035/30035. Zooarchaeology. (=ANTH 28410/38810) PQ: Prior introductory course in archaeology. This course introduces to the use of animal bones in archaeological research. Students gain hands-on experience analyzing faunal remains from an archaeological site in the Near East. The class also addresses some of the major theoretical and methodological issues involved in the use of animal bones as a source of information about prehistoric societies. The course consists of lectures, lab sessions, and original research projects using collections of animal bone from the archaeological excavations at Hac?nebi, Turkey. G. Stein. Spring, 2006.

20051/30051. Method and Theory in Near Eastern Archaeology. (=ANST 21901) This course introduces the main issues in archaeological method and theory with emphasis on the principles and practice of Near Eastern archaeology. Topics covered are (1) the history of archaeology, (2) trends in social theory and corresponding modes of archaeological interpretation, (3) the nature of archaeological evidence and issues of research design, (4) survey and excavation methods and associated recording techniques, (5) the analysis and interpretation of various kinds of excavated materials, and (6) the presentation and publication of archaeological results. Winter, 2005.

20208. The Egyptian Pyramids. (=ANST 24500) Prior knowledge of Egyptology or archaeology not required. Enrollment preference given to first- and second-year students. This course is intended for students with a curiosity about the form, meaning, and interpretation of the Egyptian pyramids, which have long been a site of speculation and fantasy. By considering the history of their exploration and excavation, we also consider modern interpretations and controversies. How were the largest pyramids built, by whom, and for whom? What place have they occupied in Egyptian and Western culture after the age of the pharaohs? Through readings, museum visits, lectures, and films, we attempt to situate these monumental structures within both ancient and modern contexts. S. Harvey. Spring, 2005.

20209. Ancient Egypt: Text, Image, and Artifact. (=ANST 24600) Prior knowledge of hieroglyphs not required. Enrollment preference given to first- and second-year students. This course examines the dynamic interaction between the visual languages of art and writing in ancient Egyptian culture. Through an examination of the basic principles of the Egyptian hieroglyphic writing system, we investigate how ancient artists employed various visual strategies to achieve immortality for their subjects. The course draws upon the collection of the Oriental Institute and other Chicago institutions, and provides students with a broad introduction to the worldview of the ancient Egyptians as reflected in their material culture and texts. S. Harvey. Spring, 2006.

20221-20222-20223/30221-30222-30223. Egyptian Archaeology I, II, III. (=ANST 24101-24102-24103) May be taken in sequence or individually. This sequence provides a thorough survey in lecture format of the art and archaeology of ancient Egypt from the late Pre-dynastic era through the Roman period, ca. 3200 B.C.E. to 395 C.E.

20221/30221. Egyptian Archaeology I. (=ANST 24101) This course covers the archaeology of pharaonic Egypt from its origins in the late Pre-dynastic cultures of Upper and Lower Egypt, through the consolidation of the Egyptian stateca. 3100 B.C.E., the development of complexity during the Old Kingdom, the collapse of centralization during the First Intermediate Period, and the rebirth of Pharaonic traditions in the Middle Kingdom (ending ca. 1650 B.C.E.). S. Harvey. Winter, 2006.

20222/30222. Egyptian Archaeology II. (=ANST 24102) This course examines the art and archaeology of Egypt within the broad international context of the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, equivalent to the Second Intermediate Period and New Kingdom in Egypt. Major topics include the archaeology of the Hyksos (Canaanite) occupiers at Avaris; the rise of Thebes; the city of el-Amarna; urbanism and settlement patterns; Egyptian imperialism; and religious ideology, iconography, and economy. S. Harvey. Winter, 2005.

20223/30223. Egyptian Archaeology III. (=ANST 24103) This course surveys the art and archaeology of the later periods of Pharaonic culture ca. 1065 B.C.E. to 395 C.E., from the Third Intermediate Period through the Roman era. Major sites and topics include the archaeology of Tanis, the Kushite (Nubian) occupation of Dynasty 25, the archaeology of Delta cities, the Greek colony at Naukratis, Greco-Roman Memphis, Late Period Thebes, and ancient Alexandria. Issues of ethnic identity and plurality (as well as of tradition, archaism and innovation) receive particular attention. S. Harvey. Spring, 2005.

