Overview
This introductory-level anthropology course is designed to provide students with an understanding of world prehistory, from the time of the split between human and chimpanzee lineages four to six million years ago (or possibly earlier), to the rise of the first cities and civilizations roughly 5,000 years ago.
Note: For students who are further interested in the development of early cities, states, and civilizations in prehistory, Athabasca University’s course Anthropology 320 Ancient Cities & Civilizations offers a comprehensive look at the earliest development of cities and archaic states (primary civilizations) and the subsequent appearance of secondary civilizations around the world. Additionally, a more in-depth look at the archaeology of prehistoric and historic North America is offered in Anthropology 377 Ancient Cultures of North America.
Outline
The course consists of the following four units:
Unit 1: Introducing “Us” and “The Past”
- 1.1: Our Questions of Time and Ethics
- 1.2: The Archaeology of Us
- 1.3: How We Put it All Together
Unit 2: Our Beginnings
- 2.1: Our Early Ancestors
- 2.2: Almost Us: Homo Erectus to Neanderthals
- 2.3: Understanding Ourselves: Modern Humans
- 2.4: The Great Diaspora: How and Why We Spread Around the World
Unit 3: How We Survived
- 3.1: Where and How We Lived
- 3.2: What We Ate and Did
- 3.3: How We Diversified
Unit 4: The Complexity of Us
- 4.1: Our Complexity Without the State
- 4.2: Choose your own Adventure! The Rise of Our First States & Civilizations
- 4.3: Coming Full Circle: Archaeology and Us Today
Evaluation
To receive credit for ANTH 277, you must complete ten discussion activities, two quizzes, two essay assignments, and you must write the mid-term examination and the final examination. You must achieve a minimum of D (50 percent) on both the mid-term and final examinations, and an overall grade of D (50 percent) for the entire course. The weightings for the course activities are as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Discussion Activities 1–5 | 5% |
| Assignment 1 | 15% |
| Quiz 1 | 7.5% |
| Midterm Exam | 20% |
| Discussion Activities 6–10 | 5% |
| Assignment 2 | 20% |
| Quiz 2 | 7.5% |
| Final Examination | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
The midterm and final examinations for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Chazan, Michael. World Prehistory and Archaeology: Pathways Through Time. 5th ed. Routledge, 2021.
Other Resources
All other learning resources will be available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
ANTH 277 has a Challenge for Credit option consisting of Assignment 1 (20%), Assignment 2 (20%), mid-term exam (30%), and final exam (30%).
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 20% |
| Assignment 2 | 20% |
| Mid-Term Exam | 30% |
| Final Exam | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Challenge for credit course registration form