OVERVIEW

New developments on the preservation of the archaeological and artistic heritage in the Near East, with a special focus on Iraq and Syria. Archaeology, art history and languages of the ancient Near East, with a special emphasis on Mesopotamia. The module is accessible to everybody. Owing to peculiarity of the subject, the relevance of images, films and 3D object projection  the module attendance is strongly recommended.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

To stimulate students to gain a better understanding on the dynamics of preservation and development of the artistic and archaeological heritage in the ancient Near East; to achieve a fundamental knowledge of the most important Near Eastern collections from the top museums in the world. To outline the main features of the historic, archaeological and linguistic development of the most relevant civilisations from the ancient Near East, with a special focus on Mesopotamia.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

To stimulate students to gain a better understanding on the dynamics of preservation and development of the artistic and archaeological heritage in the ancient Near East; to achieve a fundamental knowledge of the most important Near Eastern collections from the top museums in the world. To outline the main features of the historic, archaeological and linguistic development of the most relevant civilisations from the ancient Near East, with a special focus on Mesopotamia.

At the end of module, students must have achieved the following learning results: to focus and comprehend the dynamics of cultural heritage preservation in the Near East, the reasons and typology of destructions; to know the main museum collection of Near Eastern antiquities worldwide, as well as the main guidelines of historical, artistic and linguistic development of Mesopotamian civilization from Prehistory to the great empire of the I millennium BC.  

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lectures supported by Powerpoint presentations, videos and 3D reproductions of architecture, artefacts and works of art. The didactic material will be published on a weekly base on the Aulaweb platform.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Issues of destruction and recostruction of Near Eastern cultural heritage in the aftermath of wars and Islamic terrorism. From Mosul to Nineveh and Nimrud, from Palmyra to Aleppo and Ebla: recent developments on the preservation of the archaeological and artistic heritage in the Near East, with a special focus on Iraq and Syria: I) (pre-Iconoclasm) looting and destructions caused by armed conflicts, II) (Iconoclasm) ethnic and cultural cleansing, and the intentional destruction of monuments and art by radical Islamic groups. Recent methodologies of intervention, heritage protection and restoration of monuments and sites affected by armed conflict in Mosul and Aleppo.
Archaeology, art history and languages (Sumerian and Akkadian) of the ancient Near East, with a special emphasis on Mesopotamia from the agricultural revolution to the Assyrian and Babylonian empires in the Second and First Millennium BC.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Program for attending students:

As a complement to the lectures’ notes and images:

1. A. Invernizzi, "Dal Tigri all'Eufrate - Volume I, Sumeri e Accadi". Le Lettere, Firenze,1992/2007: only images and topics dealt with in lectures;
   2. A. Invernizzi, "Dal Tigri all'Eufrate - volume II, Babilonesi e Assiri", Le Lettere, Firenze,1992/2007: only images and topics dealt with in lectures;
   3. Paolo Brusasco, "La Mesopotamia prima dell'Islam", Bruno Mondadori, 2008.

Further readings:

 Two chapters of one of the following books:

- Paolo Brusasco, "Dentro la devastazione. L'ISIS contro l'arte di Siria e Iraq". La Nave di Teseo 2018.
-Paolo Brusasco, “Tesori rubati. Il saccheggio del patrimonio artistico nel Medio Oriente”, Bruno Mondadori 2013.
- Paolo Brusasco, “Babilonia. All'origine del mito”. Cortina, Milano, 2012.
-Paolo Brusasco, "Looting the past. Syria's cultural heritage under attack: another Iraq?", Libreria Universitaria 2012: only Section 1.

-Mario Liverani, “Assiria. La preistoria dell’imperialismo”. Laterza, Bari, 2017.

- Mario Liverani, “Paradiso e dintorni, Il paesaggio rurale dell'antico Oriente”. Laterza 2018.

Optional readings:

Akkadian language

Students  interested in the Semitic languages of the ancient  Near East can plan with the lecturer the reading of Richard Caplice, “Introduction to Akkadian”, Rome, Biblical Institute Press, 1988.

Overseas students can agree with the lecturer a bibliography in English or in another language.

Program for non-attending students:
A. Invernizzi, "Dal Tigri all'Eufrate - Volume I, Sumeri e Accadi". Le Lettere, Firenze, 1992/2007: the whole volume;
2. A. Invernizzi, "Dal Tigri all'Eufrate - volume II, Babilonesi e Assiri", Le Lettere, Firenze, 1992/2007: the whole volume;
3. Paolo Brusasco, "La Mesopotamia prima dell'Islam", Bruno Mondadori (2008).

Further readings:
Three chapters of one of the following books:

- Paolo Brusasco, "Dentro la devastazione. L'ISIS contro l'arte di Siria e Iraq". La Nave di Teseo 2018.
-Paolo Brusasco, “Tesori rubati. Il saccheggio del patrimonio artistico nel Medio Oriente”, Bruno Mondadori 2013.
- Paolo Brusasco, “Babilonia. All'origine del mito”. Cortina, Milano, 2012.
-Paolo Brusasco, "Looting the past. Syria's cultural heritage under attack: another Iraq?", Libreria Universitaria 2012: only Section 1.

-Mario Liverani, “Assiria. La preistoria dell’imperialismo”. Laterza, Bari, 2017.

- Mario Liverani, “Paradiso e dintorni, Il paesaggio rurale dell'antico Oriente”. Laterza 2018.

Optional readings:

Akkadian language

Students  interested in the Semitic languages of the ancient  Near East can plan with the lecturer the reading of Richard Caplice, “Introduction to Akkadian”, Rome, Biblical Institute Press, 1988.

Overseas students can agree with the lecturer a bibliography in English or in another language.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PAOLO BRUSASCO (President)

CHIARA BENATI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Wednesday, October 2, 2019, between 11.00 am and 13.00 pm.

Class schedule

ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EST

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral assessment on the syllabus contents. Candidates will be asked at least one question for each of the topics dealt with in the module, with a special focus on cultural heritage preservation, museum collection of Near Eastern antiquities worldwide, as well as the  development of the archaeology, history,  art history and lanhuages of ancient Mesopotamia.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The achievement of the learning objectivs and targets through oral examination allow to verify the understanding skill level of the dynamics of cultural heritage preservation in the Near East, the reasons and typologies of destruction; the knowledge of the main museum collection of Near Eastern antiquities worldwide, as well as the guidelines of archaeological, historic, artistic and linguistic development  of Mesopotamian civilizations from Prehistory to the great empires of I millennium BC. To this end, the following parameters will be examined: language skills, familiarity with specialistic lexicon, capacity of critical reasoning about the historic, artistic and linguistic developments of the cultures studied in the module.     

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Owing to the special features of the discipline, the relevance of images, videos and 3d reproductions of objects, attendance is highly recommended