20372/30372. Anatolian Archaeology II. This survey course focuses on the archaeological heritage of Turkey (ancient Anatolia) within the context of important technological, territorial and cultural changes taking place in the Assyrian Trading Colonies, Hittite Empire, Urartu, Phrygia, and the Neo-Hittite kingdoms. Site stratigraphy and material culture from Ku?Nltepe, Alalakh, and Bogazko?Ny (Hattusha), Ta'yinat, Van, Gordion, and Carchemish are discussed dating to the first half of the second millennium through the first millennium B.C. A. Yener. Winter, 2005.

20501/30501. Art and Archaeology of the Near East: Islamic Archaeology. (=ANST 21605) This course is intended as a survey of the regions of the Islamic world from Arabia to North Africa, from Central Asia to the Gulf. The aim is a comparative stratigraphy for the archaeological periods of the last millennium. A primary focus is the consideration of the historical archaeology of the Islamic lands, the interaction of history and archaeology, and the study of patterns of cultural interaction over this region, which may also amplify understanding of ancient archaeological periods in the Near East. D. Whitcomb. Autumn, 2004.

20520/30520. Jazirat al-Arab: Archaeology of Islamic Arabia. This course is an exploration of the cultural patterns in Arabia from the pre-Islamic to the pre-modern periods. The subject matter is archaeological sites of this period within the Arabian peninsula (Jazirat al-Arab), with separate consideration of settlement patterns in the Hijaz, Southwest Arabia, and eastern Arabia (Bahrain and Oman). The focus is on the role of archaeology in understanding the beginnings of Islam and the cultural role of Arabia in Islamic history. D. Whitcomb. Winter, 2005.

20521/30521. Egypt after the Pharaohs: Coptic and Islamic Egypt. This course is an exploration of the continuities of Egyptian culture after the Ptolemaic period down to modern times, a span of over 2000 years. The emphasis is on the archaeology of Coptic and Islamic Egypt. The focus is on the role of medieval archaeology in amplifying the history of economic and social systems. It is this connective quality of archaeology that contributes to an understanding of Pharaonic culture and fills the gap between ancient and modern Egypt. D. Whitcomb. Autumn, 2005.

20522/30522. Late Levant: Archaeology of Islamic Syria-Palestine. This course is an exploration of the cultural patterns in the Levant from the late Byzantine period down to modern times, a span of some 1,500 years. While the subject matter is archaeological sites of this period in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel, the focus is on the role of medieval archaeology in amplifying the history of economic and social systems. It is this connective quality of Islamic archaeology that contributes to an understanding of the earlier history and archaeology of this region. D. Whitcomb. Winter, 2006.

20531/30531. Problems in Islamic Archaeology: Islamic Art and Artifacts. PQ: Advanced standing and consent of instructor. This course is intended as an exploration of the differing conceptual frameworks of archaeology and art history bearing on artifacts and monuments of Islamic art. This analysis begins with the numerous new texts on Islamic art, and we examine specific categories of artifacts in typological detail. D. Whitcomb. Spring, 2006.

20532/30532. Problems in Islamic Archaeology: Islamic City. The first part of this course is a series of discussions on archaeological evidence regarding origins and literature in the Islamic city, beginning with Arabia and carrying through to the Ottoman period. The second part is a series of discussions on institutions and organization within Islamic cities with detailed examples from the Islamic world. D. Whitcomb. Spring, 2005.

29700. Reading and Research Course: Near Eastern Art and Archaeology. PQ: Consent of faculty adviser and counselor of undergraduate studies. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Near Eastern History and Civilization (nehc)

10101. Introduction to the Middle East. Prior knowledge of the Middle East not required. This course aims to facilitate a general understanding of some key factors that have shaped life in this region, with primary emphasis on modern conditions and their background, and to provide exposure to some of the region's rich cultural diversity. The course can serve as a basis for the further study of the history, politics, and civilizations of the Middle East. F. Donner. Spring.

