Ancient EGYPT - HST 597 

Contact information:

Office: Strong 416, phone 836-5024; Office hours: 11:00-12:00, 2:00-3:30 Tuesday/Thursday and by appointment. Appointments may be made in advance during office hours by calling Ms. von der Heide at (417) 836-5537 on working days between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. I can be reached through E-mail at mac566f@smsu.edu.

Required text: (available at the bookstore)

Book policy:

Textbooks are available from the bookstore. Students may purchase either of these books through Amazon.com by clicking the linked title of the book. When you buy books through these links, Amazon.com offers a discount, will not charge sales tax, but there is a shipping fee.

Prerequisite:

HST 101 or permission of instructor. This course fulfills part of the Ancient and European history requirement of the BA and BSEd History majors. It also fulfills part of the Ancient Near Eastern Studies requirement of the Antiquities major.

Content:

This class will explore the world of ancient Egypt from its origins through the decline of its empire.  It will emphasize the unique character of Egyptian civilization through its political and social history, as well as its achievements in literature and the arts.

The study of ancient civilization offers students a perspective from which to judge contemporary society; in that sense, the study of ancient Egypt is a valuable part of the education of citizens of free societies. 

Research paper:  

Each graduate student will write a research paper on a topic chosen in conjunction with the instructor.  Most students will find topics that appeal to their own interests.  However, the paper is a medium through which students engage a foreign culture.  This means that students should be working with primary sources---artifacts and ancient writings---rather than just modern books about the ancient world.  I will provide a topic for those students who cannot conjure up one on their own.  Papers should concern some aspect of the course, and attempt to collect and order the appropriate evidence (textual and archaeological) into an argument that comes to some conclusion.  These papers should be 2500 to 5000 words long including endnotes and bibliography (10 to 20 pages, typed, double-spaced).  I will grade papers on both style (20%) and content (80%). A one-paragraph description of your topic, a formal bibliography, and the paper, itself, are due according to the dates in the calendar.  

Book Reviews: 

Each undergraduate will submit 3 book reviews for grades. Book reviews should be between 1000 and 1500 words long. They should include a summary of the book, a section on the reception of the book by discussing three to five professional book reviews in journal articles, a discussion of some particularly interesting aspect of the book, and your own assessment. They should be typed, double-spaced, and carefully proofread. I will grade reviews on both style and content. They are due on the dates noted in the calendar. Suitable books may be found in Aldred's bibliography, or in the class bibliography. See Annual Egyptian Bibliography website for help in finding reviews. The instructor owns a copy of the 1822-1997 CD.

Examinations:

All students will take three (3) written examinations.  All examinations must be written in ink on bluebooks that are available from the bookstore.  There will be a comprehensive final exam.

Grades:

Each exam will be worth 15% of the final grade.  The final exam will be worth 30% of the final grade. The research paper will be worth 30% of the final grade for graduate students; each book review will be worth 10% of the final grade for undergraduates. Class participation will be worth 10% of the final grade.