Ancient Empires

Ancient Empires

NELC S1190 (CRN: 30118)

Instructors: Kevin van Bladel
Dates: Session B, June 29 - July 31, 2026
Course Mode: In-Person
Meeting Times: TTh 9.00-12.15
Distributional Requirements: Humanities
Eligibility: Open to pre-college and college students

In-person Course. Introduction to the history and cultures of the ancient empires of the Near East (Middle East), focusing on the period from the Assyrian and Persian Empires to the establishment of Islam (ca 900 BCE–ca 750 CE). Use of ancient primary sources critically to create a historical narrative and to understand the modern appropriation of ancient history for political and other purposes. An introduction to the geography of southwestern Asia and a survey of languages, Iranian and other religions, and some ancient literature from a variety of cultures. Events covered in this course contributed decisively to the demography of the present-day Near East and the social characteristics of its people, from the distribution of language communities to the variety of Near Eastern religions. 1 Credit. Session B: June 29 – July 31. Tuition: $5480.

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