20001-20002-20003/30001-30002-30003. History of the Ancient Near East I, II, III. (=ANST 21300-21400-21500) Available as a three-quarter sequence or as a two-quarter sequence (Autumn, Winter; or Winter, Spring). This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies. This sequence surveys the history of the ancient Near East from ca. 3400 B.C. to the death of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.). Areas covered include Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Syria-Palestine, Iran, and Egypt. Autumn, Winter, Spring. Offered 2005-06; not offered 2004-05.

20004. Using Ancient Middle Eastern Pasts. Designed for students with an interest in the Middle East as a geocultural unit of study, this course creates a dialogue between antiquity and medieval, pre-modern, and modern discourses of religious authority, imperialism, nationalism, and political dissent. Antiquity has been used in the defense of both tradition and innovation by Western and Middle Eastern cultures alike; yet for whom do historians, custodians, and other users of the past speak? This class examines the interaction and coexistence of cultures with their pasts, from the rise of Islam, to the formation of medieval identities in both Europe and the Middle East, to the moments of empires and nation-states, to their role in contemporary political questions. S. Richardson. Autumn, 2004.

20005. Nomads and Fellahin in the Ancient Near East. Is a social history, a "history from below," of the Ancient Near East possible? Most ancient texts document only the lives and concerns of a small sphere of e?Llites, who are then the usual subjects of our histories. This course tries to re-set the frame of inquiry around people on the periphery, the other 90 percent of the population. In examining ethnic and social identity, the organization of economic production, and the political order of the state, we develop a clearer picture of the pastoralists, villagers, and tribesmen who maintained (but sometimes radically changed) the apex of the urban social order. S. Richardson. Spring, 2005.

20006. Tablets and Trash: Materials of Ancient Near Eastern History. Assyriologists, Egyptologists, Hittitologists, and other scholars of the Ancient Near East must often deal with a bewildering array of materials to reconstruct the histories they write. From monuments and palaces to 4,000-year-old trash pits, from great literary epics to half-broken tax receipts, ancient history is in practice a synthesis of a broad panoply of texts that were not built or authored to be understood as "historical." This course introduces students to the materials for writing Ancient Near East history, and some of their uses, problems, and pitfalls. Students have hands-on encounters with collections of the Oriental Institute Museum, such as clay cuneiform tablets and other inscribed materials. S. Richardson. Winter, 2006.

20011 through 20085. Perspectives on Near Eastern Civilizations I, II, III. PQ: May be taken in sequence or individually. A two- or three-course sequence taken in one academic year meets the general education requirement in civilization studies. If this sequence is used to meet requirements in the major, all three courses must be taken. The various courses offered in this sequence introduce students to key aspects of the several civilizations of the Near East. Sequences include courses in the Literatures (2001X), the Religions (2003X), and the Peoples and Cultures (2006X) of Ancient and Modern Anatolia, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Syria-Palestine, and Iran.

20065/30065. Ancient Near Eastern Peoples and Cultures: Women in Ancient Egypt. (=GNDR 20065) A woman in ancient Egypt has been described as "a person with all the implications of that term: holder of (legal) rights, possessor of property, object of respect, able to have influence over her own affairs, but remaining feminine." This class looks at Egyptian literary and documentary texts in translation, at statuary and two-dimensional artistic representations, and at archaeological materials, from small objects through site plans to study the social, economic, and legal status of women in ancient Egypt, as well as their public and private roles. J. Johnson. Autumn, 2004.

20066/30066. Ancient Near East Peoples and Cultures: Women in Mesopotamia. (=GNDR 20066) M. Roth. Spring, 2005.

20069/30069. Ancient Near East Peoples and Cultures: Women in the Modern Middle East. (=GNDR 20069) H. Shissler. Winter, 2005.

