(in Polish) Clay/stylus/seal/cord: a practical exploration of reading and writing practices in the Aegean Bronze Age

Language of the course: English

When we talk about writing during the Aegean Bronze Age, what usually comes to mind are the Linear B tablets - but Linear B was not the only writing system used during this period, nor is it necessarily the most interesting.

During this course, we will examine the evidence for Aegean Bronze Age writing practices - the three main scripts (Cretan Hieroglyphic, Linear A and Linear B), the written documents, how and where they are used - to set them into their social, political and economic context.

A key component will be hands-on experimental work, in which students will explore how to make and incise the different kinds of documents in use throughout this period

When we talk about writing during the Aegean Bronze Age, what usually comes to mind are the Linear B tablets - not unreasonably, because they are hugely significant. They are the earliest example of writing in a European language, and they give archaeologists and historians a wealth of information about life during the Late Bronze Age. But Linear B was not the only writing system used during this period, and it is certainly not the most interesting; Aegean writing practices stretch back through Linear A and Cretan Hieroglyphic to the very mysterious Arkhanes Script, which has its own roots in early seal use.

During this course, we will examine the evidence for Aegean Bronze Age writing practices - the scripts, the written documents, how and where they are used - to set them into their social, political and economic context. We will ask what it might have meant to be literate at this time, and who would have had access to these skills. We will look to the Aegean’s larger neighbours, Mesopotamia and Egypt, and consider what influence their writing practices might have had. And we will consider why three scripts came in and out of use in the Aegean in such a short period.

A key component of this course will be hands-on experimental work, in which students will explore how to make and incise the different kinds of documents in use throughout this period.

For a good general introduction to what is happening in the Bronze Age Aegean, including overviews of the writing systems, see relevant chapters in:

C.W Shelmerdine (ed.). 2008. The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

E.H Cline (ed.). 2010. The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

For thematic chapters on different aspects of Linear B, browse through:

Y. Duhoux & A. Morpurgo Davies (eds.). 2008, 2011 and 2014. A Companion to Linear B. Volumes I, II and III. Louvain-la-Neuve: Peeters.

The best starting point for seals and sealings:

O. Krzyszkowska. 2005. Aegean Seals. An Introduction. Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies of the University of London Supplementary papers 85. London: Inst. of Classical Studies, School of Advanced Study, Univ. of London.

Or look at the Corpus of Minoan and Mycenaean Seals (CMS) resources, https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/fakultaeten/philosophie/zaw/cms/index.html

Participants are expected to compete the weekly reading assignments, and to take an active part in discussions during the course. Each participant will give one 20 minute oral presentation which will be assessed.