Admission requirements
Knowledge of Aramaic is recommended but not obligatory.
Description
This course investigates the history of Western exploration of the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in particular the lands connected with the Bible. The course will range broadly from early encounters in the Hellenistic period all the way to the 21st century. The perspective of the course itself will also be a matter of investigation and the Western Gaze on the Middle East is not taken as unmarked or for granted.
Course objectives
Knowledge and Insight
understanding European and Western interactions with the Levant
Understanding the complexities and pitfalls of that interaction, especially in the age of colonialism
Understanding of the history and effects of Orientalism and related phenomena
Skills
Students will gain the ability to
Place interactions between the Western scholarship and cultural artefacts and the Levant into their historical and political contexts
Analyse the complex interaction of Middle Eastern and European societies
Reflect critically and with self-reflection on such interaction
-Analysing the growth and continuing interactions between Middle Eastern and Western scholarly and cultural organisations
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment
Participation in and preparation for seminar meetings (20%)
Oral Presentation (20%) (on the same research topic as the paper)
5.000 word paper (60%)
The requirements for MA and ResMA students are differentiated: Research MA students will be expected to read additional secondary literature and to choose a paper topic that requires more original research than one-year MA students.
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
In case of an insufficient for the paper, the student will have the opportunity to review the paper but in case of an insufficient for the oral presentation the insufficient will remain. In case of an insufficient for the participation/preparation, the weighing of the paper will be 80% and the weighing of the oral presentation will remain 20%, with extra literature to be studied and processed.
Inspection and feedback
Students will receive individual feedback on their presentation and paper.
Reading list
Granerød, G. 2016. Dimensions of Jahwism in the Persian Period. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter.
Kuhrt, A. 2007. The Persian Empire. A Corpus of Sources from the Achaemenid Period. London: Routledge.
The rest of the reading list will be posted on Brightspace at the start of the semester.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration Exchange
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal