The Ancient Middle East: Society and Cultures
Code
722051260
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
História
Credits
10
Weekly hours
3 letivas + 1 tutorial
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) Be able to apply the knowledge acquired in the 1st cycle and produce, from its reflection, a personal analysis on topics
related to the history of the ancient Middle East.
b) Know the specialized literature and demonstrate a critical view on the same.
c) Understand the uniqueness and diversity of the ancient Middle East, synchronic and diachronic plans in order to be able
to produce both global and partial visions.
d) Understand the importance of the ancient Middle East as a source of matrix and some of the structural aspects of
Western civilization.
e) Be able to interpret, review, integrate and analyze historical sources, leading to a unique and personal approach on them.
f) Acquire skills that enable a further in-depth studies on the history of the Ancient Middle East.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
- The construction of a political and military hegemony
The case of Babylon in the sixth century. XVIII B.C.
The case of Assyria in the century. VII B.C.
- The concept and perception of otherness in relation to other states
The vision of the \"other\" in the political and diplomatic relations
The legitimation of dominance over the \"other\"
Alliances and treaties with other states
The vision of the \"other\" in the prophetic literature
- The real ideology: a conception of power and an ideal of order
The background Sumerians
The period of Hammurabi
The period neo-Assyrian
Reflections in prophetic literature
Bibliography
- CARAMELO, Francisco, A linguagem profética na Mesopotâmia (Mari e Assíria), Cascais, Patrimonia, 2002.
- POLLOCK, Susan, Ancient Mesopotamia, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1999.
- LÓPEZ, Jesús e SANMARTÍN, Joaquín, Mitología y Religión del Oriente Antiguo I Egipto - Mesopotamia, Sabadell, Editorial Ausa, 1993.
- POSTGATE, J.N., Early Mesopotamia. Society and economy at the dawn of history, London - New York, Routledge, 1992.
- MARGUERON, Jean-Claude, Les Mesopotamiens, Paris, Armand Colin, 1991.
Teaching method
Sessions theoretical nature.
Practical sessions:
Exercise review of documents.
Presentation and discussion of papers.
Activities aimed at teaching - assistance to conferences.
Evaluation method
- A written work: 60%;
- Oral presentation of written work: 20%;
- Critical commentary of a book in class: 20%;