(in Polish) obligatory course II: Selected problems of Ancient Egyptian Culture

obligatory courses

Blended learning

The classes concerning selected important problems of the culture of ancient Egypt, including the dynastic, Ptolemaic and Roman periods.

The classes will contain an overview of history and culture of Egypt of the pharaohs and after the pharaohs, including chiefly the Ptolemaic and Roman period. Each meeting will be dedicated to an aspect of ancient Egypt.

The formula of "conversatorium" requires an active participation of students who will orally present chosen topics and discuss matters proposed by the professor.

After an introductory presentation of the geography, environment, and the history of pharaonic Egypt, the discussion will concentrate on the period of the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great (332/331 BC), the foundation of the city of Alexandria and the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty (323-30 BC). The Roman presence in Egypt and the conquest of the country on the Nile will follow. The reign of Cleopatra VII, the "Alexandrian war" of Julius Caesar, the activities of Mark Antony and the invasion of Octavian in 30 BC will be discussed. Our special attention will be concentrated on a selection of important aspects of the history and culture of Egypt under Roman rule. Egyptian society, culture and religion and the role of Alexandria will be a subject of particular importance.

Visits of the Romans and other foreigners to Egypt including the imperial visits and their consequences will be illustrated with a description of main events and the most important places visited, including the Valley of the Kings.

A detailed suggestion of publications to be read will be given during the classes.

Introductory general reading:

J. Baines, J. Malek, Atlas of Ancient Egypt, Oxford 1984

B.J. Kemp, Ancient Egypt. Anatomy of a Civilization, New York 1991

P. T Nicholson, I. Shaw (eds.), Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technology, Cambridge-New York 2000

A.K. Bowman, Egypt after the Pharaohs, London 1986, ch. 2 i 3

N. Lewis, Life in Egypt under Roman Rule, Oxford 1983,ch. 2, 3 i 5

R.S. Bagnall, D. Rathbone, Egypt from the Pharaohs to the Copts, London 2004

Students acquire an amount of knowledge on important aspects of history of ancient Egypt, on Egypt's geography and on the history of travels to Egypt, and on the archaeological research in Egypt. (K_U06) (K_U02).

The knowledge of essential terminology (K_W02) and the correct use of publications to improve and extend the own knowledge are a part of the results (K_W13).

The ability of preparing oral statements on the problems of ancient Egyptian culture is an important part of the educational value of the course (K_U12). That refers also to the contacts with specialists. (K_U08). The same concerns preparing written summary of the basic knowledge on these matters (K_U11).

The acquired knowledge includes the student's ability of an independent further study (K_K13) and gives him a possibility of an own approach to multiple aspects of ancient Egypt. (K_U01) (K_U04).

A written test at the end of the classes will confirm the basic knowledge acquired and show the student's approach to some essential problems of ancient Egyptian culture.