20211/30211. Ugarit: Late Bronze Metropolis. (=ANST 28400) The site of Ras Shamra on the north coast of Syria has been under excavation since 1929. It has revealed a Late Bronze city named Ugarit that was destroyed in ca. 1185 B.C. Among the discoveries have been thousands of tablets that reveal much about everyday life and about the religious practices and beliefs of the time. The purpose of the course is to illustrate life in the Late Bronze Age Levant by studying the artifacts from this city. Most of the course is devoted to reading and discussing the texts from the site and to comparing them with those from similar cultures, in particular the Hebrew Bible. D. Pardee. Spring, 2005.

20411-20412-20413/30411-30412-30413. Medieval Jewish History I, II, III. (=HUMA 23000-23100-23200, JWSC 23000-23100-23200, JWSG 38100-38200-38300) PQ: Consent of instructor. This sequence does not meet the general education requirement in civilization studies. This three-quarter sequence deals with the history of the Jews over a wide geographical and historical range. First-quarter work is concerned with the rise of early rabbinic Judaism and development of the Jewish communities in Palestine and the Eastern and Western diasporas during the first several centuries C.E. Topics include the legal status of the Jews in the Roman world, the rise of rabbinic Judaism, the rabbinic literature of Palestine in that context, the spread of rabbinic Judaism, the rise and decline of competing centers of Jewish hegemony, the introduction of Hebrew language and culture beyond the confines of their original home, and the impact of the birth of Islam on the political and cultural status of the Jews. An attempt is made to evaluate the main characteristics of Jewish belief and social concepts in the formative periods of Judaism as it developed beyond its original geographical boundaries. Second-quarter work is concerned with the Jews under Islam, both in Eastern and Western Caliphates. Third-quarter work is concerned with the Jews of Western Europe from the eleventh through the fifteenth centuries. N. Golb. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

20458. Zionism and Its Critics. (=JWSC 27900) Knowledge of Hebrew not required. This course discusses the historical background of the emergence of Zionism, its various trends at the turn of the nineteenth century, and the main (Jewish) oppositions and objections to Zionism. We also focus on the present debates in Israel concerning the relevance of Zionism for the present and the future, the way to describe its history and its impact on the resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. M. Brinker. Winter, 2005.

20539/30539. The Renaissance East and West. (=HIST 23100/33100) PQ: Advanced standing. This course examines the Renaissance (ca. 1400 to 1600) as a global rather than purely Western European phenomenon. We emphasize comparison and interaction between Christendom and Islamdom. C. Fleischer. Winter, 2006.

20855. History of the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic since 1750. This course examines the last period of the Ottoman Empire, and the creation and development of the Turkish Republic. Attention is paid to topics such as efforts at bureaucratic, economic, and educational reform; international diplomacy; nationalist movements; and the formation of democratic institutions. The course also examines questions of continuity and change from the imperial to the republican periods. H. Shissler. Winter, 2006.

20601-20602/30601-30602. Introduction to Islamic Civilization I, II. (=SOSC 22000-22100) PQ: Completion of the general education requirement in social sciences. This sequence meets the general education requirement in civilization studies. This two-quarter sequence surveys the social, religious, and cultural institutions of the Islamic world, from Spain to India. We cover the period from the rise of Islam to early modern times. Texts in English.

20601/30601. Introduction to Islamic Civilization I. (=SOSC 22000) The first quarter (roughly 600 to 1100) concentrates on the career of the Prophet Muhammad; Qur'an and Hadith; the Caliphate; the development of Islamic legal, theological, philosophical, and mystical discourses; sectarian movements; and Arabic literature. W. Kadi. Autumn.

20602/30602. Introduction to Islamic Civilization II. (=SOSC 22100) The second quarter (roughly 1100 to 1800) surveys Islamic political, social, and cultural development in the eras of the Crusades, the Mongol invasions, and the "gunpowder empires" of the Ottomans, the Safavids, and the Mughals, as represented in works of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish literature (in translation) and the art and architecture of selected regions. R. Dankoff, J. Perry. Winter.

20621-20622-20623/30621-30622-30623. History of the Islamic Middle East: 600 to the Present. (=HIST 25700-25800-25900/35700-35800-35900) May be taken in sequence or individually. This sequence does not meet the general education requirement in civilization studies. This sequence surveys the main trends in the political history of the Middle East (Near East), including North Africa, with some attention to economic, social, and intellectual history.

