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Syllabus Roads boundaries walls: Archaeology of mobility - 43710
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Last update 26-09-2021
HU Credits: 2

Degree/Cycle: 2nd degree (Master)

Responsible Department: Archaeology & Ancient near East

Semester: 2nd Semester

Teaching Languages: English

Campus: Mt. Scopus

Course/Module Coordinator: Uri Davidovich

Coordinator Email: uri.davidovich@mail.huji.ac.il

Coordinator Office Hours: by appointment

Teaching Staff:
Dr. Uri Davidovich,
Prof Gideon Shelach

Course/Module description:
Ever since the departure of ancient hominin species out of Africa, movement across space, by individuals or by groups, has been one of the defining characteristics of human societies. As such, the influence of human movement on historical and social processes received much attention from scholars in the humanities and social sciences. Despite the surfeit of studies dealing with intercultural exchange, the dispersion of technology, religion, art and culture, and the political impact of migration, the vast majority of existing scholarship emphasizes the point of origin, the destination, or the interaction between them, rather than the connecting routes. In tandem, the road serves as an important trope in philosophy, poetry, and literature, symbolizing transformation, enlightenment, separation and unification. In this course, we wish to investigate the human experience behind these metaphors, and focus not on the beginning and end points, but on the road that connects them: the road as a physical entity, the road as a process, the road as a symbol, and as a prolonged and defining experience. We will also look at obstacles that prevent or hinder movement – natural barriers (rivers, mountains, deserts) as well as man-made facilities such as walls and political borders – and the ways different people adapted in order to overcome, bypass or confront these obstacles.

Course/Module aims:
• Understanding the importance of exploring the human experience of roads from an archeological perspective.
• Acquaintance with archeological research tools and methodologies related to ancient roads.
• Participation in high-level professional discourse.

Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
•Describe the contribution of archaeological research of roads to understand their cultural role.
•Engage with high-register archaeological discourse.
•Present a topic to a professional audience.

Attendance requirements(%):
90

Teaching arrangement and method of instruction: Frontal presentation combined with critical reading, short presentations and open classroom discussions.

Course/Module Content:
Will be given in the beginning of the course

Required Reading:
For details see Moodle website of the course

Additional Reading Material:
For details see Moodle website of the course

Course/Module evaluation:
End of year written/oral examination 0 %
Presentation 20 %
Participation in Tutorials 0 %
Project work 80 %
Assignments 0 %
Reports 0 %
Research project 0 %
Quizzes 0 %
Other 0 %

Additional information:
 
Students needing academic accommodations based on a disability should contact the Center for Diagnosis and Support of Students with Learning Disabilities, or the Office for Students with Disabilities, as early as possible, to discuss and coordinate accommodations, based on relevant documentation.
For further information, please visit the site of the Dean of Students Office.
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