RISE AND FALL OF CIVILISATIONS
ARC2RFC
Not currently offered
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
Ancient societies have gone through cycles of development and decline in terms of the level of social complexity. In this subject students are introduced to theoretical and practical approaches in archaeology relating to understanding of social-political change. Discussion topics include the emergence of social inequality, acquisition and maintenance of power by elites, function of ritual and ideology in relation to social transformation, and variability of political economy associated with the development of social complexity. Special attention is placed on the current debate about cultural evolution - how and why civilisations emerged, progressed, and collapsed in different parts of the world
School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Steven Falconer
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: 15 credit points of Archaeology subjects or Coordinator's approval
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: ARC3RFC
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: N/A
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Ability to present an argument based on archeological data about the nature of social complexity
- Activities:
- Medium length essay with a bibliography, Seminar presentation on current theoretical debates in archaeology, 10-12 powerpoint slides, 10 minute duration
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
- Writing(Writing)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
02. Building strong communication and effective interaction between individuals while assessing various archaeological data sets
- Activities:
- Work in seminar groups to focus on one civilisation as a case study to explore practical applications of the archaeological theories presented each week
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Speaking(Speaking)
- Teamwork(Teamwork)
03. Develop a knowledge of the forms of social complexity that is based on an understanding of diversity and historical origins rather than value judgements
- Activities:
- Exposure through lectures, discussions and debates in class
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Ethical & Cultural Awareness(Ethical & Cultural Awareness)
- Life-Long Learning(Life-Long Learning)
- Speaking(Speaking)
04. Identify the kinds of archaeological evidence associated with different aspects of social complexity using case studies of ancient civilisations from around the world
- Activities:
- Exposure through lectures, discussions and debates in class; seminar presentation and major essay
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Speaking(Speaking)
- Life-Long Learning(Life-Long Learning)
- Writing(Writing)
05. Understand the constraints that archaeological data places on understanding state formation and collapse
- Activities:
- Consideration of case studies of civilisations around the world and the nature of the archaeological evidence about available, and the different theoretical explanations offered for change, through seminar discussion, assignments and the major essay
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Ethical & Cultural Awareness(Ethical & Cultural Awareness)
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Speaking(Speaking)
- Writing(Writing)