Anthropology 320: Ancient Civilizations is designed to provide you with an understanding of the early cities, states, kingdoms, and empires that developed in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas beginning about 5,000 years ago.
After completing this course, you should be able to achieve the following course learning outcomes.
Understand the processes involved in the rise of the first cities and ancient civilizations.
Comprehend the different trajectories these civilizations took as their complexity increased.
Outline and explain the factors involved in the decline and eventual collapse of early civilizations.
Share the lessons found in the past and suggest ways that they may apply to present and future human civilizations.
Think and write critically regarding archaeological evidence and interpretation.
Outline
Unit 1: Studying Ancient Cities & Civilizations
Unit 2: The First Cities & Civilizations
Unit 3: Great Powers of the Near East
Unit 4: The Mediterranean World
Unit 5: Northeast Africa and Asia
Unit 6: Early States of the Americas
Unit 7: Epilogue—Prospect and Retrospect
Evaluation
You must complete Quiz #1 and Quiz #2, Assignment 1 and Assignment 2A and 2B, plus the mid-term and final exams to receive credit for Anthropology 320. In addition, to receive credit for ANTH 320, you must achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on both the mid-term and final examinations and a minimum overall grade of D (50 percent) for the entire course. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Quiz #1
5%
Assignment 1: Three Short Essays
15%
Mid-Term Exam
20%
Assignment 2A: Research Paper Outline
10%
Quiz #2
5%
Assignment 2B: Research Paper
25%
Final Exam
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
Scarre, Christopher, and Brian M. Fagan. Ancient Civilizations. 4th ed. New York: Routledge, 2016. (Print)
Marcus, Joyce, and Jeremy A. Sabloff, eds. The Ancient City: New Perspectives on Urbanism in the Old and New World. Santa Fe, NM: School for Advanced Research Press, 2008. (Print)
Other Materials
All other materials needed for this course can be accessed 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
To receive credit for the ANTH 320 challenge registration, you must complete a short essay assignment, a research paper assignment, a mid-term exam, and a final exam and receive at least a D (50 percent) on each of the exams and an overall course grade of D (50 percent). The weightings of each activity are listed below:
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.