The Eastern Mediterranean in the 12th century BC

Pre-requisites: None

Course objectives: To look at the advantages and disadvantages of using the comparative method Knowledge of the characteristics of the comparative method in studying ancient Eastern civilizations and the greek world.

Course description: The complexity of the changes that occurred in the territories of the eastern Mediterranean in the 12th century ('Doric migration', 'Migration of the people at Sea', destruction of the great kingdoms – Egypt's new kingdom and Hittite country, new people groups from the Levant – Philistines, Hebrews, Aramaeans) lent it the title of the „dark age of the ancient world“. Using the comparative method(analyzing writings, materials and epigraphs) we will unveil the complexity of the geo-political changes in the Ancient East at the end of the II millenium before the common era.

Learning Outcomes: Familiarity with using the comparative method to study ancient Eastern and Greek civilizations.

Literature/Reading:

• D. Redford, Egypt, Canaan and Israel in Ancient Times, Princeton 1992
• J. Sasson, Civilization of the Ancient Near East, New York 1995
• S. Gitin, (eds.), Mediterranean Peoples in Transition, Jerusalem 1998
• E.Oren, The Sea Peoples and their World, Philadelphia 2000
• W. A. Ward, M. S. Joukowsky, The Crisis Years: The 12th Century BC- From Beyond the Danube to the Tigris, Dubuque, Iowa 1992