20621/30621. History of the Islamic Middle East I: The Rise of Islam and the Caliphate. (=HIST 25700/35700) This course covers the period ca. 600 to 1100 C.E., including the rise and spread of Islam, the Islamic empire under the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphs, and the emergence of regional Islamic states from Afghanistan and eastern Iran to North Africa and Spain. F. Donner. Autumn.

20622/30622. History of the Islamic Middle East II: 1200 to 1700. (=HIST 25800/35800) This course surveys the main trends in the political history of the Middle (Near) East (e.g., North Africa, Central Asia, North India) with some attention to currents in economic, social, and cultural history. We cover the "middle periods," ca. 1000 to 1750 C.E., including the arrival of the Steppe Peoples (Turks and Mongols), the Mongol successor states, and the Mamluks of Egypt and Syria. We also study the foundation of the great Islamic regional empires of the Ottomans, Safavids, and Moghuls. J. Woods. Winter.

20623/30623. History of the Islamic Middle East III: The Modern Middle East. (=HIST 25900/35900) This course covers the period ca. 1750 to the present, including Western military, economic, and ideological encroachment, the impact of such ideas as nationalism and liberalism, efforts at reform in the Islamic states, the emergence of the "modern" Middle East after World War I, the struggle for liberation from Western colonial and imperial control, the Middle Eastern states in the cold war era, and local and regional conflicts. H. Shissler. Spring.

20632. Legend and Folktale in Islamic Literature. (=CMLT 27500) The Islamic ecumene extended from Spain to India and flourished for a millennium. Its scripture and literary classics abound in motifs borrowed from ancient India, Iran, Mesopotamia, and Greece; together with its own hero tales, romantic comedies, and subversive social parables, it has influenced Western literature, ethics, and humor from Chaucer to Monty Python. The course examines the sources and analogs, sociopsychological underpinnings, and historical trajectories of Islamic folk literature through readings such as the Qur'an, Rumi's Mathnavi, the Arabian Nights, and modern folktales. Texts in English. J. Perry. Autumn, 2005.

20636/30636. Survey of Classical Arabic Literature. Knowledge of Arabic helpful but not required. Spanning seven centuries and three continents, classical Arabic literature developed in diverse artistic directions. Poetic genres such as brigand poetry, love lyrics, court panegyrics, satires, and mystical poetry, as well as prose genres such as scripture, orations, epistles, fables, mirrors for princes, and popular tales, all developed their own, fascinating features. Students read the texts to explore the culture and thought of the medieval Arabic-speaking world. Texts in English. T. Qutbuddin. Spring, 2006.

20638/30638. Arabic Wisdom Literature. During the sixth through the twelfth centuries across large areas of Asia, Africa, and Europe, the medieval Arabs were responsible for a veritable renaissance in the arts. They drew upon Greek, Persian, Indian, pagan, and Islamic sources and produced a myriad of literary expressions of religious and secular wisdom (e.g., the Qur'an, pious sermons, ascetic poetry, animal fables, mirrors for princes, gnomic sayings, Sufi writings, philosophical allegories). Students read the texts to explore the wisdom culture of the medieval Arabic-speaking world. Texts in English. T. Qutbuddin. Spring, 2005.

20686/30686. Word and Image in Islamic Literature and Art. Some familiarity with Arabic script helpful but not required. This course explores the interrelation of texts and images in Islam. We study such literary works as Kalila and Dimna, The Maqamat, The Shahnama, and Layla and Majnun, and examine their illustration cycles in their historical and cultural contexts. We also study the art of the book in the Muslim world, especially in its great age of illustrated manuscripts from the thirteenth through the seventeenth centuries. Other topics include Arabic calligraphy; the privileged status of the Qur'an; the illustration of historical, scientific, and religious texts; patronage and consumption of illustrated books; and word and image on coins, pottery, metalwork, and architecture. Texts in English. R. Dankoff. Autumn, 2004.

