Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World | Spring Semester 2010 | TTh 1:00-2:20pm | CIT Room 165
Instructor: Laurel Bestock | Office Hours: Thursday 3-5pm, Rhode Island Hall 209
Teaching Assistant: Carrie Swan | Office Hours: Tuesday 3-5pm, Rhode Island Hall 016
Course Description
This class will provide a survey of the Egyptian military from ca. 3000 B.C. through the decline of the Egyptian empire, ca. 1000 B.C. When and why did the ancient Egyptians engage in war? Who was fighting, and whom were they fighting? What weapons did they use and what were their military strategies? What were the political situations that caused them to go to war? How did warfare and soldiery impact Egyptian society? What were the ideological and religious implications of warfare? In studying Egyptian history and society through the pervasive motif of war, we will gain an understanding of the forces that shaped Egyptian culture, and how Egypt responded to these forces over its lengthy history.
The study of ancient warfare requires the utilization of several different types of evidence, and questioning these types of evidence will be a key goal of this class. In particular, written records, artistic records, burials of soldiers, and battlefield archaeology often present pictures that are notably at odds. By asking how each type of record was created and, in the case of written and artistic evidence, why and for whom it was created, we will come to a better understanding of not only what happened but also how it was used and manipulated by the ancient Egyptians. Because many of these issues are of general concern to archaeologists approaching the topic of war, we will look at the anthropology of ancient war simultaneously with our focus on Egypt. In addition to learning to critically evaluate different types of sources, students in this class will hone their discussion skills and their research and writing skills. The research component of the class will conclude in a large-scale reconstruction of the 13th century BC battle of Kadesh fought between the Egyptians and the Hittites, staged on the Main Green.
Syllabus
(Please refer to the Readings and Committees pages for updated information about due dates/readings!)
ARCH 1630 - Egyptian Warfare syllabus.doc
Changes in schedule due to battle needs:
Apr. 6 in class: Late 18th Dynasty warfare and diplomacy, including Amarna Period
midnight (technically 12am on April 7th): second personal update due, e-mailed to me and Carrie
Apr. 8 in class: we will meet on the quiet green. Each committee will give a 5-8 minute presentation of what the scope of their work is, what they have done so far, and with what other committees they need to coordinate. We will then start walking the ground, with relevant committees telling us a) what order things will happen and b) where things will happen. We’ll be figuring this out as we go.
Apr. 13 in class: Ramesside warfare pre- and post-Kadesh
midnight: third personal update due, e-mailed
Apr. 15 in class: meet on the quiet green (volunteers invited?) to actually walk through the battle, discuss what else needs to be done
Apr. 20 BATTLE DAY
Apr. 22 in class: wrap up Ramesside warfare; discuss the battle and what we’ve learned, what should change for future classes undertaking the same project
Apr. 27 in class: post-New Kingdom warfare and course wrap
Apr. 29 in class: 2nd exam
May 4 midnight: last personal update due
Readings
(Password protected: click on the link at the top left of this webpage labeled "Readings")
Forum/Class Discussions
- What is war?
- Chronology and enemies
- What is culture?
- Archaeological studies of war and violence
- Pre-dynastic and Old Kingdom warfare
- First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom warfare
- Exam review
- Second Intermediate Period warfare
- New Kingdom warfare
- Post-Kadesh warfare
- Second exam review
Reconstructing the Battle of Kadesh
- Starter Bibliographies
- Committees
- Building an Egyptian Chariot
- GENERAL BATTLE PAGE
- Media coverage of the event!