20761/30761. Introduction to the Peoples of Central Asia. (=HIST 25603/35603, SLAV 20300/30300) This survey course provides an introduction to the linguistic, cultural, and historical backgrounds of the peoples of Central Eurasia. The period covered is approximately 400 B.C. to 1200 A.D., and the methodology draws upon historical anthropology. Film presentations and lectures by guest scholars are featured. K. Arik. Winter, 2005.

20762/30762. Contemporary Central Asia. (=HIST 25600/35600, SLAV 20400/30400) This survey course follows NEHC 20761, and is arranged in a similar format, but does not require the former as a prerequisite. The period covered is approximately 1700 A.D. to present, with an emphasis on the genesis of the modern nations of Central Eurasia, including the post-Soviet republics, and adjacent areas in the periphery of Central Eurasia. K. Arik. Winter, 2006.

20765/30765. Introduction to the Musical Folklore of Central Asia. (=ANTH 25905, EEUR 23400/33400, MUSI 23503/33503) This course explores the musical traditions of the peoples of Central Asia, both in terms of historical development and cultural significance. Topics covered include the music of the epic tradition, the use of music for healing, instrumental genres, and Central Asian folk and classical traditions. Basic field methods for ethnomusicology are also covered. Extensive use is made of recordings of musical performances, and of live performances in the area. K. Arik. Spring, 2005.

20766/30766. Shamans and Epic Poets of Central Asia. (=ANTH 25906, EEUR 23500/33500) This course follows NEHC 20765 and explores the rituals, oral literature, and music associated with the nomadic cultures of Central Eurasia. K. Arik. Spring, 2006.

20925. Hebrew Poetry in the Twentieth Century. (=JWSC 27800) Advanced knowledge of Hebrew strongly recommended. M. Brinker. Winter, 2005.

29500/39500. Contemporary Armenia. This survey course is designed to depict a true picture of the social life and lifestyle, surviving culture (i.e., art, architecture, literature, music, myth, popular beliefs, religion), and traditions and customs (i.e., festivals and feasts, childbirth and wedding rituals, funerary cult) of contemporary Armenia. It also discusses transformations of Armenian identity and symbols of "Armenianness" in the modern times, especially in post-Soviet era, based on such elements of national identity, as language, religion, or shared history. H. Haroutunian. Winter, 2005.

29700. Reading and Research Course. PQ: Consent of faculty adviser and counselor for undergraduate studies. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

29800. B.A. Paper Seminar. PQ: Consent of instructor and counselor for undergraduate studies. Required of fourth-year NELC majors. This is a workshop course designed to survey the fields represented by NELC and to assist students in researching and writing their B.A. paper. M. Roth. Autumn.

29999. B.A. Paper Preparation. PQ: Consent of instructor and counselor for undergraduate studies. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. In consultation with a faculty research adviser, and with the permission of the counselor for undergraduate studies, students devote the equivalent of a one-quarter course to the preparation of the B.A. paper. Winter.

30643. Topics in Medieval Islamic Social History. PQ: NEHC 20601-20602 or 20621, and consent of instructor. This course familiarizes students with some key parameters of social life in the Middle East from the rise of Islam (seventh century) until about 1500. Covered are patterns of social organization (e.g., "tribes," classes); social status, clientage, slavery; the role of pastoral nomads; non-Muslim communities in Islamic society; conversion; historical demography; technology and social change; gender roles in Islamic society; and Islamic urbanism. F. Donner. Winter, 2005.

30820. The Ottoman Empire and the Coming of Nationalism I. PQ: Advanced standing and consent of instructor. This course examines the development of national movements in the Ottoman Empire with special focus on nationalism among the Empire's Christian populations and the Muslim/Turkish responses to it. H. Shissler. Autumn, 2004.

Near Eastern Languages (nelg)

20302/30302. Writing Systems and Decipherment. C. Woods. Spring, 2006.

29700. Reading and Research Course: Near Eastern Languages. PQ: Consent of faculty adviser and counselor of undergraduate studies. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. Autumn, Winter, Spring.